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Mary was born Maria Nellesen on
Sep 2, 1852 in Oploo Ledeacker, North Brabant, Netherlands to Bernardus and Maria (nee Hermens) Nellesen. The 1852 date is per her Netherlands birth certificate and is no doubt correct. Why her US documents and her headstone say 1850 is unknown.
She came to the US with her parents and siblings on the ship City of London. They arrived on 20 Mar 1868 at the port of New York and settled in Bay Settlement in Wisconsin. After 1870 family history says they moved to and were early pioneers of Rockland, Wisconsin.
The Nelessen siblings included: Arnold (died young in Holland), John, Arnold (second of this name), Henry, Mary, Johanna, Elizabeth, and Regina (died young in Holland).
Mary married Cornelius Van Lanen about 1881-1882. Together they were parents to Delia, Arnold, John, Nellie, and Anna. Cornelius was a well driller and worked in concrete construction. Mary kept house and raised their children.
Cornelius died in September of 1931; Mary died roughly a year later on 29 July 1932. They are both buried at Mount Olivet cemetery in De Pere, Wisconsin.
Her obituary:
Mrs Mary Van Lanen, Milwaukee, Passes Away
De Pere, Wis -- Word has been received here of the death of Mrs Mary Van Lanen, 82, a resident of DePere for many years until recently, which occurred this morning in Milwaukee at the home of her daughter, Mrs Joseph Murawsky. She was the widow of Cornelius Van Lanen. She fell and fractured her shoulder a short time ago, and it is thought that the shock precipitated her death. The body will be brought to the Ryan funeral home here tomorrow noon. The funeral will take place Monday morning at 9 o'clock from St Mary's church, and interment will be in the Mount Olivet cemetery. She is survived by five children: three daughters, Mrs Murawsky, Anna of Holland, Wis, Delia of Chicago: and two sons, Arnold of Milwaukee and John of West Milwaukee.
Green Bay Press Gazette, 29 July, 1932, Fri, p2 |
1852 - 1932 (~ 80 years)