Eighth Generation

448. Arend John GROOTERS was born in June 1883 in , , Michigan. He died in 1961 at the age of 78. He was buried in , , Michigan.

Arend John GROOTERS and Margaret LUGTENBURG were married about 1907. Margaret LUGTENBURG, daughter of Frank LUGTENBURG, was born about 1886 in Ruurlo, Netherlands. She was also known as Marguerite Luxemburg. I was noted to this 'mis-writing' of the name by an email I got from Douwe Luchtenburg, who investigated the "Lugtenburg" ancestry. He noted for Arend John Grooters, who was married to "Grietje Lugtenburg" according his investigations. In this ancestry, he was married to "Marguerite Luxemburg".
I did some investigation on Ancestry.com, looked for both names.
I found references to "Grietje Lugtenburg" in the passengerlists 1820-1957. This mentions a Grietje Lugtenburg, born abt 1869, arrived 24-Apr-1912 in New York on board the "Potsdam", aged 43, and married to Pieter Lugtenburg, aged 48, born in Sameld in the province of Groningen, Farmlab(orour) by profession. With them were the children Jakobje (f, 21), Johannes (m, 16), Pieterke (f, 12) Cornelis (m, 9), Klaaske (f, 6) and Johanna (f, 2). Their destination was Chicago (MI). Given the dates, I doubt this is the right family.
The right data is found in the 1900 Federal Census, for Michigan > Kent > Grand Rapids Ward 2 > District 0051.
Here is found a Maggie Lugtenburg, aged 13, "At School". She lived with her father (presumably) Frank Lugtenburg as boarder woth the Prins family; Her mother must have died, Frank is mentioned "Widower". His profession is "oil Rubber". According the census, they arrived in the US in 1897.
"Margaret" is the English equivalent to "Margaretha", or "Margriet" in Dutch, often shorted to "Grietje", and sounds like "Marguerite". Similar, "Lugtenburg" sounds like "Luxemburg".
Further evidence is found when looking for "Lugtenburg" and noting both "Frank" and "Maggie". Frank is mentioned in almost any city directory of Grand Rapids between 1890 and 1912, living on 837 E Fulton, profession "Rubber" at Luce Furn Co. Between 1903 and 1907 Maggie is mentioned on the same address.
In 1903, she is mentioned 'Dressmaker at E. L. Wickman'

Looking for "Marguerite" (approx) and "Luxemburg" (exact), I found one hit in this directory as well - living on 837 E Fulton. But in the directories of 1902 and 1904 she is missing. In the 1902 directory, "Gertrude" is mentioned - which sounds like "Grietje", it ,might be the same person as well. In 1901, Frank lived alone at this address, so I guess that Maggie joined him in 1901 or 1902.

Furher proof is the army registration I found on Arand J Grooters form County Kent, Michigan (regnr  1675765), in which his birthyear is 1883. In this document 'Maggie Grooters' is also mentiond, but the copy is too bad to read in what context: Perhaps "wife"?