Francina - December 1867

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 1895. Historic Society in De Pere WI

MATTHIAS REYNEN: Like thousands of other worthy men whose lot in their native country was simply to drudge and always be poor. John Reynen, father of Matthias, saw in the Western world a rainbow of promise. In the spring of 1851, with his wife and six children, he left hard times and Holland behind and sailed from Amsterdam in an English ship bound for New York city, arriving after a 58-days voyage. Green Bay, Wisconsin was their final destination and they proceeded up the Hudson river by steamboat to Albany., where they were delayed a month by the severe illness of the head of the family. When he had recovered, they continued their journey via the Erie canal, and Matthias and his brother were priviledged characters on the trip, being allowed to ride the horses which drew the canal boat. Upon arrival at Buffalo, it was learned that but one vessel, the old "Michigan" was plying between that point and Green Bay, and a it took her two weeks to make the round trip, it was necessary to wait most of that time for her return; but they at length embarked and in the fall of 1851 reached their destination.

The family passed the first winter in Green Bay, but the following Spring found them in De Pere, as tenants of Samuel Blake. After passing the summer here they removed to Little Chute, where the elder Reynen found employment on the canal, as he had previously done, carrying back to his family fifty pounds of flour upon his return. He continued to reside at Little Chute during his active life, finally locating at De Pere, where he died in 1883, and his remains were interred in the Catholic cemetery at that place. His widow yet lives with a married daughter, on the same farm first occupied by the family upon their arrival in this region. Their children, who are all living, are as follows: William, residing in South Dakota; Matthias, whose name introduces this article; Gertrude, now Mrs. John Coonen, of De Pere; Hannah, now Mrs. William Vandervelden, of Cornelius, Oregon; Mary, wife of John Vandyke, of Freedom, Outagamie Co., Wis.; Martin, of South Dakota; and the only death in this family has been that of the father. The children have all reared large families.

Matthias Reynen was born in Holland March 14, 1838, and was consequently but thirteen years of age when he arrived in the land of his adoption. His father was able to afford him but a meager education in the old country and after arriving in the United States, his only schooling was included in a four-weeks' attendance at Albany, during the sickness of his father, as above mentioned. He showed remarkable aptness and during that short period succeeded in mastering the three primary "readers" which a kind old gentleman had furnished him. By the time he reached Green Bay, he was able to speak the English language fairly well, and the first money he earned was fifty cents received for acting as interpreter. The same spirit of determination has been of great value to him in the subsequent years of his life, for by his own sole efforts, he has reached the position he now holds, as a substantial, respected and estimable citizen.

His first employment in Wisconsin was peeling potatoes for Capt. Edwards, proprietor of the old "Washington House""( which stood on the site now occupied by the "Beaumont House"), and having performed the same kind of labor in his passage across the Atlantic, he was undoubtedly proficient. Continuing to reside with his parents until he became of age, young Matthias turned his earnings over to them, assisting them to the best of his ability to keep "the wolf from the door" and become the possessors of a home, engaging in various kinds of labor - fishing, gardening, etc. Until 1852, he carried the mail for Mr. Tyler between Green Bay and Manitowoc., one summer, when his horse had only an Indian trail to follow, and the boy had no definite idea as to the location of Manitowoc, frequently turning out to avoid wolves, bears, and other wild animals. His instructions were, if the horse got disabled and swamped, to shoulder the mail bag and continue on foot; this happening on one occasion he left the horse in the swampy ground and started to walk, but the animal succeeded in extricataing itself from the mudhole, and following Mr. Reynen, caught up with him and whinnied for his master before he had reached his destination.

He at length secured a position with Mr. Wager and afterward with Wilcox and Wager, millers of De Pere, with whom he learned the milling trade, when the stone mill was built in De Pere, and continued to work at that place, at intervals, for twelve years, as well as in a similar capacity at other points; he is the oldest Hollander miller in the Fox River Valley. He was also employed more or less in the woods and hand in hand along with hard work plodded along through the years, making a record as a toiler scarcely surpassed by a man of his age. He has been engaged at nearly all kinds of labor except military duty, and barely missed that, for he was drafted, but escaped through a mistake on the part of the enrolling officer, who spelled his name "Ryan". Mr. Reynen is unquestionably a leader of the self-made men of his section, and in addition to his ability, being possesed of a wonderful retentive memory, there is no doubt but that, with proper education, he might have made an honorable and distinquished record in the professional world.

