Place: Nebraska, USA

Remembering the Sears Roebuck Catalog


Sears 1902 Catalog - Farm Implements

The Sears Roebuck catalog was the shopping equivalent of Amazon.com for most of the 20th century, especially in rural America, which did not have easy access to brick-and-mortar department stores.

Gerrit Jan te Selle (1841-1921)


Gerrit Jan te Selle, 1841-1921

Gerrit Jan te Selle was born April 21, 1841, on the “De Selle” farm, Woold, Winterswijk, Netherlands. He was the sixth of the seven sons of Jan Albert te Selle (1800-1845) and Dela ten Damme (1802-1883). Gerrit Jan and his brothers had no sisters. Gerrit Jan emigrated to Nebraska in October 1873, along with his… Read more »

Jan Hendrik te Selle (1838-1921)


Family of John Henry (Jan Hendrik) te Selle and Hannah Onnink te Selle (about 1890)

Jan Hendrik te Selle (1838-1921) was born on the “De Selle” farm, near Winterswijk, Netherlands. Jan Hendrik, his wife Hannah Onnink (1841-1929), and Jan Hendrik’s younger brother, Harmen Jan te Selle (1844-1919), emigrated to the United States in 1865. At first, they lived with their aunt and uncle, Gerrit and Janna te Selle Bloemers, near Sheboygan,… Read more »

Albert Herman TeSelle (1880-1932)


Albert Herman TeSelle and Alyda (Lizzie) Obbink

Albert Herman TeSelle was born in Firth, Lancaster County, Nebraska, the oldest son of Harmen Jan te Selle and Johanna Arnolda Brethouwer. On January 29, 1904, Albert married Elizabeth Alyda (Lizzie) Obbink in Firth, Nebraska. Together Albert and Lizzie had three children: Ted, Cora, and Dorothy.

TeSelle, William (1871-1936)


William TeSelle was born in Firth, Lancaster County, Nebraska on 23 September 1871. His parents were Harmen Jan te Selle (1844-1919) and Berendina Aleida Reusink (1841-1876). He married Clara J. Bade (1875-1964) on 10 March 1896. William died on 28 February 1936. William and Clara Bade TeSelle had eight children from their marriage: Gladys V.… Read more »

TeSelle, John Henry (1893-1955)


John Henry TeSelle was born in Firth, Lancaster County, Nebraska on 31 January 1893. He was the son of Harmen Jan te Selle and Johanna Arnolda Brethouwer. John Henry married Johanna Jessie Stiehl. He died on 12 July 1955. John Henry and Johanna Stiehl TeSelle had 3 children from this marriage: Viola TeSelle (1918-?) [Spouse:… Read more »

TeSelle, Janna Geertruida (1866-1946)


Janna TeSelle was born in Oostburg, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, on 31 January 1866. She is the first child of Jan Hendrik te Selle (1838-1921) and Hanna Berendina Onnink (1841-1929). Janna was born just three months after her parents landed in New York after traveling across the Atlantic from the Netherlands. The family traveled from New… Read more »

TeSelle, Benjamin Hendrik (1884-1971)


Benjamin Hendrik TeSelle (1884-1971) was born on 9 January 1884 in Holland, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He was the son of Jan Hendrik te Selle (1838-1921) and Hanna Berendina Onnink (1841-1929). He married Johanna “Jane” Gertrude Lefferdink (1884-1980) in 1905. They had three children together: Hanna Berdina “Bertha” TeSelle (1906-1975) [Spouse: Orval C. Johnson ()] Roy William… Read more »

TeSelle, Benjamin F. (1889-1959)


Benjamin F. TeSelle 1889-1959

Benjamin F. TeSelle was born in Firth, Lancaster County, Nebraska on 23 November 1889, the son of Harmen Jan te Selle and Johanna Arnolda Brethouwer. According to his daughter, Norma TeSelle Prophet, Benjamin did not actually have a middle name. He adopted the initial “F” to differentiate himself from his first cousin, Benjamin H. TeSelle.

TeSelle, Albert Herman (1880-1932)


Albert Herman TeSelle 1880-1932

Albert was born in Firth, Lancaster County, Nebraska on 2 July 1881, the son of Harmen Jan te Selle and Johanna Arnolda Brethouwer. Albert, wife Lizzie Obbink, and three children moved to Washington in the early 1900’s. Albert did a variety of odd jobs, including cook on fishing boats. He died in Bellingham, Washington in 1932, as the result of an automobile accident.