What makes a man go west?
Just like his 3rd-great-grandfather, Bruno, Paul Zee was ready for adventure, and a new life. In 1907, at the age of 27, he and his wife Johanna (known as Anna) decided that the United States would be the place to do that.
For a time Paul ran a grocery store in Amsterdam, but became bankrupt in 1905, and moved to Egmond aan Zee, near Alkmaar – where Johanna’s family was from. But he had a friend in Chicago – one “C. Schermer”, according to the ships manifest on his departure voyage. And so, on March 23rd, 1907 they set sail on the Rijndam to New York, making the Atlantic crossing at blistering speed – just 10 days.
After spending some years in Chicago, Paul and Johanna moved to the tiny village of Lester, Iowa. Here, Paul opened “The Paul Zee Store of Quality” in March 1919.
Paul and his cousin Pieter would become the forefathers of the “American Zee’s”.
Their Story
Paulus (Paul) Zee, son of Frederik Zee, was born on March 26, 1880 in Opperdoes in the Province of Noord Holland in The Netherlands. Paulus profession was ‘shop keeper’, most likely of a general store. On the 1920 census of Lester, Lyon, Iowa, Paul’s occupation is listed as ‘merchant in a retail general store’. On the 1930 census for Holland City, Ottawa, Michigan, his ocupation is listed as ‘agent for a life insurance company’. He died on February 19, 1958 in Holland, Michigan and he is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan.
Johanna (Anna) de Graaff came from a large family, and one of her sisters, Gezina, was also married to a Zee! Gezina de Graaff married Pieter Zee, who was a cousin of Paul’s – their fathers Pieter and Frederik were brothers. Like Paul, Pieter had also emigrated to the US, a year earlier than Paul, in 1906. Peter and Gezina settled on a ranch in Westfall, Oregon. Their story is here.
When Anna was just 12 years old, she took up a position as servant for a wealthy family in Amsterdam. She arrived at the house at Prinsengracht 17 in April of 1890, the home of the family of Jan Frederik Meursing. Meursing was the owner of the large shipyard “De Nachtegaal” in Amsterdam, where they built large ocean going sailing ships, predominantly of the “Clipper” type. In 1889, Jan Frederik Meursing bought his first camera, and one of his first photographs shows the family that year. Anna is not in the photo, but these were the children she was looking after.
When Johanna was 18, she went to Brussels to take up employment as the governess for an important Belgian family. During her stay there, she met King Leopold of Belgium, and her name “Anna de Graaff” is on one of the monuments in the King’s garden. After 3 months there, the mother of the family died. Anna, a short time later, was asked for her hand in marriage by the widower.
But Johanna did not want to get married, left Brussels, and went back to her parents in Alkmaar. A short time later, she met Paul. Paul Zee married Anna in 1901 in the Grote Kerk of Haarlem, the same church where Queen Juliana was married. Anna was the daughter of Hendrik Jacob de Graaff and Antje Prins. Her father was a shopkeeper in Alkmaar. In 1907 they left for America.
Chicago
Paul and Johanna left Holland with their daughter Maartje, on the ship Rijndam, in March 1907. They used the Rotterdam-New York route, arriving . Paul and Johanna first settled in Chicago. They first stayed with C. Schermer, at 11024 Michigan Avenue, Chicago, before finding their own place to live.
In 1909, Paul’s first cousin Pieter Zee, also from Twisk, came to visit. He had met Johanna’s sister Gezina, and they decided to get married. Fresh in from Holland, the couple married in Chicago on March 25th, 1909. From there, they went straight on to Westfall, Oregon, where Pieter had established a small ranch. Pieter and Paul would remain close throughout their lives in the US, especially later when Pieter moved back to the Midwest.
In 1910, Paul and Johanna were living at 30 E 103rd Street in south Chicago, in the Kensington area. He had found work as a salesman of Comptometers, a mechanical calculator that was becoming increasingly popular in the early 1900’s. Their first children, Maartje (now Mary, easier on the American tongue), and Anna, were 7, and 1.
In early 1912, Paul made a visit to the Netherlands, returning to the US in March. At the time, he was still living in Kensington.
Sheldon, Iowa
In April 1912, Paul and Anna moved to Sheldon, Iowa, where he worked as a travelling salesman for a grocery store. In July 1912, Nellie Zee is born in Sheldon, Iowa.
