George Sjoerdsma1,2,3,4

Family Chart
ID# 505, (1873 - 1951)
FatherPiebe Sjoerdsma5
MotherTrijntje van Hoog5

Key Events:

Birth: 22 Jul 1873, Oostdongeradeel, Holland6,7,8
Marriage: 25 Apr 1895, Oostdongeradeel, Holland, Annie Mosselma (28 Aug 1866 - 4 Mar 1903)9,10,11
Marriage: about 1907, Amanda [surname unknown] (19 Feb 1866 - 2 Mar 1936)12,13,14
Death: 4 Jan 1951, Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois15
Burial: Mt. Hope Cemetery, Worth, Cook Co., Illinois16

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     George Sjoerdsma was born on 22 Jul 1873 in Oostdongeradeel, Holland.6,7,8
     George arrived on New York on 16 May 1890, aboard the S.S. Rotterdam. He had departed from Amsterdam and traveled in the "single men's department." He appears to have been traveling alone. He stated his occupation as laborer, intended destination as New York, and that he intended to stay permanently.17,18,19 He was known as Sjoerd Sjoerdsma in Holland, but used the name George in the United States.5,20,21
     George married first Annie Mosselma, daughter of Meine Mosselma and Folkje Douma, on 25 Apr 1895 in Oostdongeradeel, Holland.9,10,11
     George evidently returned to Holland to marry, and he and and Annie arrived on Ellis Island, New York, on 13 May 1895, aboard the S.S. Spaarndam. They had departed from Rotterdam and traveled in steerage class, in a main deck compartment. They were accompanied by his younger brother Reimmerus Sjoedsma, age 19. They all stated their destination as Grand Rapids, Michigan.22,23
     George was naturalized in 1896.24,25,26
     George and Annie settled for a time in Michigan, but moved to Cook Co., Illinois, by 1897. They appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Worth Twp., Cook Co., Illinois, enumerated 22 Jun 1900, reporting that they were renting their farm. Their children Tracy, Florence and Grace were listed as living with them, as were two helpers on the farm, Harry Brianna and William Adnergott, both from Holland.27
     His wife died on 4 Mar 1903 at 125th and Stewart Ave, Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois.28
     George married second Amanda [surname unknown], about 1907. No record of the marriage has been found. The names of her parents, and whether she had been married before, are unkown.12,13,14
     George and Amanda appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Morgan Park, Cook Co., Illinois, at 1711 Cort St., enumerated 23 Apr 1910, reporting that they rented their home. His children by his prior marriage, Tracy, Florence, Grace and Hilda, were listed as living with them.2
     George registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at 2344 W. 111th St., Chicago, Illinois, reporting he was self-employed as a florist and gardiner.1
     George and Amanda appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois, at 2344 W. 111th St., enumerated 6 Jan 1920, reporting that they owned their home, which was mortgaged. His children by his prior marriage, Tracy, Grace and Hilda, were listed as living with them.29
     George and Amanda and his daughter Grace moved to Michigan by 1930. They appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Spring Lake, Ottawa Co., Michigan, enumerated 10 Apr 1930, reporting they owned a home valued at $20,000 and owned a radio. His daughter Grace was listed as living with them.30
     They moved to West Palm Beach, Florida by 1934, when they were living at 1228 Lake Ave.31 But by 1935 they had returned to Cook Co., Illinois, and were living in Harvey.32,33
     His second wife died on 2 Mar 1936 in Harvey, Cook Co., Illinois.34
     George appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Hazel Crest, Cook Co., Illinois, enumerated 10 Apr 1940, reporting he rented his home, for $30 per month. His daughter Grace was listed as living with him.35
     He was a famer in 1910, and a gardener, doing park work by 1910. By 1920 he was a landscape gardener operating his own business.36,37,38 He seems to have retired when he lived in Michigan and then in Florida. In 1940 he reported his occupation as a gardener for a cemetery, but didn't seem to be actually working. He reported he had been unemployed for 104 weeks.39,40,41
     By 1948 George and his daughter Grace had moved to Phoenix, Arizona, when they were living at 915 N. 1st St.42 George appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Phoenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona, at 1006 E Garfield, enumerated 7 Apr 1950, reporting he lived in a home that was not on a farm and he lived in the same house the year before. He reported he was unable to work, but had earned $540 in interest, rents, etc. in 1949 and a relative in the household, presumably his daughter, had earned $1,000. His daughter Grace was listed as living with him.4
     George, and presumably Grace, returned to Chicago, where he was living at 1429 Edge Water at the time of his death.43
     George died on 4 Jan 1951 in Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois, at age 77.15 He was buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Worth, Cook Co., Illinois.16

Children:
     Children with Annie Mosselma:

