Cornelius Kuijper (M)
(13 February 1816 - 10 January 1901)
Last Edited=4 Jun 2005

     Cornelius Kuijper was born on 13 February 1816 in Schoorl, Noord Holland, Netherlands.¹ He was the son of Jacob Kuijper and Maartje Duinen Meijer.¹ Cornelius married Maartje Dalenberg, daughter of Cornelis Pieterz Dalenberg and Trijnte Klaasdr Akkerman, on 2 May 1840 in Schoorl.¹ They had at least 15 children. Only 7 of these children reached adulthood. Notice that many names are repeated. Their children were:, Maartje, Cornelius L., Jakob, Trijntje, Pietertje, Antje, Maartje, Maartje, Kornelis, Antje, Antje, Antje, Pietertje, Neeltje and Lyntje.¹
          Cornelius and Maartje, with their 7 children, immigrated during the first half of 1849 to the United States of America on board the Massachusetts of Boston. It was not a pleasant, happy voyage for this family. Disease raced through the boat and killed 4 of their children. First, Cornelius (age 8) and Pietertje (only 2 years old) died on the 24th of May. Two days later, Antje died. She was only a year old. Three days after that, on the 29th, Maartje, one month short of 9 years old, died. I can't imagine what it must have been like for them. Surely they were full of hope before they began their voyage. Did they manage to keep hope even with half of their family dying? When Cornelius settled in Roseland, he built his house on the Indian Trail. Follow the link to see a drawing and description of his house.
          Cornelius, age 43, and Maatje, age 41, were enumerated on the 1860 Federal Census for the Blue Island Post Office in Worth Township, Cook County, Illinois. Also enumerated in this household were seven children: Jacob (age 16, works on the farm), Catharine (age 14), Lyntje (age 12), Maartje (age 8), Cornelius (age 7), Anne (age 4) and Pietertje (age 2). His farm is worth $1500 and his personal estate was valued at $1000.² Cornelius worked as a farmer.² Follow the link to see the census image. Maartje died on 16 April 1865, leaving Cornelius a widower.¹
          Cornelius, age 53, was enumerated on the 1870 Federal Census for the Calumet Post Office in Hyde Park, Cook County, Illinois. Also enumerated in this household were four of his children: Mary (age 18), Cornelius (age 17), Anne (age 13), and Pietertje (age 11). Two of his children that are not living in the house are Jacob (age 27) and Lyntje (age 22). Cornelius Koman (age 66, born in Holland) is also enumerated in the house. I do not know his relationship to this family. Cornelius' property is valued at $7400 and his personal estate is worth $500.³ Cornelius worked as a farmer.³ Follow the link to see the census image.
          Cornelius died on 10 January 1901 in Illinois.¹ He was 84 old.