On November 16, 1863, Mr. Reynen was wedded, in the old German Catholic Church at Green Bay, to Adelia Martins (Martens) who was born in Holland in 1843, and came to the United States with her father's family in 1850, the latter locating near the home of our subject, in Allouez township, at the foot of Robinson Hill, the property now owned by Mr. Reynen. The children born to this union were : Minnie, now deceased; Fannie, now Mrs. Frank Van Oss, of Green Bay; Mary, now Mrs. Charles Van Oss; of the same city; G. William, of Allouez, employed in the railroad service; Martin, Tony, Ella, and Minnie at home; Frank deceased; Peter and Lilly May, at home and Dora deceased.

For a short time after their marrige Mr. and Mrs. Reynen resided at Green Bay but soon removed to De Pere, where Mr Reynen formed a partnership with Fred Lucke. and engaged for a few years in the milling business. He also purchased the "De Pere House" becoming its landlord. He had previously started up a new mill for other parties in Chippewa Falls, and besides, built and conducted another at De Pere, which latter was burned in 1883, the loss being heavy and the insurance small. After this disaster, he located upon the farm of ninety-seven acres upon which he has since resided, the homestead being generally known as "Robinson Hill." From his pleasant home, erected in 1891, a delightful view of the Fox river is obtained.

Politically, Mr. Reynen is an unswerving Democrat, and he has been elected by his party to various official positions at the different places where he has lived. While in De Pere he was a member of the city council several years, as well as of the county board of supervisors twelve or fifteen years, resigning upon his removal to Allouez. In the latter township he has been chairman of the town board for several years, and is the present member for the Allouez on the county board, a posiiton in which he has always rendered credible service. During the panic of 1873, he lost nine thousand dollars inside of six months and his fire lossess in 1883 were ten thousand; but, notwithstanding these severe blows, he is yet comfortably situated, owning one hundred acres of the most desirable land in the vicinity of Green Bay, a propety which is destined to be worth many thousand dollars in the distant future.

From his boyhood, he has found it necessary to make an uphill fight. Instead of being assisted by his parents, his efforts were bent to their support, and it was a struggle for years before there was perceptible gain. In dealing with his fellowmen his methods have been straightforward and honorable, and "Matt" Reynen, as he is best known, is respected and esteemed by a wide circle of acquaintances. He and his family are members of the Holland Catholic Church in which he has been an officier for years, and to which his contributions have been most liberal.

From out of the Netherlands, which have sent sturdy men and women into the four quarters of the globe, there have come few, if any, who can lay stronger claim to the proud title, "a self-made man," and he bears his laurels with becoming composure.

1880 Census Image June 16, 1880, District 5 of De Pere Village. Page 19 of 41. Matias Reynen and Family.

Mathias Reynen had Mathias Martens, then 20 as a boarder in their home. Both were listed as Miller for occupation. Math Reynen owned a lumber mill.

OBIT from Milbank Journal from Maryanne Lantis: Mrs. Math Reynen

Mrs. Mathew (Delia) Reynen, of De Pere WI, a sister of the late John Martens, of this place and well known to a good many of our readers, having visited here on a number of occasions, died a couple of weeks ago at the age of 79 years. A brother of Mr. Martens and Mrs. Reynen is still living, the only surviving member of the family. The following taken from the De Pere, WI Journal of April 13, 1922 will be of interest.

Mrs. Mathew (Delia) Reynen age 79 died Sunday evening in her home in the town of Allouez. The funeral was held on Wednesday morning from St. Willebroad's church, Green Bay. Interment was in Allouez cemetery. Surviving are five daughters and one son, namely: Mrs. Frank Van Oss and Mrs. Felix Lemmens, of Green Bay; Mrs. Charles Van Oss of Channing, MI: Mrs. John Janssen and Mrs. Arthur Boucher of Kimberly, and Anton Reynen of Allouez; also one brother, Adrian (John) Martens of De Pere, twenty grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Mrs. Reynen was one of two members of a family of seven children who did not reach the age of 80 years. In 1915 all the members of the family, six brothers and one sister, were still living, their combined age at that time totaling 555 years. The first to pass away was Arnold Martens of Chili, in 1915, at the age of 75; Gerard, Allouez, in 1918, age 82; Mathew, Creston, IA, in 1919 age 90; Albert, De Pere age 82; and John, Milbank, SD in 1921, aged 90. Several years ago the brothers and sister held a family reunion and at that time they had a total of 44 children, 84 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Mrs. Reynen was born in Holland, and when a child came to this country with her parents. They settled in Allouez. After she had grown to woman hood she was married to Mathew Reynen who preceded her in death. They lived in De Pere for many years, Mr. Reynen at one time running a flour mill located on the dam about midway between the east and west sided of the river. Mrs. Reynen took up her residence in Allouez over 30 years ago.