Albertus van Raalte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Albertus van Raalte
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Albertus van Raalte in 1847
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Albertus Christiaan van Raalte
17 October 1811 Wanneperveen, Netherlands
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| Died | 27 July 1876 (aged 64) |
| Occupation | Reformed minister |
| Spouse(s) | Christina De Moen |
| Children | 10, including Dirk Van Raalte |
Albertus Christiaan van Raalte (born October 17, 1811 – died July 27, 1876) was an important Dutch minister in the 1800s. He helped many Dutch people move to America. He is best known for helping to create the city of Holland, Michigan.
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Albertus van Raalte's Early Life
Albertus van Raalte was born in the Netherlands. His father was also a minister. Albertus first wanted to study medicine. But to make his father happy, he went to a school for theology. This school was at the University of Leiden.
A serious illness called cholera spread through the Netherlands. Albertus survived this sickness. This experience made him decide to become a preacher. He wanted to spend his life helping others through his faith.
Moving to America
Albertus van Raalte became a minister in 1836. He was part of the Secession Church in the Netherlands. Later, he moved to the United States. There, he joined the Reformed Church in America.
He visited the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Here, he met William Montague Ferry, who founded Grand Haven. Ferry told Van Raalte that the Holland area was a good place to settle. Van Raalte thought the land was perfect for farming. Many farmers in the Netherlands were struggling. They had high taxes and very little land. It was hard to divide their land among their sons.
Van Raalte sent letters back home. He described the Michigan area very positively. Because of his letters, many farmers' sons moved to America. They cleared the forests and found the land was good for farming.
Building a New Home
Van Raalte was the spiritual leader for many Dutch immigrants. These people were Protestant Reformed. They founded the city of Holland, Michigan in 1846. He also played a big part in starting a school. This school later became Hope College.
In 1857, Van Raalte had disagreements with another minister. This minister was Roelof Smit. Their differences led to Smit's church leaving Van Raalte's group.
Besides settling Holland, Michigan, Van Raalte also started another Dutch community. This one was in Amelia Court House, Virginia.
His Family Life
Albertus van Raalte married Christina De Moen in 1836. They had ten children together. Seven of their children lived to be adults. These included three boys and four girls. One of their sons was Dirk Van Raalte. Dirk later became a soldier and a politician.
His Lasting Impact
Albertus van Raalte's personal papers are kept at Calvin University. They are in the Heritage Hall Archives. These papers help us learn more about his life. They also show his important role in history.
