How Did Van Raalse In Establishing A Colony?
Establishing a colony there wasn't easy. Many settlers were inexperienced and the forests on the land needed clearing before they could begin farming. The first years were difficult due to disease and the difficulty of making a living off the undeveloped land. Van Raalte looked to the Dutch Reformed congregations in the New Jersey area for help and eventually joined the American branch of the Dutch Reformed Church in 1850. These New Jersey congregations were part of those Reformed churches that formed in 1628.
In July of 1847, Gijsbert Haan and his family left the Netherlands following Van Raalte's lead, and settled in New York for a time before heading to Michigan. While living in New York, his thinking was shaped by a group known as the
In July of 1847, Gijsbert Haan and his family left the Netherlands following Van Raalte's lead, and settled in New York for a time before heading to Michigan. While living in New York, his thinking was shaped by a group known as the