van Raaphorst branch

Home person: Christiaan Frederik van Raaphorst, Anna's paternal grandfather.

van Raaphorst branch overview


Christiaan van Raaphorst, Anna's paternal grandfather
Christiaan van Raaphorst, Anna's paternal grandfather

Chris and several generations of his ancestors
Chris and several generations of his ancestors

The Netherlands, where many of the van Raaphorst ancestors were born
The Netherlands, where many of the van Raaphorst ancestors were born

The van Raaphorst family migrated to the area around Detroit, Michigan.
The van Raaphorst family migrated to the area around Detroit, Michigan.

Chris, Elisabeth, and all of their existing descendants and their families immigrated to the New World over a period of about 15 years, beginning in 1905 with oldest son Christiaan Gottfried. The earlier immigrants first went to Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, and the later ones went directly to Detroit or Port Huron, Michigan.

Anna's father, Johan (John), her uncle Hendricus (Harry), and her grandparents arrived in New York on their way to Sarnia on June 22, 1910. At the time he migrated, John was only 13, but he immediately went to work to help support the family.


John van Raaphorst, still living in Amsterdam, age 12
John van Raaphorst, still living in Amsterdam, age 12

During their first years in the New World, many family members (including John) traveled back to the Netherlands to visit friends and relatives.