In 1913, Paul purchased a hotel at Geddes, South Dakota, with the intention of running it. The paper in Sheldon reported that they didn’t know Mr. Zee, but that he showed “evidence of having enough push to make a go of it”. The paper was wrong. Paul returned to Sheldon that November. However, he wasn’t settled yet. The family moved briefly back to Chicago in November 1913 – with Paul taking up a new job with Hamstra – but returned again to Sheldon in August 1914.
In 1914, Clarence Paul Zee (son of Pieter Zee & Gezina de Graaff) is born in Sheldon, Iowa.
A Dutch society, Hollandia, was set up in Sheldon. In February of 1915, the society held its first big gathering in the opera house at Sheldon. Cousin Pieter took part in a quartet, as baritone, and Paul’s wife Anna was one of the two alto’s. 250 people attended.
In November 1915, Paul and family moved to a new house on 11th street, “the Griffin house”.
Paul had made acquaintance with Harm Hamstra, a fellow entrepreneur who had emigrated from Dokkum, Holland in 1901. Hamstra had made a great success of his business, which was importing prized Dutch items – like cocoa, tea, books, Verkade biscuits, and anything that reminded people of home – and selling them to the diaspora in the United States. Paul took a job with him as a travelling salesman and based himself in Sheldon, Iowa. There was money to be made out west.
In May of 1916 Paul and Harm visited Alton, Iowa on a sales trip – and also visiting his cousin Pieter Zee who had moved there. In late July, Pieter and Gesina made a return visit (just a Sunday afternoon trip) and Paul told them he had decided to quit the travelling job. He opened a store in Steen, Minnesota, moving up there in early August. The Sheldon Sun reported that, “The Sun regrets the departure of this good family from Sheldon, but wishes them success in their new location”.
In June 1924, Paul, then living in Rock Rapids, moved to Grand Rapids to take up a new position – becoming once again a travelling salesman for the Hamstra company.
Steen, Minnesota
Paul and Johanna set to work improving the store they bought in Steen, and adding new Dutch products to the line. There was a huge Dutch population by now in Iowa, and they even had their own newspaper, “De Volksvriend”, which kept them up to date with happenings in Holland, Europe (the war was on), and most importantly all the local happenings. That August, Johanna’s parents came to visit from Grand Rapids – duly reported in the columns.
In Steen, Johanna also took up work as an agent for Holland America line, advertising tickets to Holland in the local papers.
In 1918, Johanna’s father died, and Paul Zee made the trip to Grand Rapids for the funeral.
In March 1919, Paul quit work as manager of the Steen Rochdale Co.
Lester, Iowa
In April 1919, Paul opened the “Paul Zee Store of Quality” in Lester, Iowa, purchasing the premises from B. I. Tripp. The following month, the local paper reported an accident involving Paul. “Paul Zee storekeeper at Lester, met with a painful accident Saturday night, when he undertook to accommodate an automobilist who had run out of gasoline. It was dark in the shed where he kept the gasoline, and he asked his customer or someone else to hold a lighted match at what he thought was a safe distance. The result was an explosion, which burned the storekeeper’s face and hands, the latter quite badly. Dr Cameron was called from Rock Rapids to give him relief. Mr. Zee recently moved from Steen to Lester to take over the Tripp store, the Tripps having moved to Avoca, Minnesota.”
After Johanna’s father passed away in Grand Rapids in 1918, her mother Antje Prins came to live with the family.
In February 1921, Johanna got a visit from Miss. M. Finant, from Brussels. [Possibly the family that she looked after when she was in Belgium?]
Rock Rapids
Paul opened his next store in Rock Rapids, Iowa – about the most northwest you can get in the state. In July 1923, grandfather Frederik Zee was staying with Paul Zee in Rock Rapids. He became ill with a kidney issue. Paul took him to the hospital in Rochester, Minnesota – a considerable distance on the train. He ended up spending around 6 weeks there, returning to Rock Rapids in early September, still quite weak. He did recover though, and was pleased to be back in time for young Marie (Mary) Zee’s wedding to Murray Steinkamp. Murray was from Pella, Iowa. Mary was Paul’s youngest daughter, born in Amsterdam.
In January 1924, Johanna’s mother (Mrs. J. de graaff) became ill, and had to have an operation for gall stones and her appendix. She went to the hospital in Sioux City. She made a full recovery. In June 1924, Paul and Johanna moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Holland, Michigan
Paul and family moved into a new home at 93 East 10th St, in Holland – on the lake, near Grand Rapids.
In November 1924, Frederik Zee – Paul’s father, who had been living with the family – moved back to Holland. >
Paul settled into the local community quickly, and joined the Sixth Reformed church in the city of Holland. In December 1925 he was elected Deacon. This position had also been held by his great-grandfather Bruin Zee had also been in Noorscharwoude, Holland, in the 1780’s.
