Mannen van Croy » Stories » From the book "100 Years in Grant County South Dakota“
From the book "100 Years in Grant County South Dakota“
by Mrs. Frank Folk (Louise Croymans Folk)
Jacob Croymans arrived in Grant County in 1880 from De Pere, Wisconsin, in a covered wagon with a cook stove and his family of four children, John, Martin, Mary, and Maggie, and his 2nd wife, Margaret Anna, born in Lottum, Netherlands. His first wife died at childbirth, John being that child.
He claimed a homestead 6 miles north and 1¼ miles west of Milbank, along the Whetstone creek, about 1/2 mile from his cousin, John Herman, who came in 1879. Three girls and one boy were born here: Nellie, Hattie, Anna and Henry, who, died at the age of six and was buried near the buildings, later transferred to the Milbank Cemetery.
At this homestead several acres of prairie sod were plowed up to raise grain. The Indians often stopped on their hunting and fishing trips along the creek. They were friendly and would want to trade a big catch of fish for a chicken.
Jacob was nicknamed "Big Jake" because of his strength in handling iron rails while working to build railroads in this area.
The two oldest boys John and Martin got about a third grade education because of work and weather. The girls did better; the youngest, Anna, graduated from eighth grade, and was a school teacher, never marrying. Mary married Martin Cramer, Maggie married John Jansen, and Nellie married Henry Tillemans; all three farmed near Milbank. Hattie married H. Marrison and lived in Chicago. John married Mayme Jacobs of Big Stone. They had 4 boys, the oldest of whom died in England during World War I. In 1905 John was jailed because of a brawl the night before. He started yelling fire until the jail cook woke up and put in an alarm. The courthouse was on fire, and since the jail was next door to it, he was released to help fight the fire.
My parents, Martin Croymans and Helena Jansen were married in August 1894. Her parents John and Gertrude Jansen were all born in Ruggles, Netherlands. They arrived in the U.S. in 1880, when Helena was four years old, settling on a farm near Beardsly, Minnesota, and later moving to Grant County. Also along were two brothers, John and Jacob, and three sisters, Mary, Anna, and Elizabeth. My parents farmed near Milbank and then with three children Gertrude, Fred, and Elizabeth, moved onto "Big Jake's" homestead after he passed away in the early 1890's. Grandma married Martin Van Garven and moved to Nassau, Minnesota. She died in 1928 age 80 years. On this homestead more land was plowed up to grow grain.
Here five more children, Anna, Nellie, Martha, Lena, and Henry, were born. The older ones went to school where their father and his brother and sisters had gone six miles north of Milbank, along what was called the Lake Road, now Highway 15. The school was Melrose No. 1.
Then, in 1911 they bought land three miles north and 1 1/2 miles west of Milbank, built a house and barn, and moved there. Four more children were born; three died at birth, and I was the surviving one.
All the girls worked in the fields, stacking hay, shocking grain, pitching grain bundles, and hauling grain at thrashing time, as several quarters of land were farmed. Keeping 22 to 25 horses the year round took lots of feed and work.
My father used a steam engine and threshing machine in partnership with his brother-in-law John Jansen. They bought the rig and got a gas tractor. In 1920 the Jansens moved to Sanborn, North Dakota. The oldest of 10 children was married and lived in Milbank at that time. Martin kept the threshing machine and threshed for neighbors. In middle 20's he also threshed in the Summit area, as late as October some years.
My parent's first car was a Touring car, a 1917 "Reo." It had a canvas like top that could be folded down at the back.
Mother died in 1927. The three oldest were married ... Gertrude to Martin Van Lith; Elizabeth to Chris Van Lith, Martin’s brother; Fred to Lillian Fromme from Summit. All farmed near Milbank and Twin Brooks.
In 1929 the banks closed and people lost their money, making farming difficult. The farm was sold in 1931 and they moved to Milbank for awhile. Then Martin (Dad) worked for other farmers until his passing in 1959.
During the early 30's Henry married Emma Kasuske. He worked at Hunter's Quarry. Nellie married George Storm, who farmed near Twin Brooks. Anna married Frank Chaloupka and farmed near Twin Brooks. Lena married Arthur Derrick, who worked in Hunter's Quarry. Martha married Edward Haium, who worked on the railroad and lived in Marietta, Minnesota. I married Frank Folk, who farmed in Roberts County. In 1943 we bought a farm 6 3/4 miles north of Milbank, two miles from “Big Jake’s” homestead, and farmed some of the land that he and my father originally plowed in the 1800's.
Our seven children, Carol, Gerald, Roger, Gordon, Howard, Beverly, and Brian, went to Melrose No. 1 school. The same one room school building that their Grandpa (my dad), Aunts and Uncle had attended. Milbank consolidated the schools and had buses in 1965.
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The Mannen van Croy publication was prepared by Patrick Crooijmans.