matbeyspar2

THE GENEALOGY OF

JOHN BEYSTER

DETROIT

Date update: December 7, 2024
Note: all dates on this page are in format mm-dd-yyyy.

detroit seal

I. Joannes (John) Beyster, born Zevenbergen (Netherlands) on 5-27-1839 at 15.00 hours in house Zuidhaven 160 (birth cert. 72). Carpenter, died Detroit on 12-16-1923. Married Zevenbergen on 4-12-1861 Hendrica Matthee, born Zevenbergen on 11-7-1838 in house Zuidhaven 85 (in 2021 nr 83), daughter of Johannes Cornelis Matthee and Dingena Nouwens, died Detroit on 12-26-1916.

Birth certificate of Joannes Beyster

Birth certificate of Hendrica Matthee

From this marriage:
1. Dingena (Deanna) Beyster, born Zevenbergen on 8-8-1861, follows IIa.
2. Petrus Beyster, born Zevenbergen on 7-14-1862, godfather is grandfather Pieter Beyster and godmother is grandmother Johanna van den Wijngaard. Died Zevenbergen on 4-21-1863 in house Zuidhaven A178.
3. Petrus (Peter) Beyster, born Zevenbergen on 8-10-1863, follows see IIb.
4. Johannes Beyster, born Zevenbergen on 9-24-1864, godfather is grandfather Johannes Matthee and godmother is grandmother Dingena Nouwens. Died Zevenbergen on 11-20-1867 in house Zuidhaven A178.
5. Cornelis Beyster, born Zevenbergen on 2-16-1867, godparents Peter Cornelis Nouwens and Octavia Beurms. Died Detroit on 7-9-1944.
6. Johannes (John) Beyster, born Zevenbergen on 5-10-1868, follows IIc.
7. Lewis Henry Beyster, born Detroit on 10-3-1870, follows IId.
8. Johanna Maria Beyster, born Detroit on 8-15-1872, godparents Jacobus Ruedisueli and his wife (Theresa Heine). Died Detroit 5-3-1893.
9. Theodorus (Theo )Beyster, born Detroit on 5-27-1874, follows IIe.
10. Henrietta Josephina (Ettie) Beyster, born Detroit on 11-19-1876, follows IIf.
11. Pieternella Louise (Nellie) Beyster, born Detroit on 9-24-1881, follows IIg.
12. Henry Edward Beyster, born Detroit on 3-5-1883, follows IIh.

Group photo at Beyster Cottage,
Algonac, MI, Summer 1907.
Top row l to r: Francis J. Martin, Newall A. Wallace, Hendrica Beyster-Matthee
and Theodore Beyster.

Middle row: Johannes Beyster, Pieternella Wallace-Beyster and Henrietta Martin-Beyster.

Front row: unknown, unknown and Henry Edward Beyster.

When John Beyster married, he was 21 years of age and a junior ship's carpenter. He did not enter the army because he was never called up. The wedding roll stated that Hendrica was a private person. After the wedding the young couple lived in the house of Cornelis Nouwens, the single uncle of Hendrica, at address Zuidhaven A 178, next door to the parents of Hendrica. In September 1868 they left Zevenbergen for emigration to the USA. Some months before, in June, Hendrica's sister and her husband Gerardus Lodewijk Ruedisueli, had preceded them to North America.

The following information comes from Nicole Pierek.
The John Beyster family left Zevenbergen for North America in September 1868. They first travelled to Liverpool, England where they embarked for Quebec, Canada. At that time Canada was the gate-way to the USA.

Nicole writes:
'Ship's name was Austrian, owned by the Allan Line, destination Quebec, where they arrived October 4, 1868. Passengers in compliance with the manifest:
Cornelis Begster 1 yr. Male
Dientje Begster       7 yr. Male (must be female)
Hendrika Begster 29 yrs. Female, occupation housewife
John Begster         29 yrs. Male, occupation laborer
Johanna Begster     0 yrs. Female (must be Johannes,male)
Pieter Begster     5 yrs. Male

All were in the steerage section. I am not sure yet what date they left Liverpool. But I will find out. Last residence listed for all was "Unidentified Dutch Municipality". I am going to try to order the original documents from the National Archives. I can understand how the transcriber thought the "Y" in Beyster looked like a "G".

