Hist. Mss.
1-86
Smid Family Collection
Papers, 1786-1890
contained in 2 large boxes
Introduction
The bulk of
the materials in this collection include sermons, diaries, poems, etc.
which reflect and describe Mennonite church and community life in Balk,
Friesland (The Netherlands), during the first part of nineteenth
century, 1786-1850. Most of the materials are from the minister Obe
Johannes Smid (1802-1850).
In 1853 and
1854, a majority of the Mennonites at Balk, Friesland, emigrated to New
Paris, Indiana. A smaller portion of this collection, especially
several diaries (Sermon Text Books), describe the life of these Dutch
Mennonites living in New Paris, Indiana, during the last half of the
nineteenth century, 1853-1895. These materials come primarily from the
minister Ruurd Johannes Smid (1813-1893) and his spouse Grietji Jacobs
Symensma (1820-1911). Materials are for the most part in the Dutch
language.
This
collection of materials was probably brought along to Indiana by Ruurd
J. Smid in 1853. Around 1953 much of this collection was deposited at
the Mennonite Historical Library, Goshen College, by Viola Rigby (Mrs.
Denny C. Rigby) of Goshen, Indiana. Subsequently the collection was
transferred to the Archives of the Mennonite Church, located on the
Goshen College campus, and more materials were deposited into the
collection by Miriam Glanders (New Paris, Indiana) and LaVerda Krull
(New Paris, Indiana) between 1988-93.
Series
Listing
Introduction
to the Mennonites of Balk, Friesland (Netherlands) and New Paris,
Indiana, (U.S.A.)
Early Materials, 1786 - 1828
Obe Johannes Smid (1802 - 1850)
Diaries and Sermon Text Books, 1815 - 1849
Sermons, 1830 - 1850
Tracts and Meditations, 1833 - 1843
Books, Copy Books, Hymns, Bible Texts, 1822 - 1848
Akke Johannees Smid, (1807 - 1833)
Jacobjen Johannes Smid, (1810 - 1843)
F. Ruurd Johannes Smid (R. J. Smith), (1813 - 1893)
G. Grietje Jacobs Symensma (Margaret J. Smid), (1820 - 1911)
Organization
of Collection
The collection
is organized by the name of several siblings of the Smid Family whose
materials are part of this collection. They include, first, Obe
Johannes Smid (1802-1850), who was a blacksmith and who became a
preacher of the Balk Mennonite congregation in 1828. Second, Akke
Johannes Smid (1807-1833), and third, Jakobjen Johannes Smid
(1810-1843). And fourth is Ruurd Johannes Smid (1813-1893), who was a
pastor of a small Mennonite church at Woudsend, Friesland, and who also
pastored the Dutch settlement in Indiana until his death.
The collection
also includes materials from Grietji Jacobs Symensma (1820-1911), the
spouse of Ruurd J. Smid. Ruurd and Grietji were married on May 13,
1840, and both emigrated to New Paris, Indiana, in the 1850s where they
lived until their deaths in 1892 and 1911, respectively. Both are
buried in the Whitehead Cemetery, New Paris.
The collection
was initially examined and listed by Carl F. Brusewitz in 1956. His
listing was published in his article in Mennonite Quarterly Review
(January 1956): pages 30-31. From 1991-1994, this listing was updated
through the help of several persons who knew the Dutch language, Roelf
S. Kuitse and Troy Osborne.
The
Balk Mennonite Church and the Salem Mennonite Church
The Mennonite
congregation at Balk, Friesland, was an independent congregation until
1844, when they joined the Allgemeene Doopsgezinde Societeit. The
Giethoorn and Aalsmeer Mennonite congregations were on friendly terms
with this congregation, with ministers preaching at Balk from time to
time. In 1853 part of the congregation went to America, to escape
military service in Friesland. Several families, totalling fifty-two
persons, emigrated to United States between May 9, 1853 and April 26,
1854. This included nineteen (19) members of the Balk Mennonite Church.
Two ministers came with the group, R.J. Smid and R. J. Symensma. Haitje
Hanjes Visser stayed in Holland as the only preacher of the Balk
Mennonite Church, which consisted of 14 memebers.
