I am trying to track down some information on my family. I know that my grandfather came from an area known as Muelebeke. His name was Cyriel VanSteenkiste he married Freida DeSimpelaere also from that same region. I have not been able to find any information back past my grandfather. I estimate he was born probably around 1875. He came to the United States first in 1900 and then again in 1903

Did I give you not more info?
Christiane

My grandfather, Maurice Octaf DeSimpelaere (he changed his first name to Fred, and took the last 'e' out of the last name after moving to the US in 1911) was born in Thielt near Muelbeuke in 1902. His father Henri came over a couple years earlier and worked in the fields of southern MI near Britton before sending for his wife Mathilda, my grandfather and his sister Eliza. They later settled on Saginaw Bay near Unionville, MI to farm the rich but swampy soil where many family members still live. I believe Frieda (your grandmother) may have been my great grandfather's sister. I knew the Van Steenkiste name as I grew up. I believe Maurice, Emil and another whose name I can't be sure of ...Vic? were in the Thumb area as I was growing up. There is a William listed in our local phone book in Pigeon. Dave DeSimpelare

VANSTEENKISTE AUGUSTUS
fs Franciscus en Barbara Vlaemynck
°Meulebeke 12 apr 1843
xMeulebeke 18 sep 1867
25 sep 1867 kerk
beroep: wever (1867/1879) landwerker
woonst: sectie Lede 323 (1879)


SNAUWAERT ROSALIA
fa Carolus en ROSALIA Devaere
°Meulebeke 20 aug 1844 18 aug in huw akt
beroep: spinster (1867)
spoelster (1879) huishoudster

KINDEREN:

VANSTEENKISTE CAMILLUS °26 jun 1868
=26 jun 1868
x met MARIA THERESIA DEWOLF

VANSTEENKISTE MARIA LEONIA °19 feb 1870
=19 feb 1870
x met CAROLUS LUDOVICUS HOUTTEKIER

VANSTEENKISTE JULIUS ° 7 mei 1872
= 8 mei 1872
x met MATHILDA VERBRUGGE

VANSTEENKISTE LEO °20 mei 1874
=20 mei 1874
x met EMELIA BUYCK

VANSTEENKISTE CYRILLUS °25 jun 1876
=25 jun 1876
?naar Amerika (wie is zijn broer Alouis?)

VANSTEENKISTE GUSTAVUS °21 sep 1878
=22 sep 1878
+ 1 jan 1879 4 maand

VANSTEENKISTE LEONIA ° 9 nov 1879
= 9 nov 1879
x 8 nov 1911 in Pittem
met ALPHONS FRAEYE
x30 oct 1929 in Pittem
met ALPHONS DESMET

VANSTEENKISTE ALOYSIUS ° 2 jul 1882
= 3 jul 1882

VANSTEENKISTE IRMA ZULMA ° 6 feb 1885
= 7 feb 1885

VANSTEENKISTE LUCIA °27 mar 1887
=28 mar 1887
x28 jul 1910
met ALBERIC VERSCHATSE

VANSTEENKISTE VALENTINA MARIA ° 9 jun 1889
= 9 jun 1889


jimpclark@hotmail.com