I have attached a picture of a similar ship from the Allan Line docked in Montreal. This line was also known as the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company.

I looked into the ship Austrian just because I was curious about what the trip would have been like. It was built in Glasgow in 1867. It was 2458 gross tons with a length of 319 ft. x beam 38.5 ft., clipper stem, one funnel, three masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 11 knots. Accommodations for 115 - 1st class passengers and 600 - 3rd class passengers. Maiden voyage was on June 6, 1867 from Liverpool to Quebec then on to Montreal. She was scrapped in 1905.'

In Detroit John started a lumber company, later called: John Beyster & Sons Lumber Co. His sons Peter, Theo and Lewis were later on closely associated with father John in the business. John not only was very successful in business, he also was a socially engaged person, which resulted in an entry in the Book of Detroiters in 1908, on page 58.

From: The Book of Detroiters A Biographical Dictionary Of Leading Living Men Of The City of Detroit
Second Edition 1914 Edited By: Albert Nelson Marquis
A. N. Marquis & Company Chicago 1914.

the book

BEYSTER, John, manufacturer and dealer in lumber, lath, shingles, boxes, etc.; born in Holland, May 27, 1838; served apprenticeship at carpenter's trade in Holland for 51/2 years; came to America, 1867, and located in Detroit; married in Holland, 1860, Hendricka Matthie. Followed carpenter's trade and contracting in Detroit until 1877, when he established planning mill and yard in his own name, which still continues. Member Detroit Board of Commerce. Republican. Mason Recreation: Reading. Office: 875 Fort St., W. Residence: 444 Lafayette Av.

For more info on the lumber industry around Detroit at that time, see:
http://www.michigan-history.org/lumbering/LumberingBriefHistory.html
https://agilewriter.com/History/Mi_lumber.htm

IIa The descendants of Deanna Beyster and William Frederic Twelvetrees

Dingena (Deanna) Beyster, born Zevenbergen on 8-8-1861, godfather grandfather Jan Matthee, godmother grandmother Dingena Nouwens. Died Los Angeles, Ca, 10-25-1945. Married William Frederic Twelvetrees, born Cohoes, NY, 4-19-1864, died Saginaw, MI, 4-22-1898.
From this marriage:

1. John William Twelvetrees, born 3-24-1886, died Kern County, CA, 7-11-1963. Married Myrtle T. Geiger in 1945.
2. Henrietta Twelvetrees, born 4-1890, died Santa Monica, CA, 1960, follows IIIa

IIIa Henriette Twelvetrees, married Detroit William Darley Channer, born around 1889, died around 1957.
From this marriage:

1. Henrietta

IIb The descendants of Petrus Beyster and Emma Florence Bourquin

Petrus Beyster, born Zevenbergen on 8-10-1863, baptised as Petrus Josephus Johannes, godfather Pieter Beyster and godmother Johanna van den Wijngaard. Lumber dealer, died Grosse Ile, MI, 4-2-1936. Married Detroit 9-30 1890 Emma Florence Bourquin, born Michigan, In, 10-4-1866, died Grosse Ile, Mi 9-7-1958.
From this marriage:

1. Gladys Beyster, born Detroit 7-1891, died 8-17-1900.
2. John Frederick Beyster, born Detroit 10-21-1893, follows IIIb.
3. William Wilson Beyster, born Detroit 10-2-1897, follows IIIc.
4. Margaret Frances Beyster, born Detroit 4-13-1903, follows IIId.