In June 1927, Paul’s daughter Anna got married, to Russell Vermeulen. They settled in Grand Haven. The following March, they had their first child, a baby boy.
Paul and Anna’s family
Lauretta Zee married Albert Lucas (with her brother in law, Murray Steinkamp, as the celebrant), and had a daughter, Linda. She later married Claude Bilbey. In 1940, she was a telephone operator in Grand Rapids, MI.
Lauretta and Albert had three children: Paul, Linda, and Miriam.
Paul Henry Zee (also known as Paul Zee jr) married Marjorie Jean Castor in Grand Rapids 1945.
Paul junior was active in World War 2, spending a year and a half in Australia and Papua New Guinea in 1942 and 1943. While there, he completed training in cryptography, and on his return to the US took up duty as a code instructor at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He got a short break home with his family in Grand Rapids before starting. He had also spent 18 months in the US Navy before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Neeltje Zee (known as Nella) married Earl Ziel, and had two children, Ronald and David.
Genealogy
F Paul Zee
b 26-Mar-1880 Opperdoes [>] [Frederik Zee & Maartje Bakker]
+ 19-Feb-1958 Grand Rapids, MI, USA
x Johanna (Anna) de Graaff 18-Sep-1901 Haarlem [>]
* 14-Feb-1878 Alkmaar [>] [Hendrik de Graaff & Antje Prins]
+ 15-Jun-1961 Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Children:
1 Maartje Frederika 01-Dec-1902 Amsterdam +17-Apr-1992 Pella, Iowa
2 Anna Hendrika 26-May-1908 Chicago +15-Jul-1992 Washington, Minnesota
3 Neeltje 09-Jul-1912 Sheldon, Iowa +02-Dec 1987 Butte, California
4 Paul Henry 08-Jun-1917 Steen, MN +20-Jan-2001 Grand Rapids, Michigan
5 Lauretta 22-Jun-1918 Steen, MN +11-Aug-2004 Hastings, Michigan
Maartje Frederika Zee x (1) Murray Earl Steinkamp
1 Joan M. Steinkamp 16-Jun-1929 x Ralph J. Charter +15-Feb-2021
Anna Hendrika Zee x (1) Russel J. Vermurlen:
1 Robert C. Vermurlen 21-Feb-1928 x Marion, Pauline I Welch
2 Jack W. Vermurlen 19-Sep-1929 x Dorothy Brown
3 Lee R. Vermurlen 03-May-1938 x Diane Walters
x (2) Lynn Munshaw
x (3) Gordon Padgett
Neeltje Zee x Earl Ziel
1 Ronald D. Ziel c. 1934 +
2 David E. Ziel c. 1937 x Janet Ranch 1958
x (2) Lew Walden
Paul Henry Zee
* 08-Jun-1917 Steen, MN
+ 20-Jan-2001 Grand Rapids, MI >
x Marjorie Jean Castor 02-Jun-1945 Grand Rapids MI [>]
+ 02-Aug-1916 Grand Rapids, MI [Carl Castor & Sylvia Handlin]
* 12-Dec-1993 Grand Rapids, MI >
1 Judith Ann Zee 10-Feb-1945 x Philip Jacobson, Jack Gistinger
2 ? + 1956 ?
Lauretta Elisabeth Zee x (1) Albert Lucas
1 Paul Lucas
2 Linda Anne Lucas 1942 +1995
3 Miriam Lucas
x (2) Claude Bilbey
Timeline
02-Apr-1890 Anna de Graaff moves from Alkmaar to Amsterdam. See full family card for the de Graaff family >. She returns home 30-Oct-1890. In Amsterdam, living at Prinsengracht 17, working as a servant, at the home of Jan Fredrik Meursing and Antonia Korthals Altes, and their three young children. At the time, Anna is just 12 years old. Meursing was the owner of the large shipyard "De Nachtegaal" in Amsterdam, where they built large ocean going sailing ships, predominantly of the "Clipper" type. In 1889, Jan Frederik Meursing bought his first camera, and captured early images. >
09-Oct-1895 Paul goes to Medemblik as Molenaarsknecht, staying at Oudehaven 4. >
05-Mar-1896 Paul moves from Medemblik to Bovenkarspel for work. >
07-Sep-1896 Anna de Graaff moves from Alkmaar to Brussels. On same day, brother Cornelis de Graaff moves from Alkmaar to Haarlem. >
20-Nov-1896 Paul moves from Bovenkarspel to Venhuizen as "Dienstknecht" (Servant). Living at Venhuizen Nr. 199, along with several others. On 6-Feb-1899 he moves to Hoorn. >
13-Jun-1900 Paul moves out of the family home in Hoorn, to Alkmaar [>]. In Hoorn, he lived with his parents at Turfhaven 19, and Spoorstraat 16 - along with his sisters' daughter Nelly Rudolfine Zee after her mother died.