In 1889 the
Salem Mennonite Church was built. Half of its membership consisted of
Dutch persons originating from the Netherlands, and the other half
consisted of the German-speaking persons originating from the
Christophel meeting place. The bishop of the Yellow Creek district of
the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference had oversight over this
congregation.
Other
Archival Collections & the Mennonite Historical Library
Please also
note several other collections at the Archives of the Mennonite Church
which relate to the Balk Mennonites:
Darkwood, Ruth
(Hist. Mss. 1-440)
Krull, F.A. Krull (Hist. Mss. 1-889)
Symensma, Harry J. (Hist. Mss. 1-854)
Visser, Anne-Marie (Hist. Mss. 4-275)
The Mennonite
Historical Library also has several Dutch books in its collection that
reflect the history and life of the Mennonite community at Balk, and at
New Paris, Indiana. Two items include:
Bible, 1661
(Dutch language)
This Biestkens Bible was a family Bible of Balk Mennonites. It was
purchased in 1798, and owned by Auke Hinnes and Duttje Ruurds, who were
married on April 3, 1803. It also contains three pages of family
records dating from 1776 to 16 March 1873. It was given to the Library
in February 1956. Four folio maps, by Nicolaes Visscher, found in the
Bible, are in the library's map cabinet.
"Verklaring ...," by Obe J. Smid,
1848
Published book by Smid, 192 pages, 1848.
Inventory
A.
Introduction to the
Mennonites of Balk, Friesland (Netherlands)
and New Paris, Indiana, (U.S.A.)
Box 1
(Large) / Folder #
1/1 "The
Mennonites of Balk, Friesland"
Article by Carl F. Brusewitz, a former minister of the Mennonite Church
at Balk, published in Mennonite Quarterly Review (January 1956): pages
19-31. Files includes original manuscript and photocopy of printed
version.
1/2 "Balk Dutch Settlement, Goshen, IN"
Article by Marie Yoder on the history of this settlement from
1853-1889. Published in Mennonite Quarterly Review (January 1956):
pages 32-43. Photocopy.
1/3 Genealogy on Balk families
Genealogy on the Smid (Smith), Visser (Visscher) (Fisher), Darkwood
(Duisterhout), Symensma (Siemensma) (Siemens) (Sijmensma), Rystra
(Rijstra), and Hygema (Haitjema) families. Also includes print-outs on
103 Mennonite families from Balk, Friesland, and New Paris, Indiana, as
collected by Miriam Glanders, 1990s.
1/4 Family Records on Fisher
Family information on Klaas Fisher (1817-1901) and Hanotje (Symensma)
Fisher (1824-1896) and their descendents.
1/5 History of Salem Mennonite, 1948
Church history written by Marie Yoder, and copied by Viola Rigby.
Photocopy.
1/6 "Christophels-...-Salem," 1984
Copy of Chapter 6 of J. C. Wenger's history of The Yellow Creek
Mennonites, 1984 (pages 97-108), in which he touches on the Christophel
and Salem congregations. Photocopy.
B.
Early Materials, 1786-1828
1/7 Dialogue
on Old Frisians, 1786
Booklet about the Old Frisian Mennonite group of believers in Balk and
Aalsmeer, Holland, written by S. Van Emdre, pastor of the Hervormde
Church at Hoornaa, a Dutch Reformed Church, 2 August 1784, printed
1786. Booklet was copied by an unknown author, and date and place is
also unknown. File includes translation; and authorship attributed to
Rev. R. J. Smith.
1/8 Sermon, John 3:16 (n.d.)
The author of this sermon may be Johannes Obe Smid (1763-1828), Balk,
who was a blacksmith and preacher. The initials "J. O." appear on the
title page of the sermon. File includes translation of the sermon into
English by Harmen Ament, minister of the Doopsgezinde Gemeente te
Hallum, Holwerd, The Netherlands, 1973.
