% The Rutten Family History % Compiled by Peter Rutten Plainfield Illinois % March, 1951

Preface

This short sketch traces the History of the Rutten Family back about 276 years to the 17th Century. The belief is that the family originated in Germany prior to that time, although there are no official records available to prove this.

It is claimed that a man named Rutten had become influential in Germany and held a high office in the German Government. He was probably close to the German ruler, in the capacity of an advisor of some importance. Further, that this German ruler planned some tyrannical national move which was strongly and vigorously opposed by said Rutten, resulting in their becoming bitter enemies.

Thinking discretion to be the better part of valor, Rutten escaped into Austria, and after some time made his way to Holland where he settled down and raised a family. As time rolled on, one branch of this family settled in Belgium, the other branch remained in Holland.

Joannes Rutten (later herein mentioned as the husband of Maria Hubertina Rutten) was a descendent of the Belgian branch.

In the early days, one of the Rutten families immigrated to the United States, some of whose offspring settled in Minnesota and changed their name to Ritten, while another group of offspring located in North Dakota and held to the original name of Rutten.

We have no further record of the Minnesota branch of this Rutten family.

Renerus Rutten was born during the year 1675 at Kessenich, Belgium. He married Cornelia Janssen on June 18, 1713. She was born on June 5, 1687, and died at Kessenich on December 17, 1751. Renerus died at Heythuyzen on April 6, 1767. Six children were born of this union.

The fifth of these children named Renerus Rutten, was born at Kessenich on August 29, 1727. He married Cornelia Aengevaeren. He died on March 23, 1764. Eight children were born of this union.

The fifth member of these children named Joannes Franciscus Rutten was born at Kessenich on August 23, 1758. He married Ludovica Janssen on September 5, 1790. He served as Mayor of Kessenich from 1817 through 1830. He died at Kessenich on July 29, 1838. Eleven children were born of this union.

The oldest of these children named Henricus Renerus Rutten was born at Kessenich on April 6, 1792. He married Johanna Van De Winkel at Neeritter, Holland, on January 13, 1820. They lived at Heel, Holland, where he died on June 22, 1848. Seven children were born of this union.

The oldest of these children, Lambertus Rutten, was born on October 13, 1820. See further information regarding him on following pages.

A younger brother of Joannes Franciscus Rutten, son of Renerus Rutten, was born on March 23, 1764. He married Sibella Vangeneygen. They lived near Neeritter, Holland. One of their sons named Joannes Reynerus Rutten, married Petronella Zegers. This couple were the parents of Joannes Rutten, Bishop Rutten and others as will be noted on a following page.

A portion of the data on these pages has been compiled and contributed by Doctor J. Rutten of Quinten Matsyslei 29, Antwerp, Belgium, who is a grandson of Joannes Rutten.

Lambert Rutten and Maria Catherina (Grispen) Rutten

Lambert Rutten was born at Heel, Holland on October 13, 1820 and died on Sept. 23, 1877 at Beegden, Holland. He was married in the year 1844 to Maria Catherina Grispen, who was born at Ittervoort, Holland on April 19, 1816 and died on June 16, 1894 at Grathem, Holland. There were born to this union, four children, three sons and one daughter, while residing on a farm named Pannenhof, near Heel, Holland.

Renier Rutten, the eldest son, was born at Beegden, Holland on March 24, 1845, and died February 12 1923 at Heel. He was married to Agata Verbruggen, who was born at Grathem, Holland on May 30, 1839. They farmed all their lives near Grathem, Holland. There were no children born to this union.

John M. Rutten, the second son, was born February 11, 1847 at Beegden, Holland.

He was married during the year 1870 to Maria Hubertina Narinx. (See photo and history following.)

Maria Hubertina Rutten, was born January 23, 1854 at Beegden, Holland; died January 22, 1940 at Geistingen, Holland. She was married on September 2, 1878 at Beegden to Joannes Rutten, a distant cousin, of the Belgian group mentioned in the Preface. They farmed near Geistingen, Belgium.

