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Archiver > BELGIUM-ROOTS > 2001-06 > 0991445381


From: "Robert J. Hamers" <>
Subject: [BEL-R] Re: BELGIUM-ROOTS-D Digest V01 #262
Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2001 20:35:24 -0500
In-Reply-To: <200106020100.f52105r15628@lists2.rootsweb.com>


Dear Paula,
I don't know how common this was, but a couple things might be useful to
know. First, that Moline, Illinois was definitely a common stopping-off
point. The two largest Belgian communities in the US were in Detroit,
Michigan, and Moline, Illinois. Both even had their own Belgian papers,
and Moline has a Belgian history center (I can dig up the URL if you want).
Of my 2 sets of grandparents who came over, one set stopped in Detroit
first, and the second stopped in Moline, and from their to Sturtevant,
Wisconsin (Racine county).

One place I would definitely recommend checking out is the state of
Illinois on-line archives, at
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/archives.html
go to "Search our on-line databases" and see what comes up. It worked for me!

Bob Hamers
(Researching Hamers/LeFevere/Aneca/Soete/Delpierre)

>
>______________________________X-Message: #3
>Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 14:48:59 -0400
>From: Josh Pangier <>
>To:
>Message-ID: <>
>Subject: [BEL-R] Begiums to Wisconsin
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>Can anyone tell me the most common migration pattern that immigrants from
>Begium took on their way to Wisconsin? I am at a dead end trying to locate
>my great, great, great grandfather. I have been unable to find any
>reference to him before 1861, when he married his wife. According to the
>census, he stated that he migrated to the USA in 1855. At the time of his
>marriage, he was living in Manitowoc County.
>
>I have to no avail been able to locate any Declaration of Intent on him in
>Wisconsin. Any direction or suggestions as to where to look would be most
>appreciated. Also, does anyone know if there is a Begium Historical
>Society of sorts in Wisconsin or can recommend someone in the area that is
>an expert in Begian heritage?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Paula

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