Scope and ContentA Bed Upstairs... [Note: Swenna Harger of Holland shares a manuscript written by Gerrard and B. Dobben concerning the Heetderks family, especially Willem Heetderks, who left Germany in 1851 to join with the congregation of Albertus C. Van Raalte at Holland. One of his early jobs was in the tannery of J. C. Wallin & Sons at Wallinville (sometimes called Dingleville), near the corner of 64th Street and 135th Avenue (later renamed Clearbrook Drive) on Goshorn Creek.] --- ... Landing in New York City, he took a boat for Albany, followed the Erie Canal to Buffalo, then crossed Lake Erie to Detroit and by train to Allegan and by foot to Holland. Here he found a home, first with the Rutgers and later with the Tinholt families who had migrated to America the year before. Willing and eager to work he soon found employment clearing land, making roads and helping neighbors with their farm work. He was also employed in those first months by a Mr. Wallin in a tannery at Saugatuck, Michigan. Difficulties with the English language were the source of many embarrassments although in later years when the Amerikansetaal was fairly well mastered, these earlier experiences provided much mirth and enjoyment, whenever the old Colony days were recalled. Away from his own people, this first job was a real test for young Heetderks. Mr. Wallin, a kindly man, had to show the young immigrant, by example, just what he wanted done. Heetderks worked long and hard that first day and his employer was impressed with his ambition and willingness. That night Wallin told him he could sleep upstairs in his home. Heetderks recognized the word sleep, but apparently that was all. He started for the outdoors, having interpreted "upstairs" as "under the stars." Wallin then took him by the arm, accompanied him to tine second floor of his home and pointed to a bed. Tired and exhausted it is easy to understand that a bed looked much more inviting to him than sleeping on the ground "under the stars." These weeks of work in the tannery were undoubtedly a helpful experience, but Heetderks told his children its later years of the first lonesome Sundays which were spent away from his own people. In fact this lonesomeness and the desire to be with God's people on the Sabbath day caused him sometimes to walk to Holland - a distance of more than 10 miles. He would start out early in the morning, axe in hand so, that he could mark the trees to guarantee finding his way home. In Holland he would listen to the preaching of Dr. Van Raalte. The services were held under the trees 1n those early days, with blocks of wood serving as pews. Them, following the afternoon service, he would start the long trek back to Saugatuck. Frequently he would tell his children of the joys of hearing a Holland sermon again and of the joys of being with his own people. Meanwhile as he became better acquainted; he began looking for unclaimed land where he might build his home. He finally locate a wooded 80 acres four miles south and east of Graafschap. Then, at the earliest opportunity, young Heetderks, in company of a neighbor, started for the U. S. Land Office at Allegan, Michigan, a distance of about 20 miles. As there were no roads, they took to the woods and with their axes marked the trees, so that they could find their way back. Once in Allegan Heetderks soon took out a claim for the 80 acres. That same day he took the oath of allegiance to the United States and thus became a citizen. When time would permit, particularly in winter, he started clearing his land. Later he built himself a shanty and started living on the place. Snow often times kept him from getting the needed provisions. Unable at first to buy a coffee mill, he resorted to tying the coffee beans in a handkerchief and pounding them fine with a stone. Then one day he came home with a small coffee mill and this not only solved his coffee problem, but it enabled him to grind his corn from which he made corn bread or Johnny bake as it was popularly called at that time.