Minnie and Dewey

Dewey Braaksma, 1917, wedding photo

Minerva Vander Wal Braaksma, 1917, wedding photo

Looking back, it seems like yesterday that I was a little girl visiting my grandparents, Dewey and Minnie Braaksma, in Randolph, Wisconsin. Now I have only cherished memories that bring a smile whenever I think back. Thus this Blog for my aunts and uncles, cousins, and family as we celebrate the fun we had growing up with amazing grandparents!


It all began with great-grandparents John and Anna Braaksma who sailed from Holland on the "Rijndam" the morning of April 10, 1909. The ship's manifest lists John (age 43) and Anna (38) as man and wife and able to read and write. With them were their eight children, Dewey (17), John (15), twins Jesse and Ray (11), Jennie (9), Peter (6), Frank (2), and baby Albert (1). 
The ship's manifest documented the family's final destination, Cambria, Wis., a farming community. A family friend, Jesse Wiersma of Cambria, Wis., paid $244 for the family's passage from Holland.

Grandpa Dewey (Doeke) was the oldest of the children. As a teenager, he was already working as a farmer in Holland and was listed with the occupation "farmer" on the manifest. He was described with brown hair and gray eyes, the same as his father. His mother, Anna, was described with brown hair and blue eyes.

Dewey was born, March 3, 1892, in Morra, Oostdongeradeel, Netherlands.

"Minnie," Minerva Vander Wal, was born May 6, 1899, in Hilversem, in South Holland, the Netherlands. She immigrated to the United States in 1906. Her father was Henry Vander Wal (1864-1946) and her mother was Dena Reise (1867-1910).

Minnie had a sister, Anna, who came to America as well, who was married to Alvin, a farmer. I don't know Anna's married name. We just always referred to them as "Aunt Anna" and "Uncle Alvin." I remember outings with Grandma Minnie to their farm. Anna kept the cleanest house in all of Wisconsin, and watching Aunt Anna and Minnie sit around the kitchen table and jabber away was a delight for me, even as a child.


Minnie and Dewey were married, March 7, 1917, in Friesland, Wis., which is when the adventure began. I wish I knew how it started - how they met. How they fell in love. And what it was like for these two immigrants from Holland, who raised a family of ten children, John Dewey, Walter, Ann, Harold, Dena, Raymond, Betty Jane, Peter Gene, Marvin,and Donald Wayne.

Minnie died on September 29, 1982, at 83 in Randolph, Wisconsin.Both Minnie and Dewey are buried in Randolph, along with their eldest son, John Dewey Braaksma Sr.

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Thanks to family historian and second cousin Doug Braaksma we have the Dewey Braaksma family heritage of Great Grandparents John and Anna Braaksma. Doug, a grandson of Ray Braaksma, compiled the family genealogy in 2002 after extensive research, a genealogy program, and two trips to the Netherlands.
Information on the Minnie-Dewey genealogy was provided by Mrs. Sam (Ann Braaksma) Meekma and Mrs. Mervin (Dena Braaksma) Olson, the two eldest daughters of Minnie and Dewey.
Contributions from Sandie Wilhelm, daughter of Ann and Sam Meekma and granddaughter to Minnie and Dewey.
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Click to see the front side of the manifest listing the John and Anna Braaksma family
Click to see the back side of the manifest listing the John and Anna Braaksma family