Five sons were born of this union. A brother of Joannes became Bishop of Luik, Belgium. Another brother, Hubertus, was auxiliary Bishop at Luik, Belgium. Two other brothers, Renier and Jacob, served as Zouaven at Rome in the Pope’s service. One cousin, Martin, was Governor General in the Belgium Congo, Africa. A grandson was ordained a priest in Belgium; another grandson, Joseph, came to Plainfield, Illinois in 1949, and two other grandsons, Hubert and Jack, immigrated to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1941 and 1946 respectively.

Joannes Franciscus Rutten, was born November 13, 1851 at Beegden, Holland, and died February 14, 1939 at Heel, Holland.

He was married April 28 1874, to Maria Judith Braekers at Heel, Holland.

This couple farmed near Heel, Holland. There was born to their union twelve children, six sons and six daughters. One son, John, became a Priest and two daughters became Nuns. The oldest daughter, Maria, was Mother Superior in a convent in North Africa, where she spent her life caring for and educating the Negroes. Four granddaughters also entered the convent and became Nuns. One grandson, Piet, came to Plainfield, Illinois during 1949, and is now farming near Osakis, Minnesota.

The ancestry of Mother Maria Catherina Grispen, unfortunately has a break in the chain in that the names of the parents of both her father and mother are unknown but their grandparents, i.e. Maria’s great grandparents are all known and are listed herein.

Her father was John Mathies Grispen, whose grandparents on his father’s side were Joannes Grispen and Christina Randeraadt, and on his mother’s side were Mathies Hulskins and Catherina Rynders.

Her mother was Johanna Maria Keygaarts whose grandparents on her father’s side were Lambert Keygaarts and Catherina Grispen and on her mother’s side were Godefridus Scheymans and Johanna Teven.

John M. Rutten and Maria Hubertina (Narinx) Rutten

John M. Rutten was born on February 11, 1847 at Beegden, Holland and died on September 11, 1920 at Perham, Minnesota. He was married in 1870 to Maria Hubertina Narinx, who was born on September 11, 1848 at Eckelrade, Holland and died on May 8, 1914 at Osakis, Minnesota.

They farmed near Ittervoort, Holland until 1881 when they moved to a farm near Ophoven, Belgium, remaining there until 1892.

During this time ten children were born to them, seven sons and three daughters, namely: Lambert, Christian, Maria, Margaret, Peter, John, Anna, Leonard, Joseph and Frank. (Margaret died at the age of one year at Ittervoort, Holland.)

In the year 1882, John Brouns, a brother-in-law of John M. Rutten, who resided in Lanaken, Belgium, with his family immigrated to the United States and settled at Osakis, Minnesota. In 1890, John Brouns made a visit to his homeland and when he returned to the United States, John M. Rutten sent his eldest son, Lambert, with him for the purpose of getting first hand information regarding living conditions and the opportunities for making a livelihood in this new land.

A year later, Lambert returned to Belgium and made such a favorable report to his father that it was decided to go to America. Hence, on March 22, 1892 the entire John M. Rutten family arrived in Osakis, Minnesota and became permanently settled in the United States.

The Family of John M. Rutten

Lambert Rutten, the first child, was born at Ittervoort, Holland on December 29, 1871. He came to the U. S. A. in 1891 and was married to Lena Ostroski, on November 26, 1900 at Browerville, Minnesota. Lambert died on November 22, 1935, at Devils Lake, North Dakota and his widow is now living at 1017 Third Street, Devils Lake, North Dakota. Eight children were born to this union, four sons and four daughters.

Christian Rutten was born at Ittervoort, Holland on May 13, 1874, came to the U. S. in March 1892, and was married on November 13, 1900 to Matilda Roers, at Millerville, Minnesota. They are now retired farmers residing at Osakis, Minnesota. Seven children, four sons and three daughters resulted from this union.

Maria Rutten was born on March 24, 1876 at Ittervoort, Holland and came to the U. S. in March, 1892. She was married at Belle River (near Osakis) Minnesota to Theodore Verlinden, on January 22, 1895. They are now retired farmers residing at 876 Edgewood Avenue, North Sacramento 15, California. Four children, three sons and one daughter were born to them.

Peter Rutten was born at Ittervoort, Holland on April 8, 1880, came to the U. S. in March 1892, and was married on October 20, 1903, to Agnes Dohman, at Osakis, Minnesota. A sketch of this couple appears on the following pages. Ten children, three sons and seven daughters blessed this marriage.

