So, Martin Brink immigrated from Holland in 1882, at about the age of 24. The Dutch often immigrated to Chicago. He and Trenje (Trena) were already married. in Holland, their name would be Ingbringhoff and not Brink. If records are correct, they were married in 1879. Later records list her name as Catherine or Cathrine. I didn’t know she was called Catherine.
This wife dies in 1931. Martin, however, marries her SISTER, Flor Van Shapen, in 1935 at the age of 78. He dies one year later. I have a vague memory of Trena dying from a fall down a stairs. There is some sort of memory of being told this, because it always made me think of my own grandma Cena’s basement stairway which was very steep & treachorous. I remember some older aunt telling this story & laughing about him. Martin & Trena were the parents of 5 girls, my grandma Cena being the youngest.
Doctor Grandma 
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