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Waupun, Fond Du Lac/Dodge County, Wisconsin

The Story of an Immigrant Family From the Netherlands 

The Clockmaker's Journey: The Life of Abraham John Beucus

    Abraham John Beeuwkes, son of Johannes Beeuwkes and Hendrika Zevenhuijsen, was born on 13 August 1818 in Apeldoorn, Gelderland, Netherlands. In his hometown of Apeldoorn, Abraham married Johanna van Aalst, daughter of Jan van Aalst and Commerina Capel, on 19 March 1842.  They decided to leave the Netherlands and move to across the Atlantic. Abraham Beucus was naturalized as a U.S. citizen on 30 October 1858 in Dodge County, Wisconsin. 

    In 1860, Abraham age 42 and Johanna age 40 lived in Waupan, Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin with Jane age 18, John age 16, Mary age 14, Johanna age 13, Harriet age 11, Johannie age 9, and Catherine age 7 (all born in Holland) as well as Abraham age 5, Thomas age 3, Nelly age 1, and Janet age 1 (the younger 4 born in Wisconsin). Abraham John Beucus age 52 and his wife Johanna age 50 still lived in Waupun, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin in 1870 with John age 26, Johannes age 18, Katy age 17, Abraham age 14, Thomas age 12, Nettie age 10, Nellie age 10, Jacob age 8, Frederick age 6, and William age 5. 

    Abraham's wife Johanna died sometime before the 1880 census when he was widowed at age 62 still living in Waupun, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin with his children Abraham age 25, Jake age 19, Frederick age 17, William age 15, and Nellie (Beucus) Van Buren age 21. Abraham John Beucus worked as a watchmaker, watch repairer, and clock tinker. He died on 13 April 1888. Abraham is buried in Forest Mound Cemetery in Waupun, Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin. Abraham's story is not just a list of facts and dates. It's the tale of a man with Dutch roots moving to the American Midwest to raise his family. His legacy lives on not only through his children, but in the steady tick of every watch and clock he ever mended.


 
photo from Find a Grave by Henry A. Gaugert 

The Timekeeper's Son: The Life of John Beucus

   Born in the Netherlands and raised in America, John Beucus, son of Dutch immigrants Abraham John Beucus and Johanna (van Aalst) Beucus, was naturalized as a U.S. citizen on 1 April 1870 in Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin. John and Henrietta's son Henry John Beucus was born on 23 May 1874 in Waupun, Dodge County, Wisconsin. In 1880, John age 33 and his wife Henrietta age 23 lived in Waupun, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin with their children Henry age 6 and Hattie age 4. 

    In 1905, Henry John Beucus age 31 lived in Waupun, Dodge County, Wisconsin with his wife Ollie (Gunderson) Beucus age 30 and their children Harold age 3 and Barbara 10 months old. Henry and his family moved to Illinois by 1920. Henry's father John Beucus died in 1923. Like his father Abraham, John is buried in Forest Mound Cemetery in Waupun, Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin. Although the Beucus family left Waupun behind later settling in Illinois and California, their Dutch immigrant roots remain strong in Wisconsin among the gravestones.




With love, 

Autumn Rose Surratt 

The Ancestor Witch 

  

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