Source Detroit Free Press, 1 Dec 1929

IIIb John Frederick Beyster, born Detroit 10-21-1893, died Grosse Ile, MI, 6-21-1966. Married 7-8-1919 Lillian E. Jondreau, born 10-1-1896, died Grosse Ile 1980.
From this marriage:

1. John Robert Beyster, follows IVa
2. Helen Virginia Beyster, born 4-20-1934. follows IVb.

IVa John Robert Beyster, born Detroit 7-26-1924, died La Jolla, CA, 12-22-2014, married 9-8-1955 Betty Jean Brock. From this marriage:

1. James Frederic, born La Jolle 6-12-1959
2. Mark Daniel, born La Jolle 11-22-1961, married Cammi Scorsby
3. Mary Ann, born 10-27-1964

Dr. J. Robert Beyster, founder and former chairman and CEO of
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC),
died Monday, December 22, 2014, at his home in La Jolla, California, of natural causes.

Dr. Beyster was born in Detroit in 1924 to John F. and Lillian E. Beyster. Read more.

IVb Helen Virginia Beyster, born 4-20-1934, married around 1961 Fred John Bobberts, born around 1931.
From this marriage:

1. Fred Johann

IIIc William Wilson Beyster, born on 10-2-1897, died Grosse Point, Mi, on 7-16-1971. The local press reported when he died: ‘William W. Beyster, 73, of Bloomfield Hills, lumber firm president, founder and president of William Beyster Inc. a Detroit lumber firm. Mr. Beyster died Friday in Bon Secours Hospital, Grosse Pointe. Surviving are his wife, Marian E., a daughter, Mrs. Robert Dustin; a sister, Mrs. Harold Foss, seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.’ Married Marian Bell, born on 4-10-1898, died Birmingham, MI on 4-4-1972.
From this marriage:

1. Elizabeth Marion (Betty) Beyster, born Detroit in 1920, died Wakeeney 7-6-1971, follows IVc
2. Frances Joyce (Joyce), born Detroit 1-14-1925, died Birmingham, 3-10-1986, follows IVd

William had his own lumber company. He started in the business of his grandfather and dad. After a period of time he had its own company William Beyster Lumber Co., specialized in fine finished lumber for interior panelling.

IVc Elizabeth Marion (Betty) Beyster, born Detroit in 1920, died Wakeeney 7-6-1971, married (1) Harry Engert Kinney, glider pilot, died in a plane crash in Bennetsville, SC 1-28-1945.
From this marriage:
1. Mary Sue, born 8-20-1944

Source: The Robesonian, Jan. 29, 1945

Source: Detroit Free Press, Jan. 30, 1945

Elizabeth Marion (Betty) Beyster married (2) Detroit 11-8-1946 Roberts Lawrence Lander, born 8-31-1914 New York, died 1-27-2001 Wakeeney, KS, USAF Lieutenant Colonel.
From this marriage:

1. Mary Susan
2. Robin Christine, born 8-6-1950

IVd Frances Joyce Beyster, born Detroit 1-14-1925, died Birrmingham, MI 3-10-1986. Married Birmingham, MI 6-21-1952 Robert William Dustin, born Cleveland, OH, 8-21-1925, died Birmingham, MI 4-25-1999.
From this marriage:

1. Michael
2. Diana
3. Elizabeth
4. Katherine
5. Richard

IIId Margaret Frances Beyster, born Detroit on 4-13-1903, died Detroit 9-26-1985. Married 9-30-1927 Harold Raymond Foss, born on 2-11-1902, died Grosse Ile, MI 9-12-1969.
From this marriage:

1. Frances Josephine, follows IVe
2. Sally Jeanne, follows IVf
3. Harriette Alice, born 3-8-1934, married (1) 6-27-1958 David Boegehold.
Harriette married (2) Bruce Relyea

IVe Frances Josephine Foss, born Wyandotte 10-17-1928, married 11-3-1947 A. John Middlestead, born Detroit 11-3-1926, died Tucson AZ 8-13-2006.
From this marriage:

1. John Arthur, born 10-3-1948. Married Nancy Jones.
2. Linda Josephine, born 6-24-1953, died July-8-1987

A. John Middlestead married (2) Jo NN.

IVf Sally Jeanne Foss, born Wyandotte, MI 7-16-1930, died Clearwater, FL 5-28-2013. Married Springfield 5-18-1955 George Junior Banwart, born Algona 9-15-1926, died 2000.
More on Sally Foss.
From this marriage:

1. Deborah Jean
2. Geoffrey Douglas
3. Rose

IIc The descendants of Johannes (John) Beyster and Mary Lane

Johannes Beyster, born Zevenbergen 5-10-1868, godfather Johannes Matthee and godmother Dingena Nouwens. Died Detroit 4-29-1936. Married around 1890 Mary Lane, born Michigan City, IN, on 12-25-1868, father from Germany, mother from Ireland, died on 4-10-1935, buried on 4-14-1935.
From this marriage:

1. Louis Henry Beyster, born Detroit 2-4-1892, follows IIIe
2. Helen Beyster, born around 1894, died before 1900
3. Gertrude Beyster, born on 8-31-1895, follows IIIf
4. George Beyster, born around 1898.

IIIe Louis Henry Beyster, born Detroit 2-4-1892, died Memphis 6-25-1951, married Ida NN
From this marriage:

1. Helen, born Ohio 1918

IIIf Gertrude Beyster, born 8-31-1895, died around 1967, married 4-30-1917 Chester Wadsworth, born 1-8-1894, died 9-1979.
From this marriage:

1. Marion Elaine, born 11-18-1918, died Lapeer, Mi, 2-6-2006
2. Leona Mamie, born 8-8-1920
3. Shirley Jean, born 5-1-1923
4. John Chester, born 10-8-1925
5. Betty Jane, born 4-24-1928, died around 1996
6. Thomas George, born 10-26-1932

IId The descendants of Lewis Henry Beyster and Antoinette Weber

Lewis Henry Beyster, born Detroit on 10-3-1870 (also called Louis Henri), godfather Louis Ruedisueli and godmother Pieternella Matthee his wife and sister of mother Hendrica. Carpenter, died Detroit around 1940. Married Nettie Weber, born around 1876, died in 1943.
From this marriage:

1. Gail Beyster, born Michigan around 1908, married Louis Wilson.

IIe The descendants of Theodorus Beyster and Bessie Thorpe

Theodorus Beyster, born Detroit on 5-27-1874, godfather T. van der Pas and godmother his wife. Carpenter, died Detroit on 12-16-1949. Married Bessie Thorpe, born Detroit 1881, died Detroit 1945.
From this marriage:

1. Jane Elizabeth Beyster, born 6-23-1913, died 1992, married 12-1955 John Paul Witzel.

IIf The descendants of Henrietta Josephina Beyster and Francis Joseph Martin

Henrietta Josephina Beyster, born Detroit 11-19-1876, godfather Peter Beyster and godmother Deanna Beyster. Died Indian River, Mi on 6-25-1950. Married Francis Joseph Martin, born Detroit on 8-23-1875, died Detroit on 8-24-1954.
From this marriage:

1. George Beyster, born Detroit on 4-1-1908, follows IIIg
2. Francis Joseph Jr., born Detroit, on 3-26-1910, follows IIIh
3. Richard Theodore, born Detroit on 7-18-1911, follows IIIi

IIIg George Beyster Martin, born Detroit on 4-1-1908, died Bloomfield Hills, Mi on 12-26-1993. Married (1) Ellen Alice Grinnell, born Detroit on 8-25-1907 Detroit, died Traverse City, MI on 9-7-1981.
From this marriage:

1. Marilyn Jean, born Detroit on 11-1-1933, married 5-15-1976 M. David Keil, born Hinsdale, Il, 1-22-1931, died Hinsdale 3-28-2011.
2. Hendrieka Beyster, born Detroit on 4-23-1937, married Jerold Evans Bloom, born Detroit on 6-16-1940.
3. George Grinnell, born Detroit on 4-12-1943, follows IVg

George B. Martin married (2) Harriet Bishop Howe, born on 12-26-1907, died in 03-1995.