John Rutten was born on August 15, 1881 at Ophoven, Belgium and came to the U. S. in March, 1892. He was married at Osakis, Minnesota to Margaret Neibouer on February 14, 1905. They were retired farmers when he died at Crary, North Dakota, on May 2, 1936. The widow Margaret now resides at 108 Second Street N.W., Mandan, North Dakota. Seven children, four sons and three daughters were born to them.

Anna Rutten was born on November 3, 1883 at Ophoven, Belgium and came to the U. S. in March, 1892, was married at Osakis, Minnesota to Jacob Kreemer, on November 19, 1901 where they are still farming. Eight children, four sons and four daughters were born to them.

Leonard Rutten was born on November 19, 1885 at Ophoven, Belgium, came to the U. S. in March, 1892 and was married on March 29, 1910 to Dena Walters at Belle River, Minnesota. They are now farming at Marcelin, Saskatchewan, Canada. Nine children, six sons and three daughters were born to them.

Joseph Rutten was born on November 24, 1887 at Ophoven, Belgium, came to the U. S. in March, 1892, and was married on May 9, 1916 to Catharine Dykhof, at Butler, Minnesota. They are now farming at New York Mills, Minnesota. Seven children four sons and three daughters were born to them.

Frank Rutten was born on June 11, 1889 at Ophoven, Bel- gium, came to the U. S. in March, 1892 and was married on March 25, 1918 to Francis Dohman at Osakis, Minnesota. They are now farming at Osakis. Two children, one son and one daughter were born to them.

Peter Rutten and Agnes (Dohman) Rutten

Peter Rutten was born April 8, 1880 at Ittervoort, Holland. He was married at Osakis, Minnesota on October 20, 1903 to Agnes Dohman who was born on January 12, 1884 at Chaska, Minnesota.

When Peter Rutten was a year old, his father and family moved from Ittervoort, Holland, to a farm at Ophoven, Belgium. In 1892, John M. Rutten with his family came to the U. S. A. arriving at Osakis, Minnesota, on March 22, 1892 where he purchased and settled on a timber farm. This Osakis community was new and sparsely settled at that time and had very poor roads and schools. There were still a few ox teams, but most farmers had horses.

Peter stayed with his parents until every acre of their timber farm was cleared up, or until 1903, when he bought an 80 acre farm for himself near Osakis, a few months before he married. In 1905 he traded this 80 acre farm toward a 320 acre farm near Edmunds, North Dakota, where they farmed for two years. In 1907, they sold this North Dakota farm and moved back to Osakis, Minnesota, where they bought a 120 acre farm, which they later sold.

In 1922, Peter started a concrete stave silo manufacturing plant at Osakis where the silo business increased year after year. During 1937, Peter with his son Walter, designed and developed a metal, dome shaped silo roof. This was something new and very useful. The demand for this type roof grew rapidly and soon outgrew the Osakis plant facilities. During 1938 he sold his silo business to his son Joseph who has continued the silo business thru to this date.

Peter then formed a partnership with his son Walter and started an exclusive roof and silo accessory manufacturing plant. They leased a large building at Freeport, Illinois, where they operated for some time. The demand for this type roof soon became nationwide, and the Freeport plant proved to be too small for their growing business operations. They then acquired a large building at Plainfield, Illinois to which they tranferred their equipment and where the manufacturing has been carried on to this date. The partnership of Peter and Walter Rutten has since been incorporated as the Railoc Company, Incorporated.

The married union of Peter Rutten and Agnes (Dohman) Rutten was blessed with ten children, concerning whom more will be found in the following pages.

The Peter and Agnes (Dohman) Rutten Family

This is a characteristically large Rutten family, consisting of ten children.

Joseph J. Rutten, the first child, was born on August 21, 1904 at Osakis, Minnesota, was married at Glenwood, Minnesota, on January 7, 1928, to Gladys Viola Eastman, who was born on July 14, 1909, at Glenwood, Minnesota. Four children were born to this union, one son, Dean Thomas, and three daughters, Patricia June, Carolyn Ann and Phyllis Susan. He is now owner of the Osakis Concrete Products Co., manufacturing silos at Osakis, Minnesota.

