Wopka Gerrits Plantinga was the son of Gerrit the Second:
Wopka Gerrits was born on April 23, 1870 near Leeuwarderadeel. He lists his town of birth as Stiens. Wopka was the second son of the six children of Gerrit Gerrits the second and Mathilda. Wopke was 5’7″ tall and weighed 170 pounds. He had blue eyes. He emigrated to the United States in October 1889 aboard the ship Amsterdam from the port of Amsterdam in Holland arriving in New York. He either came with or met Katherine Hanstra and they were married in Chicago on May 3, 1893. She immigrated that same yr. of ’89. Both were born in Stiens and they undoubtedly knew of each other there. Their first child George, was born later in October of that same year. In August of 1894, He, Katherine and son George moved to Lafayette, Indiana. They had 10 more children for a total of 11.
He lists his children as:
George b:October 15, 1893 in Chicago
Gertrude b:October 29, 1895
Clarence b:November 23, 1897
Ralph b:November 23, 1897
Charles b:February 12, 1900
Tillie b:March 17, 1901
Margaret b:July 25, 1903
Anna b:October 16, 1905
Jessie b:December 20, 1910
Alberta b:August 14, 1914
Richard b:September 6, 1917
So he fathered children until he was 47 and Katherine was 45.
He became a laborer at the Monon Shops in Lafayette, Indiana. His residence was 1147 N. 19th Street in 1936. He declared his intention to become a US citizen in 1936. Read the declaration here. Then in March of 1938, he petitioned for naturalization. His witnesses were the minister of the Christian Reformed Church, James M. Ghysels and a friend, Fred Dykstra. His petition was continued until April of 1939, then he swore an oath of allegiance on May 18, 1939 and his petition was granted. It is unknown if he ever became a US citizen, dying on March 29, 1940. He was buried in Springvale Cemetery in Lafayette. Read the petition for naturalization here.
From Dick, his son (2/1/2001): **(Richard was the baby of 11; my grandpa was the oldest.)
He remembered his dad working at the Monon Shops. In addition, Wopke and Charlie Hanstra truck farmed on the other side of the wildcat out on 25 east of Lafayette. I asked if Charlie Hanstra was related to his mother, who was a Hanstra and he didn’t know. He said Wopke was about 6′ tall. He weighed about 175 lbs. Church services were all day. The farm they grew up on was owned by Patsy Mack, who lived in Lafayette. When the highway came thru the farm was sold. A Heart attack killed Wopke. He didn’t feel good. He always walked to work. He started out for work and came back stating that he didn’t feel good. He went in on the davenport and died. Wopke lived at 1147 N. 17th Street.
Katherine Hanstra wasn’t very tall. 5’6″. She had convulsions and the cause of her death wasn’t known.
They both came to Chicago. They met in Chicago.
In 1930, they now live in town. Wopke Plantenga owned a house, he says, 1147 No. 17th St., & it was worth $2500. in 1930. He was 59, wife Catherine 57. They had 4 kids still at home, the youngest was 12. That was Richard, the baby, who just died in 2008, one year after my mom. Wopke lists his job as “Laborer – car shop”. That might have been when he worked for my grandpa, his son, who had his own car mechanic business for awhile.
Doctor Grandma 
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