IVg George Grinnell Martin, born Detroit 4-12-1943, married Barbara Draper born Miami, FL, 11-20-1947. Divorced in 1994.
From this marriage:

1. Kate Cunningham, born Ann Arbor, MI on 12-5-1979
2. Joseph Grinnell, born Ann Arbor, MI on 4-1-1982.
3. Ellen Randall, born Ann Arbor, MI on 6-8-1985.

IIIh Francis Joseph Martin Jr., born Detroit, Mi 3-26-1910, died San Jose, CA 8-29-2000. Married Marion Brooke, born Buffalo, NY on 5-1-1913, died San Jose 12-2-2001.
From this marriage:

1. Glenn Alan, born on 11-25-1943, married Dale Evelyn Bowen, born Springfield, Vt on 2-6-1948.
2. Robert Brooke, born Detroit, on 8-27-1945, follows IVh.

IVh Robert Brooke Martin, born Highland Park, Il, 8-27-1945, died San Jose, CA, 12-26-2014. Married Sandra Ann Horrowitz, born New York, 5-7-1944.
From this marriage:

1. Michael Frank, born Huntington Beach, CA, 7-20-1977, follows Vb.
2. David Brooke, born Huntington Beach, CA, 7-20-1977, follows Vc.
3. Jennifer Lisa, born Houston, TX, 9-4-1980, follows Vd.

Vb Michael Frank Martin, born Huntington Beach, CA, 7-20-1977, married Joann Liao, 7-2000. From this marriage:

1. Sarah, born 8-16-2008
2. Rachael, born 3-1-2010

Vc David Brooke Martin, born Huntington Beach, CA, 7-20-1977. Married Cathy Zhu.
From this marriage:

1. Elijah Brooke, born 8-31-2007
2. Isabelle, born 16-3-2010

Vd Jennifer Lisa Martin, born Houston, TX, 9-4-1980. Married Santosh Walker. From this marriage:

1. Ella Rayne, born 8-8-2007
2. Chase, born 1-16-2009

IIIi Richard Theodore Martin, born Detroit 7-18-1911, died Lake Havasu, AZ, 6-4-2001. Married (1) Rhoda Gamble, born Mckeesport, Pa, 12-17-1907, died Lake Havasu City, AZ 10-24-1976.
From this marriage:

1. Richard Gamble, born Detroit on 6-15-1946, follows IVi
2. Francis William, born Detroit on 12-8-1949, follows IVj

Married (2) after 1977 Eleanor Maud Peterson, died 1989.

IVi Richard Gamble Martin, born Detroit 6-15-1946, married (1) Ruthann Kretschmer. Married (2) Shirley Ann Sawilchik, born Chicago, 11-21-1949.
From this marriage:

1. Victoria Jane
2. Andrew Philip, follows Ve
3. Gregory Alen, follows Vf

Ve Andrew Philip Martin, married in Valparaiso IN, Jody Mullins. From this marriage:

1. Grant, born 1-2014
2. Adaline, born 2015

Vf Gregory Alen Martin, maried 10-8-2012, Hitomi Totsuka. From this marriage:

1. Theodor Alan, born 10-2-2013
2. Amelia Kohaku, born 10-4-2015

IVj Francis William Martin, born Detroit, 12-8-1949, died San Clemente, CA, 1-25-2022, married Vesna Zlicaric, born Zagreb (Yugoslavia) 2-25-1954.
From this marriage:

1. Richard John, born La Grange, IL, born 1980
2. Rebecca Jane, born La Grange, IL, born 1983follows Vg

Vg Rebecca Jane Martin, born 1983, married John Ryan Shelton, divorced 12-1-2011.
From this marriage:

