This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: carlsonjm Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.kent/8629.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The 1930 census calls dad Eli. Son Aris fits your birth date of 1923, but if you need proof, you would have to look at Aris's marriage or death certificate. I would try marriage cert first, because there Aris was declaring his parents' names himself. 1930 United States Federal Census Name: Aris Vanderploeg Home in 1930: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan Age: 6 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1924 Relation to Head of House: Son Father's Name: Eli Mother's Name: Josie Race: White Parents' birthplace: Household Members: Eli Vanderploeg 45, b. NL Josie Vanderploeg 43, b. NL children (all b. MI; too recent for Family Search): Louis Vanderploeg 13 Anna Vanderploeg 7 Aris Vanderploeg 6 Henry Vanderploeg 3 7/12 Anna Dice 73 (mother-in-law) Ely and Josie married between 1910 and 1913... Groom: Ely Vanderploeg, 27 b. 1885, Grand Rapids Parents: Louis Vanderploeg & Gertrude Dryer Bride: Josie Dice, 28 b. 1884, Grand Rapids Parents: Henry Dice & Anna Niemeyer Date: 4 Sep 1912, Grand Rapids Ely had a brother Aris (1892), Nellie (1896) and Peter (1901)--and likely more. I haven't checked the censuses. 1900 United States Federal Census [Lew Vanderploeg] Home in 1900: Grand Rapids Ward 6, Kent, Michigan Age: 44 Birth Date: Oct 1855 Birthplace: Netherland Race: White Ethnicity: American Gender: Male Immigration Year: 1883 Relationship to Head of House: Head Father's Birthplace: Netherland Mother's Birthplace: Netherland Spouse's Name: Gerty Marriage Year: 1883 Marital Status: Married Years Married: 17 Residence : Grand Rapids City, Kent, Michigan Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Lew[is] Vanderploeg 44; Oct 1855; married 17 years; 1883 immigrants; day laborer Gerty Vanderploeg 39; Nov 1860; 6 children / 5 living Anna Vanderploeg 16, Jul 1883 [GR, acc'd to marriage cert] Eltje Vanderploeg 15, Dec 1884 [Ely--I forgot to check gender] Grietje Vanderploeg 10, Mar 1890 Arens Vanderploeg 8, May 1892 Nellie Vanderploeg 4, Sep 1895 Washington Park Memorial Gardens Vanderploeg, Grace [Grietje] b. 1890; d. 1916 Vander Ploeg, Aris b. 1892; d. 1974; on lot with Gertrude, Louis and Nellie; also Grace Vander Ploeg Vander Ploeg, Eli b. 1883; d. 1972 on lot with Josie D. Vander Ploeg, Gertrude (Mother) b. 1860; d. 1940 Vander Ploeg, Josie Dice b. 1887; d. 1940 Vander Ploeg, Louis (Father) b. 1855; d. 1935 Vander Ploeg, Nellie b. 1895; d. 1981 ======== BECKWITH HILLS CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH #117 Membership Records, 1874-1942 PG 60 VANDER PLOEG LEUWE VANDER PLOEG GEERTJE (DREYER) There's a lot of work to be done here, and I have to stop. If you'd like me to do some more looking, contact me at my e-mail; copy and paste this info. Joan carlsonjm@hotmail.com Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.