30-Apr-1900 Paul Zee in Alkmaar (Heiloo), Kruideniersbed. voor Dijkstra (A. Heijn). From Hoorn, 30-Apr-1900. Adres Friesen (?) 53. To Den Haag 05-Dec-1900. Bvr. Heiloo >
1900 Paul is listed in military conscription records as a Bakers apprentice, 1m70cm tall, grey eyes, blond hair. Not conscripted, reason given: broeder (in) diesnt. Presumably Pieter Zee 1875, or Jan. [>]
21-Aug-1901 Paul and Johanna move into a house on the Tweede Nassaustraat, No. 16, in Amsterdam. Johanna's sister Gezina (who will later marry his cousin Pieter) lives with them from 11-Jul-1902 until 19-Jul-1905, when she moves to Alkmaar. Paul is listed as a Grocer (kruidenier) [>]
18-Sep-1901 Paul Zee marries Johanna de Graaff in Haarlem. Present are parents (Frederik and Maartje), brother Jan Zee living Venhuizen. >
30-Mar-1905 Paul is declared bankrupt in Amsterdam. [>] Paul and Johanna move from Amsterdam to Egmond aan Zee on 12-Jul-1905. [>]
18-Jul-1905 Paul and Johanna move to (Alkmaar?) 3a. Letbaas Lunchroom? 8-Mar-1907 noted as moving to Chicago, USA. >
23-Mar-1907 Paul and Johanna emigrate with their daughter Maartje to the USA on the ship Rijndam, traveling Rotterdam-New York [>]. They pay 120 guilders per ticket, booked through Thomas Cook Amsterdam. Possibly also traveling with Willem van Otters & his wife, and Jacob van Kampen (ticket sequence no.s same). US Manifest on arrival shows final destination a friends house: C. Schermer at 11024 Michigan Avenue, Chicago. [His cousin Pieter Zee, who also emigrated around 1906, his mother was Antje Schermer. Possibly connected]
19-Apr-1910 Paul and Johanna are living at 30 E 103rd Street, Chicago. Paul is a salesman of Comptometers. US Census 1910. He's actually listed as "Powell Zee", but that would be how Paul sounds in Dutch. [>]
16-Mar-1912 Paul Zee, Rotterdam to New York, Holland America Line, final dest Kensington, Illinois + 2 children [>] 27-Mar-1912 Johanna, Maartje, and Anna arrive NY on Nieuw Amsterdam, departed Rotterdam 16-Mar-1912 [>]
09-Jul-1912 Birth of Nellie Zee, Sheldon, Iowa >.
13-May-1916 Mr. Hamstra of Chicago and Mr P. Zee of Sheldon, who is a representative of the Hamstra firm, were here on business in the interest of their Dutch articles on Saturday. [Alton Democrat]
18-Aug-1916 Paul Zee opens store in Sheldon, Iowa. >
08-Jun-1917 Birth of Paul Henry Zee, Steen, Rock, Minnesota.
20-Oct-1917 Alton Democrat: Mrs. Paul Zee visited relatives here with baby, from Steen, Mn. > [Alton Democrat]
22-Dec-1917 Mrs. P. Zee and little son Clarence spent a few days with relatives in Steen, Minnesota. [Alton Democrat]
20-Mar-1919 "It is reported that B.I. Tripp had sold his store to Paul Zee, who will take posession of it Monday" [>]
29-Jan-1920 Paul and Johanna are living in Lester, Iowa. He runs a general Store here. Their children are Marie, Anna, Nellie, Paul Jr., and Loretta. Also Anna de Graaff, US Census 1920 [>]. Location given: Larchwood.
29-Jul-1920 Rock Rapids reporter: "Mrs Paul Zee and daughter, Nellie, left Tuesday for Sheldon, for a visit with relatives They will also make a short visit at Alton before returning home" >
26-Aug-1920 Gerrit Hoeven and Paul Zee ask for judgement on $1000 owed for a farm in Allison township >
14-Jan-1922 Mrs Paul Zee left Saturday for her home at Lester, Iowa after several days of visit with her sister Mrs Peter Zee. Accompanying her home was Mr Fred Zee, who is an uncle of Peter. [Alton Democrat]
23-Jun-1923 Mrs P.(Peter) Zee returns home to Alton following two week visit to her mother in Grand Rapids.
