The Jan Ter Avest and Hendriena Mensink Family

Name          Born                Birthplace                Died               Burial Location                                                       

Jan              Mar 17, 1843  Kamphuis (Zuna)    Mar 29, 1884  thought to be near Hospers, IA

Ter Avest

Hendriena    Dec 23, 1839 Rijssen                    Mar 28, 1930  New Overisel Cemetery, Overisel, MI 

Mensink

Anna            Jan 16, 1866  Kamphuis (Zuna)    May 2, 1868    Netherlands

Johanna

Anna            Jan 1, 1869    Kamphuis (Zuna)     Oct 3, 1869     Overisel, MI

Johanna

Jan               Oct 5, 1870    Fillmore Twp, MI      Sep 17, 1871   Overisel, MI

Hendrik 

Johanna       Aug 23,1872  Fillmore Twp, MI       Feb 25, 1943   Lake Forest Cem, Grand Haven, MI.

(Anna) 

Hendrika      Mar 31, 1875  Fillmore Twp, MI      June 8, 1967    New Overisel Cemetery, Overisel, MI

(Hattie) 

Alberdena    Nov 30, 1877  Fillmore Twp, MI      Apr 4, 1964      Coopersville, MI?

(Dena) 

Hermiena     Mar 8, 1880    Fillmore Twp, MI      Mar 9, 1967      New Overisel Cemetery, Overisel, MI

(Minnie) 

Jan               Mar 31, 1882  Fillmore Twp, MI      Dec 26, 1971

Hendrik

(John J) 

Jan Ter Avest was selected in the draft for military service in the 6th Regiment Garrison Artillery stationed at Nijmegen on May 13, 1863. Garrison Artillery armed a fort as opposed to field artillery, which moved with the troops.  It appears that he reported for training and then was given an extended furlough on August 26, 1863, until his five years of service were complete. Not completely unusual in a time of peace. He was discharged with a certificate of good conduct on May 12, 1868. His military record describes him a 5 feet 10 2/3 inches tall with blue eyes and brown hair.

Jan Ter Avest and Hendriena Mensink were married on September 14, 1866.

Their daughter Anna Johanna died shortly after their arrival in Michigan.

They purchased 15 acres immediately to the south of the 65 acre farm purchased by his mother Hendrika Ter Avest.

Their youngest son, Jan Hendrik, was called “Curly John” due to his curly hair, so as not to confuse him with his other first cousins, also named Jan Hendrik.

Jan and Hendriena were received into the membership of Overisel Reformed Church through confession of faith on January 30, 1871. On January 14, 1882 Jan transferred their membership to the Overisel Christian Reformed Church.

In March of 1883, Jan and Hendriena moved their family by train to the Hospers, Iowa area. Land was cheap and readily available in Northwest Iowa at this time. Unfortunately, not long after their arrival, Jan became ill and died. Hendriena found herself alone with small children, and no family support system. She wired back to her relatives asking for assistance. His brother, Jan Willem, traveled to Iowa in April of 1884 and moved the family back to Michigan.

Jan is thought to be buried near Hosper’s, IA. However, there are no records to confirm this. 

Hendriena later married Harm Bos.