C. Obe
Johannes Smid, 1802-1850
Diaries
and Sermon Text Books, 1815-1849
1/9 Diary,
1815-1817
"Eerst Klein Memoryboekje," by Obe J. Smid, begun at the age of
thirteen. Includes mostly poetry, but also some description of events
in Balk, Friesland.
1/10 Diary, 1816-1849
Obe J. Smid started to write in this "Tweede klein Memoryboek" when he
was fourteen years old. The first part consists of questions and
answers, related to the Bible and the Christian faith. It also includes
poems on the commandments, New Testament scripture passages, a list of
members of the Balk Mennonite congregation, description of events in
Balk, and a register of the Smid family. File contains a translation of
parts of Obe J. Smid's diary, as completed by F. J. Swart, Nijverdal,
Netherlands, 1990, 11 pages.
1/11 Sermon texts book, 1808-1812
Collection of sermon texts, 1808-1812. Includes ministers Johannes Obes
Smid (1763-1828), Rinke Obes Smid (d. 1828), Klaas Haitjes, Meine Obes
Smid (d. 1844) and Ruurd. This "Tekst Boekje" was begun 20 March 1808,
when Obe Johannes Smid was six years old. Dated 18 August 1842.
1/12 Sermon texts book, 1815-1818
Collection of sermon texts, 1815-1818, Balk. Pastors included are Klaas
Haitjes, Meine Obes Smid, Rinke Obes Sid, Johannes Obes Smid, Ruurd,
Arent Freerks and Komeks Pieters. [Unclear whose book this was] Hanna
J. Darkwood (granddaughter of Ruurd Johannes Smid and Grietje Jacobs
Symensma) received this booklet "March 1911 as inheritance of Smiths."
1/13 Sermon texts book, 1823-1829
Collection of sermon texts, 1823-1829. Includes ministers Johannes Obes
Smid (1763-1828), Rinke Obes Smid (d. 1828), Klaas Haitjes, Meine Obes
Smid (d. 1844) and Ruurd. [Unclear whose this book was.]
1/14 Sermon texts book, 1836-1843
Collection of sermon texts, 1836-1843. Pastors included are Obe
Johannes Smid, Haite Haantjes, Meine Obes Smid, and Tjeerd Haitjes.
[Unclear whose this book was.]
Sermons,
1830-1850 (Organized chronologically)
1/15 Sermon,
Matthew 2:1-12
Epiphany. Smid preached this sermon 21 times. First used 17 January
1830. Last used 6 January 1850.
1/16 Sermon, 2 Peter 3:9
First used 16 February 1834. Last used 10 October 1847.
1/17 Sermon, Hebrews 3:12
First used 30 August 1835. Last used 18 August 1844.
1/18 Sermon, Ecclesiastes 12:3
About education. Dated 8 May 1836. Note that three song pamphlets, or
broadsides, as published by J. Wendel en Zoon, Amsterdam, were found
with this sermon. Originals transferred to Mennonite Historical
Library; photocopies of title pages included in this file.
1/19 Sermon, 1 John 2:1-2
Dated 5 August 1836. Copied by Obe J. Smid.
1/20 Sermon, Ecclesiates 8:11-13
Against evil. Used 7 October 1838 and 9 March 1845.
1/21 Sermon, 2 Timothy 4:2
Dated 24 May 1840.
1/22 Sermon, Luke 12:48
Dated 16 August 1846.
1/23 Sermon, Hebrews 3:14
Call to repentance and gratitude. Given on the day of thanks and
prayer, 2 May 1847.
1/24 Sermon, I Corinthians 15:58 (1)
Date of sermon is unknown.
1/25 Sermon, I Corinthians 15:58 (2)
A second handwritten copy of sermon. Also undated. File includes
translation of the sermon into English by Harmen Ament, minister of the
Doopsgezinde Gemeente te Hallum, Holwerd, The Netherlands, 1973.