1. Reese Lorin, born 2007

Rebecca Jane Martin married (2) Long Beach, Ca, 8-12-2017 Daniel Hardey

IIg The descendants of Pieternella Louise Beyster and Newell Avery Wallace

Pieternella (Nellie) Louise Beyster, born Detroit on 9-24-1881, godfather Lowie Riedisueli and godmother Petronella Matthee. Died Grosse Point 1957. Married Detroit 9-25-1907 Newell Avery Wallace, born Detroit 3-8-1882, died Detroit 1-14-1941.
From this marriage:

1. Nancy, born around 1914, follows IIIj

IIIj Nancy Wallace, born around 1914, married (1) NN Saint-Amoure.
From this marriage:

1. Pierre
2. Paul Wallace

Nancy Wallace married (2) Robert Shields.

IIh The descendants of Henry Edward Beyster and Edith Downey

Henry (Harry) Edward Beyster, born Detroit on 3-5-1883, godfather John Beyster and godmother Ester Holdham, died Bloomfield Hills, Mi 9-1-1963. Married Edith Downey, born Detroit 4-7-1887, died in Feb 1963.
From this marriage:

1. Hendrieka Beyster, born 8-21-1919, follows IIIk
2. James Downey Beyster, born on 5-12-1922, follows IIIl

beyster car

From his obituary:

Harry Beyster attended the University of Michigan before he entered the auto industry in 1906. He began as co-owner of a Detroit garage and then founded his own auto-engineering firm the Beyster Detroit Motor Car Co. He went to the Fisher Body Corp. in 1920 and was in charge of the firm's plant engineering and architectural departments and later on headed the same departments for GM. This was a $ 40.000 job. In 1938 GM loaned him to the city of Detroit and he was appointed Department of Public Works commissioner. After World War II president Truman asked him to head the US War Damages Commission in the Philippine Islands. He also served the Federal Government as a technical advisor to several Latin American countries.

IIIk Hendrieka Beyster, born 8-21-1919, died Grosse Pointe, Mi, 5-20-2003. Married in 1940 Christian Henry Haberkorn III, born Detroit 7-6-1916, died Pontiac, Mi 12-26-1976.

From this marriage:

1. Christian Henry, born 11-20-1941, died Ann Arbor March 7, 2021, follows IVk
2. Susan Beck, born 8-2-1944.
3. Driska, born ab. 1945, married Jerry McCullough
4. Miff, married Chuck Hendriksen
3. John Beyster, born on 5-5-1947, died 1992. Follows IVl

IVk Christian Henry Haberkorn IV, born 11-20-1941, died Ann Arbor March 7, 2021. Married(1) Marilyn Mclean, born in 1945.
From this marriage:

1. Christian Edward
2. Marilyn Margaret

Married (2) Deborah Dishman

IVl John Beyster Haberkorn, born 5-5-1947, married Joyce Ann Mendegrahl.
From this marriage:

1. John Beyster
2. Adam Beck, born 1975
3. Matthew Stanley

IIIl James Downey Beyster, born Detroit 5-12-1922, died St. Petersburg, FL on 2-12-2002. Married Barbara Boydell, born 11-5-1923, died St.Clair Shores, MI 11-1-2017.
From this marriage:

1. Henri Edward, born on 5-4-1947, married Sharon Kim, born Honolulu October 8, 1947, died San Antonio June 1, 2004.
2. Barbara Boydell, born in 1950, married James Harold Bierbusse.

Research and translation:
Frank Martin and Paul van Gool.
We owe a lot of thanks to Sally Foss and Toon van Gool,
who were the first to investigate and compile the Beyster family tree.

To my great sadness, Frank Martin passed away on January 25, 2022.
Frank contributed to the research on the Beyster family with great passion and enthusiasm.
My condolences go to his wife Vesna and his children Richard and Rebecca.

For more information on the Beyster family, contact Paul van Gool:

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