The written history of the TeSelle Family Tree traces its roots back to 1958, when a young lady named Norma TeSelle Prophet, began to research the history of the TeSelle family origins in the United States.
Place: Netherlands
The eastern province of Gelderland in the Netherlands is the region where the te Selle family originated, and from which early te Selle family members left as emigrants to Americal.
“The Te Selle History,” by Norma TeSelle Prophet, July 1980
In 1958, Norma TeSelle Prophet (1923-2009) from Firth, Nebraska, became curious about where all her numerous TeSelle relatives originally came from, and why so many of them settled near Firth, in Lancaster County, Nebraska. She had traveled to and lived in other parts of the United States, and rarely, if ever, had she encountered the… Read more »
te Selle, Dirk Willem (1943-2024)
Dirk Willem te Selle was born during WWII on June 3, 1943, in the city of Nijmegen, Netherlands, to parents Gerrit Jan te Selle (1917-1983) and Janna Gesiena Toebes te Selle. Shortly thereafter, Dirk and his parents moved to the village of Winterswijk, about 10 miles (16 km) from the German border. There he attended… Read more »
te Selle, Gerrit Jan (1917-1983)
Born: August 3, 1917, in Winterswijk-Dorpbuurt, Netherlands Died: April 27, 1983, in Winterswijk, Netherlands Married: July 4, 1942, to Janna Gesiena Toebes Gerrit was born as a second son in the family of Derk Willem te Selle and Grada Johanna Demkes in Winterswijk in the building on Bocholtsestraat where later the supermarket and bakery of… Read more »
Jan Hendrik te Selle (1838-1921)
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 »
te Selle, Harmen Jan (1839-1916)
Harmen Jan te Selle (1839-1916) turned out to be quite an itinerant immigrant during his life in the United States. Harmen Jan arrived first in Wisconsin in 1866, moved to Iowa in 1878, and finally settled in Montana from 1891 until his death in 1916. We know very little about his life and activities in… Read more »
Johan Christiaan te Selle (1899-1970)
Johan Christiaan and his wife Trui (Gertruida) te Selle purchased the old oil mill (Olliemölle) of Winterswijk in the mid-1920’s. Both of Johan and Trui’s children, Bertus and Thea, were born at the “Olliemölle”, and have fond memories of growing up there.
te Selle, Jan Albert (1800-1845)
Jan Albert te Selle was born in 1800 in Woold, Netherlands, on the farm known as “de Selle” or “Selleman,” from which the name “te Selle” was originally derived. Jan Albert and wife Dela ten Damme had seven sons. Unfortunately, Jan Albert died unexpectedly in 1845, leaving Dela alone to raise seven young boys. Three of these boys emigrated to America. They and their extended families created and populated many of the farms in present-day Lancaster County, Nebraska.
te Selle, Gerrit Jan (1841-1921)
Gerrit Jan te Selle (1841-1921) emigrated from the “De Selle” farm in Winterswijk, NL, and eventually settled on farmland near Panama, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
Onnink, Hanna Berendina (1841-1929)
Hanna Berendina Onnink married Jan Hendrik te Selle in Winterswijk, Netherlands, on September 28, 1865, and they departed the next day, along with Jan Hendrik’s younger brother, Harmen Jan te Selle, on an epic journey to America. Read more about the two brothers and their families, who had much to do with the growth and prosperity of Lancaster County, Nebraska during the late 1800’s.