Tracts and
Meditations, 1833-1843
1/26 About
life-style, 1833
About smoking, dress (against wearing of a leather cap), decorations,
etc. Dated 15 December 1833.
1/27 About
life-style, 1848
Writing against luxury in the way people dress, etc. Emphasis is on
quiet and simple life-style. Dated 7 November 1848.
1/28 About divine punishment, 1834 (#1)
Romans 1:28, Corinthians 3:15. On pride, vanity, drunkenness, etc.
Dated 23 August 1834. Includes partial translations by Albert Hyma,
1965, "On the Use of Worldy Possessions."
1/29 About divine punishment, 1834 (#2)
On pride, vanity, lust, drunkenness, etc. Dated 28 August 1834.
1/30 About divine punishment, 1840
On pride, vanity, etc. Dated 9 November 1840.
1/31 About military service, 1830
About military service and the practice of "remplacant," hiring a
substitute to do military service on your behalf. Dated 22 December
1830; 1838.
1/32 About military service, 1838 (#1)
Story about a person who gives money to another person, asking that
person to kill somebody. Is that not what some Christians do who pay
money to people to replace them in military service? Dated 3 February
1838.
1/33 About military service, 1838 (#2)
Should Christians give money, i.e. pay taxes, to the Government? The
Government needs money to protect the citizens and punish evil. Dated 6
February 1838.
1/34 About military service, 1839
Exhortation about military service and obedience to the government.
Dated 12 July 1839.
1/35 About long life, 1838
On long life as a blessing from God. Dated 24 April 1838.
Box 2
(Large)
2/1 Liturgy
for Worship Service, 1843
On subjects for prayer, dated 20 October 1843.
2/2 About church discipline
About "the brotherly punishment." Author, Date, Place unknown.
Books,
Copy Books, Hymns, Bible Texts, 1822-1848
2/3 Hymns
(1822)
Hymns copied by Ruurd Johannes Smid (31 January 1822), and by Jakobjen
Johannes Smid (1822), and by Obe Johannes Smid, (12 Mai 1822) in Balk.
2/4 Bible texts (1830)
Collection of Bible texts. Dated 4 December 1830.
2/5 Biblical admonitions (1831, #1)
Collection of Biblical admonitions, proverbs, laws - serving as a
mirror to discern whether a person is a faithful Christian or not.
Dated 12 October 1831.
2/6 Biblical admonitions (1831, #2)
Collection of Biblical admonitions, proverbs, laws - serving as a
mirror to discern whether a person is a faithful Christian or not.
Dated 14 November 1831.
2/7 Dirk Philips' writings (1831)
About the call of pastors, copied by Obe J. Smid in 10 September 1831.
2/8 Robert Barclay's writings (1834)
Excerpt from booklet written by Robert Barclay, Scotland, in 1679 about
""Kwakers" (Quakers). In the excerpt there are warnings against
dancing, card games, gambling, gold/silver ornaments, etc. Copied by
Obe J. Smid in 4 September 1834.
2/9 News of Claas Claasz (1844)
Reflections on the views of Claas Claass, 1624, related to the tensions
in the Mennonite community between Galenus Abrahams and Samuel
Apostool. Copied in 21 November 1844.
2/10 Pieter Jans Twisk's writings
Copy of Pieter Jan Twisk's writing on the fifth commandment, "honor
your father and mother". Copied presumably by Obe J. Smid. Undated.
2/11 Mennonite Witness Book
"Getuig-boek" (Witness Book). A collection of quotations from believers
in different periods of the history of Mennonites in the Netherlands,
for example, pages 128-134, Tieleman van Braght. Includes writings of
Joost Hendriks, Jan Willems, Pieter Jans Twisk, Willem Wynantz, Claes
Claesz, etc. Copied presumably by Obe J. Smid. Undated.
2/12 Meditation - False Teachings
And Worldly temptations. Copied from the writings of Menno Simons.