21-Jun-1923 Reference to "The old Paul Zee Store of Quality" in Lester, Iowa. Iowa Newspapers, 1837-2009 "… June 13, 1923. LESTER The old Paul Zee Store of Quality has been reopened by the Co., with Joseph Adema as manager. A fine new stock has been put in, and the company is …" Publication place: Rock Rapids, Lyon County, IA, USA Publication date: June 21 1923 [>] and [>]
31-Mar-1924 Mr & Mrs. P. Zee drove to Rock Rapids Sunday and on their return were accompanied by the former's Uncle, Fred Zee, and granddaughter Nellie Zee who are spending the week here. Alton Democrat. [likely Nellie dau. of Paul] [Also, that suggests that Frederik Zee lived a long time in the US! Didn't he go in 1920?]
24-Jun-1924 Visitors at the Mr and Mrs P. Zee home were Mr and Mrs Henry de Graaff, and Peter de Graaff of Grand Rapids Mich., (and) Mr. and Mrs. Paul Zee and familly. The latter are moving from Rock Rapids to Grand Rapids, and left Wednesday in company with the Michigan party, driving in two cars.
08-Dec-1936 Mrs Paul H Zee on the Brooklyn/Flatbush Nursery Board [>]. Also ref'd as Mrs Paul H Zee (1935). Ad from 1923 for Paul H Zea. => Not related.
21-Mar-1955 Paul H. Zee added to sales staff of U.S. Truck Company, Inc. [>]
20-Feb-1958 Obit. Grand Rapids Herald: Mr. Paul Zee Sr. age 78 of 323 Union Ave NE passed away suddenly Weds Eve. surviving are his wife Johanna E. a son Paul Zee Jr of Grand Rapids, 4 daughters Mrs. M. Steinkamp of Woodstock, Minn; Mrs. Lou Walden of Taft California; Mrs. Albert Lucas of Holland and a brother Peter of the Netherlands. [>]
15-Jun-1961 Obit. Grand Rapids Press: Johanna Zee aged 84, widow of Paul Zee, Sr. formerly of 323 Union Ave NE passed away at the Mulder Nursing Home Thursday morning in Holland, Mich. She is survived by 4 daughters; Mrs. Murry E. Steinkamp of Iowa, Mrs. Gordon Padgett of Thornton Colo; Mrs. Lou of Taft California; Mrs. Albert Lucas of Holland; l son Paul of Grand Rapids ; 2 brothers Peter and John DeGraff of California. l2 grandchildren; l2 great grandchildren. [>]
16-Jun-1961 Obit. Mrs. Paul (Johanna E) Zee, of Grand Rapids, who for the past three years had been a patient the Mulder Home in Holland Thursday morning at the Home. She was born in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. Surviving are four daughters. Mrs. Albert Lucas of Holland, Mrs. Lewis Walden ol Tali. C a Mrs. Gordon Padget of Denver. Colo., and Mrs. Murray Steinkamp of Bristow. Iowa: one son. Paul H. Zee. of Grand Rapid: 12 g grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Also surviving are four brother. Henry De Graaff of Grand Cornelius De Graaff of Harthorne. N. J., Jacob De Graaf of Grand Rapids, Peter De Graaff of Spokane. Wash., and two sisters. Mrs. Bessie Van den Heuvel of Grand Rapids and Mrs. Peter Zee of San Gabriel, Calif. Dr. Paul Lehman, pastor of Calvary Undenominational Church j in Grand Rapids will officiate. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Es.ae- been Funeral Home in Grand Rapids. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Grand Rapids. Friends and relatives may meet the family at the Funeral Home tonight from 7 to 9. [>]
20-Jan-2001 Obit. Grand Rapids Press: Paul H. Zee Jr aged 83 of Grand Rapids went to be with the Lord Sat. Jan 20, 200l. He was preceded in death by his wife Marjorie and his infant son. Surviving are his daughter Judy (Jack) Gistinger of Rockford, his grandchildren Lori Jacobson, Melinda (Silvestre) Luevano, Heather Jo Jacobson and Vicki Jacobson; a step grandson John (Ginger) Gistinger; 5 great grandchildren, 4 step great grandchildren; his sister Lauretta (Claude) Bilby several sisters in law and brothers in law, nieces, nephews and cousins. Paul was one of the founders of the Veterans Cab company, member of the American Legion and the V. F. W. [>]
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