Neeltje Barendregt

Neeltje Barendregt

• Born 9 Sept 1861 Charlois, Rotterdam, Holland
• Died 11 June 1929 Rigby, Idaho
• Came to America in 1900

Neeltje Barendregt was born in Charlois, Rotterdam, Holland 9 September 1861 to Leendert Barendregt and Willempje Vanderwell.  There is very little information about her early years.  She married Jan Vanderwel 7 May 1885.  They were the parents to 5 children, two who died very young and three who lived to adulthood.  Ari was born in 1889, Helena was born in 1890 and Wilhelmina was born in 1893.  They owned and operated a small cheese market and were quite successful.  She was well known for her ability to slice the thinnest and most perfect slices of cheese.  The missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints found and taught the family, they joined the church. They saved and sold their business to earn enough money to come to America. The missionaries had jokingly told them the girls would not be allowed on the ship with their long hair.  They cut Wilhelmina's hair, the missionaries were devastated when they saw what they had done and let them know it was a joke before they cut Helena's.  They gave the girls porcelain dolls to express their apologies.   They sailed on the U.S.S. New England and arrived in August of 1900.  They made their home in Ogden, Utah where they owned a 10 acre farm.  Jan and her son Ari worked on the railroad.  They traveled to Salt Lake City in 1903 and were sealed together in the Salt Lake Temple.  They moved to Idaho and in 1910 they became naturalized citizens of the United States.  In 1912 Jan and Neeltje prepared to return to Holland.  They left in March.  In July they received word the their daughter Helena was having difficulty after delivering her first child.  Neeltje returned home and arrived in early August, but Helena had passed away eight days after giving birth.  The details of the following events of Neeltje's life are unclear.  Something happened to the relationship between Jan and Neeltje and they split up.  She however moved to Rigby, Idaho.  She lived in a little white house with a beautiful flower garden.  She would make lemonade and dinners of baked potatoes and soft boiled eggs for her granddaughter when she would visit on Sundays.  She passed away in Rigby on the 11th of June 1929.

    

This picture was taken around the time that they came
to America,  you can see Wilhelmina's
short hair, she is sitting in the front.