Linking oneself to the past is an excellent way of
building family pride and self-esteem. We hope you will join in our
effort to record and preserve our early Kent County history. Proudly
display your Kent County Pioneer Millennium Centennial Certificate.
| Eligibility:
To qualify for a Pioneer Certificate, an applicant must be
directly descended from an ancestor who settled in Kent County
as follows:
Pioneers (Prior to 1841) Gold
Seal
Settlers (Prior to 1881) Silver Seal
Early Family (Prior to 1921) Blue Seal
Each ancestor in the direct line must be proved.
Anyone may apply. Applicants need not have ever been residents of
Kent County. After proof of direct descent has been submitted and
eligibility has been determined, we will mail the appropriate
certificate. Separate certificates will be issued for each ancestor
properly submitted. The fee for each application is $10. |
Receive a packet one of 3 ways: Come
to a work shop and get one without paying the application fee;
or to have one mailed to you, please remit the $10 application
fee to: WMGS Pioneer Certificates, c/o GRPL, 111 Library NE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Or download here:
Get Adobe Acrobat Reader:
|
 Purpose:
In cooperation with the Secchia Millennium Commission and to honor
our pioneer forefathers, Western Michigan Genealogical Society,
(WMGS), is promoting a Pioneer Certificate Program. Our threefold
objects are as follows:
- We hope to recognize pioneers and early
residents who otherwise would go unnoticed in our county's history.
Each builder and craftsperson brought us one step closer to the
county we know today.
- We encourage a basic knowledge of genealogical
research by asking any direct descendant to put together their
family history and apply for a certificate. We will provide easy
instructions and help in researching early Kent County residents.
- We know the recorded information will become a
valuable addition to the history of early Kent County citizens
providing a source of genealogical information for future research.
Document copies submitted as proofs will be kept in
the Michigan Room of GRPL and available to help others family
history researchers. Documents pertaining to living relatives will
be noted and returned.
A Growing List: Kent County Pioneer, Settler and Early Family
Ancestors
| Name of
Ancestor |
Year
Arrived |
|
Bailey, Sluman S |
1846 |
|
Bell, Digby Valentine |
1836 |
|
Berkenpas, Leendert |
1904 |
|
Bird, Martha E |
1869 |
|
Bont, Anna |
1900 |
|
Brooks, Justin |
1835 |
|
Byrne, William |
1839 |
|
Carew, David |
1894 |
|
Carey, Charles W |
1873 |
|
Champenoy, William James |
1900 |
|
Clinton, Simeon A |
1860 |
|
Coffee, John |
1840 |
|
Collins, Ezra |
1844 |
|
Collins, Simon |
1857 |
|
Cordes, Eberhard |
1840 |
|
Crawford, Samuel |
1860 |
|
DenBraber, Willem |
1886 |
|
Dickenson, Tom |
1870 |
|
Dutmer, Jacob |
1904 |
|
Ellsworth, John C |
1869 |
|
Evans, George Arthur |
1912 |
|
Hall, Jonathan B |
1844 |
|
Harmon, John |
1837 |
|
Hartwell, Robert |
1846 |
|
Hill, Hughes S |
1860 |
|
Hills (Hill), Loan |
1840 |
|
Idema, Hendrick C |
1860 |
|
Irwin, Samuel |
1845 |
|
Irwin, Thomas H P & Lucinda |
1845 |
|
Johnson, Sabin |
1838 |
|
Krzyzanowski, Casmir |
1887 |
|
Lapham, Smith |
1843 |
|
Lincoln, Luther Sr |
1830 |
|
Lyon, Morgan |
1838 |
|
Magennis, Charles Hudson |
1885 |
|
McLellan, Samuel |
1850 |
|
Miller, Alexander |
1853 |
|
Miller, Rachel T (Steele) |
1844 |
|
Minisee, James |
1852 |
|
Moffit, Eber |
1848 |
|
Moore, Hiram |
1860 |
|
Osgood, Harry |
1849 |
|
Parks, Edwin Ellsworth |
1892 |
|
Reed, Nathaniel |
1850 |
|
Rentsman, William |
1883 |
|
Salyer, David |
1898 |
|
Smith, Valentine "Philo" |
1859 |
|
Sneden, Benjamin |
1860 |
|
Snyder, William |
1874 |
|
Starbuck, Delia Gertrude |
1846 |
|
Steele, Rachel T |
1844 |
|
Terpstra, Geert P |
1900 |
|
Thompson, Calvin |
1844 |
|
Tuttle, Hirman |
1850 |
|
VanderLaan, John |
1900 |
|
Vanderwal, John |
1900 |
|
VanderWeele, Neeltje |
1885 |
|
VanEvery, George Wheaton |
1850 |
|
Walters, James |
1870 |
|
Warner, Andrew |
1851 |
|
Warnock, William |
1860 |
|
Weller, Lucinda |
1845 |
|
Weller, Obediah & Nancy |
1844 |
* Latest Added August 2011
|