  • Tracy Sjoerdsma27,2,29 (1 Mar 1896 - Oct 1977)
  • Florence Sjoerdsma27,2,44 (27 Aug 1897 - 17 Feb 1992)
  • Grace Sjoerdsma27,2,29 (29 Jan 1899 - 7 Jul 1987)
  • Hilda Sjoerdsma3,45,2 (14 Feb 1902 - 11 Feb 1987)

Children:
     There were no children with Amanda [surname unknown]

Citations

  1. [S3944] George Sjoredsma, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
  2. [S3943] George R. Sjoerdsme household, 1910 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois.
  3. [S3942] Hilda Sjoerdsma, Report of a Birth to County Clerk.
  4. [S13250] George Sjoerdsma household, 1950 U.S. Census, Maricopa Co., Arizona.
  5. [S7249] "Netherlands, Birth Index, 1787-1915," Ancestry.com, record for Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, citing Tresoar archive.
  6. [S7249] "Netherlands, Birth Index, 1787-1915," Ancestry.com, record for Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, citing Tresoar archive, shows date and town.
  7. [S3944] George Sjoredsma, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows date, as 22 Jul 1873.
  8. [S7248] George Schuman household, 1900 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows month and year, as May 1874, age 26, and country.
  9. [S7250] "Netherlands, Civil Marriage Index, 1795-1950," Ancestry.com, record for Sjoerd Sjoerdsma and Antje Mosselman, citing Tresoar archive, shows date and town.
  10. [S7248] George Schuman household, 1900 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows married 5 years.
  11. [S3947] George Sjaerdsma household, 1930 U.S. Census, Ottawa Co., Michigan, shows his first marriage at age 21.
  12. [S3943] George R. Sjoerdsme household, 1910 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows married 3 years, as his second marriage and her first.
  13. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Amanda Sjoerdsma, citing FHL #1765830 and cert no 24, shows him as her spouse.
  14. [S3944] George Sjoredsma, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows her as his nearest relative.
  15. [S4937] "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1939, 1959-1995," FamilySearch.org, record for George Sjoerdsma, shows date, city, county, and state.
  16. [S4937] "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1939, 1959-1995," FamilySearch.org, record for George Sjoerdsma, shows cemetery.
  17. [S7251] Rotterdam arrival 16 May 1890, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897.
  18. [S7248] George Schuman household, 1900 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows year, as 1891.
  19. [S3943] George R. Sjoerdsme household, 1910 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows year, as 1890.
  20. [S7251] Rotterdam arrival 16 May 1890, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897, shows name as P. Sjoert Sjoerdsma.
  21. [S3951] Spaarndam arrival 13 May 1895, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897, shows name as Sjoerd Sjoerdsma.
  22. [S3951] Spaarndam arrival 13 May 1895, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897.
  23. [S7248] George Schuman household, 1900 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows year.
  24. [S3951] Spaarndam arrival 13 May 1895, Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1897, shows him a citizen of Holland.
  25. [S7248] George Schuman household, 1900 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows naturalized.
  26. [S3946] George Sjoerdsma household, 1920 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows naturalized and year.
  27. [S7248] George Schuman household, 1900 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois.
  28. [S3950] Annie Sjoerdsma, Undertaker's Report of Death.
  29. [S3946] George Sjoerdsma household, 1920 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois.
  30. [S3947] George Sjaerdsma household, 1930 U.S. Census, Ottawa Co., Michigan.
  31. [S3949] Polk's West Palm Beach City Directory, 1934 pg 372.
  32. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Amanda Sjoerdsma, citing FHL #1765830 and cert no 24, shows her residence as Harvey.
  33. [S3948] George Sjoerdsma household, 1940 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows George and Grace as having lived in Harvey, Cook Co. in 1935.
  34. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Amanda Sjoerdsma, citing FHL #1765830 and cert no 24.
  35. [S3948] George Sjoerdsma household, 1940 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois.
  36. [S7248] George Schuman household, 1900 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows occupation as farmer.
  37. [S3943] George R. Sjoerdsme household, 1910 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows occupation as gardener, industry as park work.
  38. [S3946] George Sjoerdsma household, 1920 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows occupation as landscape gardener, working on own account.
  39. [S3949] Polk's West Palm Beach City Directory, 1934 pg 372, no occupation listed.
  40. [S3947] George Sjaerdsma household, 1930 U.S. Census, Ottawa Co., Michigan, shows no occupation.
  41. [S3948] George Sjoerdsma household, 1940 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows occupation as gardener, industry as cemetery.
  42. [S3914] Phoenix City Directory, 1948, pg 681.
  43. [S4937] "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1939, 1959-1995," FamilySearch.org, record for George Sjoerdsma, shows address.
  44. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Florence Leadinghouse, Soc. Sec. No. 321-56-8521.
  45. [S54] Pound, Glabe Family.