Jan van Rhyn

Thanks to: Joey van Rhyn (Jan’s son) and Hans Jurriens (information on the Buick)


Jan van Rhijn (born in 1905) was the third son of the family of Jan van Rhijn and Jacoba Reuser. His parental house was situated at the corner of the Vluchtheuvelstraat. Later on Tinus van Rhijn was living in this house.

When Jan was 12 years old his father died. As his mother could not provide sufficient maintenance for her family, Jan was boarded with a butcher in Beneden - Leeuwen.

At this butcher he learned this profession and worked in the shop for bed and board. Also in the army he stayed some time as a cook and butcher.

Jan’s sister, Carolien, was married with Henry Verbruggen. In 1924 they emigrated to the USA.

L-R: John jr. Harriet, Joe and Jan van Rhyn

 
   

In the many letters sent by Carolien to Holland she often described the possibilities offered by the USA. This was a challenge for Jan. It took some years, but in the ultimate he received his visa.

At the age of 25 years he left for the USA in 1930. Jan started a new life!

Apparently a new name belonged to this new life. Upon his arrival at Ellis Island one forgot to put dots upon the long ‘ij’. That is why his name was changed from van ‘Rhijn’ into ‘van ‘Rhyn’.

From the moment that Jan arrived in the USA things were going well with him. He had a good business head. In 1938 he opened his first butcher’s shop, soon followed by a second one in 1941. Thanks to his licence and hard labour he succeeded in keeping his shops open during the war.

On 18 June 1935 Jan got married to an American wife, named Harriet van den Bosch. She was a daughter of a farmer from Nuland, also emigrated to the USA. This farmer had worked for many years with the family Bouwmans in Dreumel as a farmer-worker.

sister Carolien and her family

 
In 1948 he sold the butcher’s shop. With the proceeds he could buy a Buick (car) and visit  his family in Holland with his wife and children.

Already in 1946 Jan had visited his family in Holland. That was the first time after his emigration, because he missed his family greatly.

He spoke with his mother about his wife and children. His mother liked to meet his family. From that moment on Jan had only one  purpose: he liked to return with his family to Holland. That was the reason to sell the butcher’s shop.

The trip had been planned in April 1948, but in February of that year his mother died. Nevertheless he decided to go with his family to Holland.

One of the butcher’s shop was in Kaukauna, Wisconsin

 
 
To Holland with wife, children and …….Buick!

Visiting your family in Holland was exceptional in that time, but bringing with you an own car that was very exceptional. It is a special story that we like to  explain.

Just after the war cars were hardly available in the USA. They were sold on the basis of priority. Doctors and government officials were graded higher than a standard butcher. Still Jan van Rhyn was well lucky.

A doctor in Kaukauna, where Jan had a butcher’s shop, had approached two car dealers to be eligible to buy a car.

When the cars were delivered Jan van Rhyn got the chance to buy the second car for 1800 dollars. This happened some weeks before they would leave to Holland.


 
  Jan and Harriet van Rhyn with their sons John jr. and Joe. According to information of son Joe this picture was taken at the birthday of the queen in 1948. In his hands Jan has a film camera. (see photo below too)  

 
On April 1, 1948 the family van Rhyn went from Wisconsin to New York. There they embarked and after a trip of 8 days  they arrived in Holland on April, 14 1948.
 
It took quite a lot of  troubles before Jan was allowed to drive his Buick over the Dutch ways. But by paying some extra tax this problem was solved too. The ‘sunvisor’ shows that it is a real American car. Also the spot-light (which can be operated from the inside) to the side of the driver is a typically American item that was only applied on ambulances in Holland.
 
A Buick in Dreumel
The news spread quickly through the village. Therefore it was rapidly known that Jan van Rhyn was in Dreumel again. The persons who did not believe it had to go to the High Mass on Sunday morning where the beautiful Buick would be in the public square before the church……….
 
  fragment form "Cocktail", the column of teacher van de Velden in "Hou de Zon-Zij", nr. 4, April 1948  

Jan van Rhyn made a colour-film of his visit to Holland. Thanks to an attentive Dreumelnaar Tremele has a copy of this film in its possession, for which our thanks once again!

  During the same birthday of the queen the above picture was made, which was published in many national newspapers next day. As Jan van Rhyn said he was contributor to an American press bureau, he could approach queen Wilhelmina very closely. (2nd person from left with hat)  
   

At the end of June 1948 the Rhyn family returned to the United States again. It was very bad weather during this return voyage so that everybody became seasick, according to information from Joe van Rhyn.

"My brother and I considered the situation as very exciting, Joe said: At a certain moment we were the only persons who took breakfast. There were 6 to 8 waiters who served us. My mother was ill the rest of the voyage. She recovered after she had left the ship. One thing was sure for her: never again!"

 

 

In 1949 Jan and Harriet van Rhyn had a daughter, named Mary Lou. In 1952 Jan bought a large piece of land at the ‘Green Lake’ near Chicago where he built a steak house with bar. Also this business was very successful.

 

   

Still three times Jan van Rhyn visited Holland. In 1956, 1960 en 1967 he visited his family. During his last visit an article about him was published in the Gelderlander.

   
click on the photograph to enlarge it click on the photograph to enlarge it

 

 
Jan van Rhyn died  April 5, 1971