Author, Date, Place unknown. Includes loose slip about Ruurd Jakobs
Smid's sermon, and about Hygema having been baptizied.
D.
Akke Johannes Smid, 1807-1833
2/13 Sermon
texts book, 1820-1828
Contains a collection of sermon texts, 1820-1828. Includes ministers
Johannes Obes Smid (1763-1828), Rinke Obes Smid (d. 1828), Klaas
Haitjes, Meine Obes Smid (d. 1844) Auke Hinnes, and Arent Freerks
(visiting minister). Texts written down by Akke Johannes Smid, Balk,
started 7 October 1820.
E.
Jacobjen Johannes Smid, 1810-1843
2/14 Poems and
Songs, 1822-1836
Booklet of poems and songs by Jakobjen Johannes Smid, Balk, which was
begun 30 March 1822. Includes one written by Ruurd Symensma in 1836..
2/15 School songs
Booklet of songs, including notes and lyrics, used in school. "J. J.
Smid." Undated.
F. Ruurd
Johannes Smid (R. J. Smith), 1813-1893
2/16 Sermon
texts book, 1822-1829
Collection of sermon texts, 1822-1829 by Ruurd Johannes Smid, Balk,
begun 30 March 1822. Pastors listed include Rinke Obes Smid, Meine Obes
Smid, Auke Hinnes, Obbe Johannes Smid, Haitje Haantjes, and Klaas
Haitjes.
2/17 Sermon texts book, 1829-1845
Collection of sermon texts by Ruurd Johannes Smid, 1829-1845, Balk,
begun 25 October 1829. Pastors include Obe Johannes Smid, Meine Obes,
Haitje Jaantjes, and Tjeerd Haitjes. Includes loose materials such as
poems and New Year Wishers of Ruurd Johannes Smid and his wife, Grietje
Jacobs Symensma.
2/18 Questions on Bible passages, 1822
Booklet contains questions and answers in regard to Bible passages, and
contains some songs and some drawings. Begun as early as 1822.
2/19 Questions about Christian Faith
Booklet contains questions and answers related to Christian faith, and
contains stories about Greek deities and some drawings. Undated.
2/20 Catechism (1829)
Catechism with questions and answers, used in Balk as a catechism for
youth. Book also includes writings from persons like Isaac Watts,
Professor Oostersee (1882), etc. A poem and drawing done by Ruurd
Johannes Smid, 16 August 1829, is found loose in this book. As are the
dates of ministry for Haitje Hantjes, born 1786 and elected 1806.
Unclear of authorship of this book.
2/21 Articles of Faith, Matthew 28:20
Contains 13 articles of faith, including questions and answers, on
communion, shunning, last days, etc. Author, date and place unknown.
Includes song based on scripture references, dated Balk, 20 March 1830,
and written by Jacobjen Johannes Smid.
2/22 Balk Church register, 1822-1833
ncludes records of births, marriages and deaths of Mennonites at Balk,
Friesland, 1822-1833. Ruurd Johannes Smid, book dated 1 February 1825,
Balk.
2/23 Horse illnesses, 1825
Description of illnesses of horses 1825. Ruurd Johannes Smid, 31
January 1825.
2/24 Drawings of church, 1838-45
These were found in Obe Johannes Smid's "Sermon on Ecclesiates
8:11-13," dated 1838-1845. Authorship unknown.
2/25 Letter, R. J. Symensma, 1853
From Rev. R.J. Symensma to friends, written from Liverpool, England,
April 17, 1853, on their way to the United States. File does not
include original letter; file contains a transcription in Dutch, 6
pages, and an English translation by Frank J. Swart, Netherland, 1989,
3 pages.
2/26 Letter, D. S. Gorter, Balk, 1872
Written by D. S. Gorter, Balk, Holland, to a friend in the U.S.A. Deals
with religious and social issues. Probably sent to R. J. Smid.
