Jan Harm Lummen
By Bentheimers International Society
A portion of General Major von Le Coq‘s Grafschaft Bentheim map (1805) depicting Frensdorf, now part of Nordhorn. Jan Harm Lummen was born here in 1825.
Jan Harm Lummen was born December 15, 1825 in Frensdorf to the Akkerman farmer Frederik Hekman/Lummen and his second wife Swenne Lögten. Frederik’s first wife was Fenne Lummen, and he had taken the Lummen name when they married. Jan Harm was the only child from this second marriage.
On May 24, 1854, Jan Harm married Gese (Geize, Grace) Stevens in Nordhorn. They would have four children in Frensdorf:
- Hendrik—born 1855, died 1857;
- Swenna (Zwantje)—born 1858;
- Geerdjen—born 1861, died 1863; and,
- Hendrik—born 1864.
In March of 1867, Jan Harm, wife Gese, daughter Zwantje, and son Hendrik emigrated to Michigan. The Lummen family settled near Graafschap in Allegan County, Michigan. There he became a farmer. The 1880 Federal Census shows that they had two more children:
- Geertjen—born around 1870; and,
- Willem—born around 1872.
Jan Harm Lummen died on March 13, 1898 in Fillmore Township at the age of 72. He was buried in the East Saugatuck Cemetery.
His wife Gese Stevens Lummen died on August 14, 1922.
Above: 1895 plat map of Fillmore Township showing Jan Harm Lummen’s 80–acre far. Right: Jan Harm’s grave marker in East Saugatuck Cemetery.
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