Gerrit John Koster, I

Gerrit Koster was born on 23 September 1887 in Fernwood, the western neighborhood of the Dutch truckfarmers settlement of Roseland, since 1892 a southern district of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, the second child of Jan (John) Koster and Aaltje (Alice) Kroeze, who married in May 1885 in the Dutch truck farmers settlement of South Holland, located just south of Chicago, in Thornton Township, and who immigrated about 1871 resp. 1882 from the Netherlands.

In April 1910 Gerrit Koster (22 y, born in Illinois, machine hand at a factory) was living at a private road in Thornton [Township, incl. South Holland], Cook County, Illinois as a boarder at the home of Jane Zichterman (60, Holland, immigrated in 1907, widow). A few houses further on Gerrit's future wife Gertrude Eylander (18, Illinois) was living with her family at the same private road.

In May 1910 Garret Koster (22, Illinois, farm laborer), his father John Koster (52, Holland, immigrated in 1871, truck farmer), his mother Alice (49, Holland), his siblings Mary (18, Illinois, farm laborer), John (16, Illinois, farm laborer), Della (11, Illinois), Nellie (10, Illinois), Jennie (9, Illinois) and Alice (7, Illinois) were living at their own farm in St Anne Township, Kankakee County, Illinois, very probably in the Dutch truck farmers settlement of Wichert, located about 60 miles south of Chicago, Kankakee County, Illinois.

On 22 March 1911 Gerett Koster married in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois at the age of 23 years the four years younger Gertie Eylander. They had three daughters and five sons.

On 18 August 1917 they had son Eduard Koster in South Holland, Cook county, Illinois.

In 1917 Gerrit Koster (29, Fernwood, Illinois, machinist at a foundry company [gieterij] was living with his wife and two children in South Holland, Cook County, Illinois, when he was administrated on a WW I Draft Registration Card. He was of medium height and slender build, had blue eyes and grayish hair. He signed the card with "Gerritt Koster".

In 1920 Gariett Koster (32, Illinois), his wife Gertrude (28, Illinois), their sons John (8, Illinois), Garrett (6, Illinois) and Edward (2, Illinois) were living at their own home in the village of Phoenix, located just northwest of South Holland and south of Chicago, Thornton Township, Cook County, Illinois,

On 16 March 1921 their daughter Alice Kester was born in the village of Phoenix, located just northwest of South Holland and south of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and on 5 November 1923 daughter Anna Koster was born in the city of Harvey, located just west of South Holland and south of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

In 1930 Gerret Koster (42, Illinois), his wife Gertrude (39, Illinois), their children John (18, Illinois), Gerret (17, Illinois), Edward (12, Illinois), Anna (6, Illinois), Alice (9, Illinois), Cornelius (4, Illinois) and Bertha (1, Illinois) were still living in South Holland, Cook County, Illinois.

On 1 September 1931 their last child, son Calvin Koster was born in Thornton (Township, including South Holland), Cook county, Illinois.

In April 1940 Garrett Koster (52, machinist at a factory and machine shop [Whiting Corporation at Harvey]), his wife Gertrude (49), their children Garrett (27, farmer), Edward (23, farm laborer), Alice (19, new worker), Anna (16), Cornelius (14), Bertha (11) and Calvin (8, Illinois) were living at a rented farm at 17110 Halsted Street in still Thornton Township [incl. Harvey and South Holland], Cook County, Illinois. They lived in 1935 in the same house.

Gerrit Koster Sr died in October 1961 at the age of 74 years in a car accident in front of his home, 15721 South Park Avenue, South Holland, Thornton Township, Cook County, Illinois. His widow Gertrude died in December 1983 at the age of 92 years in South Holland too.

He was a member of the Calvary Reformed Church of South Holland and a consistory member of the Reformed Churches for 24 years.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 18 2020, 16:59:38 UTC
• Residence: 15721 S Park Avenue, South Holland, Cook, Illinois
• Residence: Ganeer Township Momence city Ward 1, Kankakee, Illinois, United States - 1900
• Residence: St Anne, Kankakee, Illinois, United States - 1910
• Residence: Same House - 1935
• Residence: Thornton Township, Cook, Illinois, United States - 1940
  • Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Apr 19 2022, 14:43:40 UTC