2/27 Correspondence, 1878-1893
a. From Obe H. Visser, Balk, to Ruurd Johannes Smid, New Paris,
Indiana, 2 December 1875
b. From P. Binkes, Sneek, Netherlands, to R. J. Smidt, 15 September 1878
c. Real Estate sale to Ruurd J. Smith, 1880
d. From R. J. Smidt to the children, 22 October 1889, and to
brother-in-law Klaas H. Visser.
e. From Henry Romeike, New York, concerning obituary notices on "Bishop
R. Smith," May 4, 1893.
f. From D. D. Stunt, Halflake, Indiana, to Mrs. Obed Smith, New Paris,
Indiana, July 6, 1895. Found in booklet "Questions about Christian
Faith."
2/28 Certificate Land Register, 1838
Land registered at the Land Office at LaPorte, Indiana, for Luther
Peirce of Elkhart County, 1838. SW quarter, Section 18, Township 35
North of Range 6 East of the Second Principal Meridan, in the District
of Sands, 76 and 1/2 acres of land.
G.
Grietje Jacobs Symensma (Margaret J. Smid), 1820-1911
2/29 Sermon
texts book, 1845-1850
Collection of sermon texts, 1845-1850, of the Mennonite congregation
meeting at Balk, Friesland. Preachers mentioned include Meine Obes
Smid, Haitje Haantjes, Obe Johannes Smid, Tjeerd Haintjes, Ruurd Jacobs
Smid, Ruurd Johannes Smid and Arent Freerks. Grietje was married to
Ruurd Johannes Smid in 1840. Started by Grietje Jacobs Symensma, 25
December 1845.
2/30 Sermon texts book, 1850-1870
Collection of sermon texts, 1850-1870. Also contains diary entries on
family and church events, such as births, wedding and deaths. Includes
pastors in the congregation at Balk, Friesland, and at New Paris,
Indiana. Ministers include Ruurd Jacobs Smid, Haitje Haantjes, Ruurd
Johannes Smid, Jacob Christoffel, Johs Christoffel, Brundage, Wisler,
de Rober, B. Hershie, Beer, Daniel Brenneman, Brundits.
[Unclear if this book belonged mainly to Ruurd Johannes Smid or Greitje
Jacobs Symensma. Greitje wrote various diary entries in the book, with
her initials in it "G.J.S."]
Translation of this "Sermon texts book, 1850-1870," was completed by Jo
Tann, Goshen, Indiana, during the 1950s, and it is included in this
file, 72 pages.
2/31 Sermon texts book, 1881-1895
Collection of sermon texts, 1881-1895. Also contains diary entries on
family and church events, such as births, wedding and deaths. Preachers
mentioned include Jan Belt, Johs Christoffel, Ruurd Smidt, John F.
Funk, Noah Metzler, D. Burkholder, H. Weldy, Daniel Brandits and
others. [Book does not contain Grietje's name in it, but it was
attributed to her when it was donated to the Mennonite Historical
Library in circa 1953]
2/32 Poem, G.J. Symensma.
Poem by Grietje Jacobs Symensma expressing gratitude to God for God's
help in "the flight" to America.
2/33 Letter to Margaret Smith, IN, 1870
Letter from Balk addressed to in-laws and sisters, and children, and
sent to Mrs. Margaret Smith, New Paris, Indiana. Author unknown.
Name
and Subject Tracing
Chronology
Diaries
Mennonites-Indiana
Mennonites-Netherlands
Smid Family Collection
Smid, Margaret J., 1820-1911
(x Grietji Jacobs Smid; x Grietji Jacobs Symensma)
Smid, Obe J., 1802-1850
Smid, Ruurd J., 1813-1893
May 3, 2004 / Reformatted by Kathryn Yoder
July 25, 2001 / Updated and posted on web by Monica Zimmerman
September 26, 1994 / Processed and typed by Dennis Stoesz. Assisted by
Troy Osborne and Roelf S. Kuitse in translation and organization.
File: "1-086.doc"
Mennonite
Church USA Archives - Goshen, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526 |