Harmen Jan te Selle was born December 4, 1844, on the “De Selle” farm, Woold, Winterswijk, Netherlands. He was the youngest of the seven sons of Jan Albert te Selle (1800-1845) and Dela ten Damme (1802-1883). Harmen Jan and his brothers had no sisters.
Harmen Jan married his first wife, Berendina Aleida Reusink, on 27 April 1866 in Holland, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. She was born 29 Jan 1841, Berendiena was a widow, having been previously married to Manus Schreurs. She had a young son John Schreurs. She and Harmen Jan had 3 more children: Dela, William, and baby Berendina. The mother died of childbirth complications only a week after baby Berendina was born. Berendina died on 10 Mar 1876 in Firth, Lancaster County, Nebraska. Unfortunately, baby Berendina also died a few months later.
Harmen Jan, faced with four small children and no mother in his house, married his second wife, Johanna Arnolda Brethouwer, on 07 May 1876 in Firth, Lancaster, Nebraska. She was born 10 April 1859 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of Evert Jan Brethouwer and Helena Vandewege. Harmen Jan and Johanna had 13 more children together, although 2 of those children died very young.
Harmen Jan te Selle died June 22, 1919, in Firth, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He is buried together with his wife Johanna Brethouwer te Selle in the Holland Cemetery, Lancaster County, Nebraska. Johanna died 21 December 1927 in Firth, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
