Posted on: Ottawa Co., Michigan Query Forum Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Mi/Ottawa?read=667 Surname: De Jonge, Der Herder ------------------------- I have a (borrowed) copy of a mimeographed book, titled "Jan De Jonge Family Register" and printed in 1956 by some unknown persons. On page 16 of the book it states: "When the first pioneers arrived here in 1847 the area which is now Zeeland and vicinity was one dense virgin forest ..." I looked in this book for a reference to your "Dirk De Jongh and Lena Smalheer family who lived in or near Zeeland, MI in 1844" and found nothing showing that they were related to the family of Jon De Jonge and his wife Jannetje Der Herder, who arrived in Zeeland, MI on June 15, 1849.