Pauline Louise was born on February 5, 1907 at Pingree, North Dakota, married at Little Falls, Minnesota, on September 30, 1936, to Edwin Borton, who was born on July 5, 1908, at Lancaster, Minnesota. They have no children. They live in Plainfield, Illinois, where her husband is a machinist.

Agnes Marie was born on October 22, 1908 at Osakis, Minnesota, and died on May 29, 1914 and was buried in Calvary cemetery at Osakis, Minnesota.

Walter Hubert, was born on August 4, 1910, at Osakis, Minnesota, where he was married on October 19, 1933 to Marion Arntson, who was born on March 26, 1913, at Montevideo, Minnesota. Ten children were born to this union. Three sons, James, Walter, Jr., and Peter, and seven daughters, Donna, Jean, Dolores, Jerry, Judy, Marion and Timothy Marie. (Jerry and Judy are twins.) Walter Hubert is living with his family in Plainfield, Illinois, where he is vice president of the Railoc Company, Inc.

Alice Agnes was born on April 16, 1915 at Osakis, Minnesota, where she was married on September 4, 1937, to Homer Peterson, who was born on April 11, 1916 at Osakis, Minnesota. Three children were born to this union. One son, Robert, and two daughters, Janet and Noreen. They now reside in Chaska, Minnesota, where he owns and operates a silo manufacturing plant.

Mary Helena was born on February 15, 1917 at Osakis, Minnesota, married at Seattle, Washington on December 31, 1937 to Edwin Kleeberger, who was born on August 31, 1916 at Osakis, Minnesota. Three children were born to this union. Two sons, one named Michael Wayne, the other died in infancy, and one daughter, Karen Lou. They now reside in Plainfield, Illinois. She is secretary of the Railoc Company. Her husband is a guard at Stateville Penitentiary.

Helen Margaret was born on March 26, 1920 at Osakis, Minnesota, married at Joliet, Illinois on June 27, 1942 to John Barry who was born on September 1, 1915 at Joliet, Illinois. Four children were born to this union, three sons, Jack, Jim and Douglas, and one daughter, Reta. They are now living in Morris, Illinois where he owns the Mid West Silo Co.

Catherine Elizabeth was born on February 24, 1922 at Osakis, Minnesota, married at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on January 28, 1948 to Harley Bishop, who was born on May 17, 1916 at Clinton, Illinois. Three children were born of this union, one son Ronald Gene and two daughters, one named Sandra Kay, the other died in infancy. They reside in Joliet, Illinois where Harley is a partner in the Joliet Silo Company.

Irene Margaret was born on January 19, 1927 at Osakis, Minnesota, was married at Plainfield, Illinois on February 26, 1949 to Henry Esser, who was born on February 27, 1924 at Minster, Ohio. No children. They reside in Plainfield, Illinois where he is with the Railoc Company.

Donald Edward was born on May 29, 1929 at Osakis, Minnesota. He was living with his parents in Plainfield, Illinois when he was inducted into the U. S. Armed services on February 8, 1951.

Plainfield, Illinois, March, 1951

The Rutten Family History (family tree) herein shown and described, traces back to the early 18th century.

It will be noted, that mainly, only one branch has been followed through herein, that of Lambert Rutten, to John M. Rutten and to the Peter Rutten Family.

The Rutten’s have mostly all been large families, as you have realized when reading the preceeding pages, therefore, there are many branches not mentioned herein. Anyone who gets one of these histories may add hereto as they see fit, from their own family branch onward.

It will no doubt be very interesting to the future generations to look back into the Rutten history and to know that in spite of the many branches and large families, there is not a single case of divorce of record during the entire past 250 years, in any of the Rutten families, neither is there any case of record, where anyone of them has ever served a jail sentence and that so far as is known all of them have always adhered to the Catholic Faith, and have been loyal citizens to their respective countries.

We, at this time, wish, hope and pray, that the present and future generations will continue to carry on, in an unbroken line and in the same manner, that Honest, Loyal and God Fearing record set by our fore-fathers.

May God bless, protect and guide the future generations to so carry on.

Peter Rutten