Why should I spend so much time researching those who have long ago died and whose bodies now lie buried in cemeteries? Isn’t that a waste of time and effort? I feel not! I feel my time has been well spent because we are all a part of a line called family. Social creatures-linked together by bonds, not only of friendship but also of kin. That bond is a link with our past. We can learn many things from those who have gone on before us. One of the things we can learn is of the courage they had to leave everything familiar and journey to a strange land named America for a better future. Sometimes it was for a better economic future and sometimes for religious freedom. Either way, and sometimes for both reasons, they summoned courage and made the trip across the Ocean. Because of that courage, we now live in this free land. We too need courage when we realize that the gateway to the future runs through us. We should also model how we face the future to our children.

The man who helped me begin my family tree search was Albert Rolleman of the Netherlands (alive in 2006). His great grandfather also named Albert Rolleman came to this country in 1882 and soon purchased and lived on what is today my Father’s property, known by we Steenwyk’s as "the twenty". That was the tie-in for me to begin my research for the Rolleman's Family Tree and my very own Steenwyk Family Tree. I hope you enjoy the journey.
 

History of The Jamestown Branch of Byron Center State Bank

Another bank located in the same building years before was originally called "The Jamestown Bank". It was not affiliated with Bryon Center State Bank in any way. That original Bank, known as "the Jamestown Bank" was begun in 1917 when the corner lot was purchased. It did banking for the local farmers and tradesmen in the area. The Jamestown Bank was chartered as a "State Bank". Lewis De Kleine was the first president and Owen Sneden was the first vice president. According to an old sheet of stationary I found at the Patmos Library, the president and vice president were the same at the April 30^th 1930 Board meeting. Also listed are Frank Peters, cashier and D. H. Vande Bunte, Asst. cashier. Capitol was listed at that time as $25,000.00. The bank did not last through the Great Depression or even up to the Bank Holiday proclaimed by FDR from March 6^th thru the 9^th (inclusive) of 1933. The Jamestown Bank ended up failing sometime in the year 1932. I’m not sure of the exact date. It closed its doors and all creditors were left with no funds.

After the Bank closed, the vault was left intact. The building was first used as a home with a business (VanderKooy Electric & Plumbing) in the front, then later it was used exclusively as a home. Thirty-one years passed with no bank located in the town of Jamestown.

In the nearby town of Byron Center another State Bank had opened on the 14^th of February in 1921. It had grown steadily and in the 1960’s decided to open a branch in the same building which had been "the Jamestown Bank" years before. The directors of Byron Center State Bank were at that time in 1963, Sierd Andringa, president, Lee Marshall, vice-president and Willard Van Singel, Executive vice-president.

Charles F. Andringa and Harm Wustman were cashiers.

Mr. Van Singel went along when the first branch of Byron Center State Bank for business on Wednesday the 27^th of November, 1963. An open house was held shortly thereafter on Saturday the 7^th of December. This open house was held from 1 to 5 PM at the bank building.

In addition to Mr. Van Singel, listed as Executive vice president and cashier, Joseph H. Cramer and Wynetta Terpstra were listed as tellers of the new branch. A few short years later-my father brought me to the bank at the tender age of five. It was here that I learned where they stored money. Not just any money, but my money! Precious pennies and dimes! This was about the year 1967. I remember the high (to me) counters and the friendly faces behind the counters. Mr. Van Singel was always especially good to my brother and I as we exchanged money with him. The tellers were also great to deal with. I kept my money there for many years-and in spite of my neighbor’s teasing-the floor did not settle in that spot!

NOTE:   I found this blurb about the DeKleine Family in America on the Web:

Written by Michael Steenwyk of Hudsonville Michigan, January 18, 2008.
My father, Ben H. Steenwyk took me for my first banking experience at the above listed bank.
We always knew it as "Jamestown Bank".