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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-05-20, Page 43Mr. and Mrs. John Van Ninhuys and family were the first Dutch immigrant family to join Clinton's St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Moving to Clintnn in 1959 the family members included, left to right, Gysbert, Gerard, John and Nellie, Anne and Martin.. This photo was taken In 1949 in front of Van Ninhuys home in Holland. ( photo courtesy of Mrs. Nellie Van Ninhuys). St. Joe's welcom Dutch-Canadians Originally established in 1857 by Irish , immigrants who came to Canada after Ireland's great potato famine, the Clinton St. Joesph's Roman Catholic Church congregation now is made up of people of many various backgrounds. • In April of 1952 the first Dutch -Canadian family in the area joined the church, and they were followed by a number of other emigrating families from Holland who sought spiritual and com- munity support. John Van Ninhuys, his wife Nellie and children Gysbert, Martin, Anne and Gerard arrived in Canada on June 2, 1949 after an exhausting, 11 - day .ocean voyage from Holland. They originally settled in Benmiller, but in 1962 moved to Goderich Township, having purchased a farm, and joined St. Joe's Church. The family has a close association with the church and Mrs. Van Ninhuys has long been a member of the Catholic Women's League there. She also helped care for Rev. Joseph Hardy's home when he served the church from 1974 to 1980. Well established in the ,area, son Martin continues to farm on the original _ homestead and his parents live close by. The oldest son Gysbert died only a few years after the family emigrated from Holland. The two other children have made their homes in' Ontario. In 1953, the St. Joe's congregation welcomed the second family of Dutch immigrants to the church when Peter and Dimphena Brand and their 11 children became members. A farming family in Holland, like the Van Ninhuys, the Brand boys looked to a prosperous, bright future in Canada. Jack, the eldest son, came to Canada in 1951 and worked for a Dublin area farmer. In March of 1952 Goff, one of the twins,' came to the new country and in 1953 the rest of the family arrived and settled in Goderich, Town- ship, only a short distance from the Van Ninhuys home. Mrs. Brand died in 1963; and her husband, who is survived by his second wife Kaat Herman, died in 1976. The eldest son Jack died in 1971, however 10 children survive, and many are now Turn to page 1S Page l s I.1 Ask your Ariens dealek about a trade-in on your old riding mower and move up to the quality of an Ariens rear -engine riding mower! Ariens features include: • 6 sl eecis • Rcsrnns,JP geared s,F,f'.. df. • Tur!• ter('rneurnatic 1'E,t • E)((r re),-N-Fc�:3t Trade in arid move up to Ariens' See your Ariens dealer and the full line of Arens Riding Mowers today' Tractors Equipment CLINTON FORD TRACTOR SALES SERVICE dF) 1901 11.phwnv No B 4A) 1904 (' welcome S O 11 IO R l(H1lJ)('n Fees' Dave!