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Emigrants arrival

Belgians in America

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C.W. Soldiers

Belgian Civil War soldiers in WISCONSIN

Old soldier's Home

Biography :

August Vandervest from Green Bay; Carried on muster roll as "Auguste Vandervest".

The Vandervest in Wisconsin came from Tourines-la-Grosse, Brabant Wallon, Belgium. They embarked in Antwerp on April 27, 1855 on the Anna Kimball, destination Boston. In the Home records there is trace of two brothers: August and Joseph C. (Joseph C. enlisted in the 72^nd Wisconsin).

August was born on December 31, 1840 and I find him working in the farm of Theophile Page, also from Belgium, in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1860.

After the war he went to join his brother Joseph and his family in Hamlin, Mason Co., Michigan and was married on December 25, 1871in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Lucinda Taylor (or Tyler). They had children: Joseph born 1882,  Ernest born 1887, Albert born 1892 and Henry born 1894. In the 1900 and 1910 censuses, she state having 8 children with 7 still living! They finally settled  in Stephenson, Menominee Co., Michigan where he bought 160 acres of land in November 20, 1884.

When admitted to the Home in 1898, August Vandervest attested suffering of a right inguinal hernia, rheumatism and deafness contracted at Vicksburg in 1863. No date of discharge. He is listed in the 1910 census in Stephenson with wife and children. It is just added in the Home records that he died in Stephenson, Michigan A.W.O.L. on July 5, 1912 and was buried same place.

Sources :
J. H. Mertens : "The Second Battle"
Northwestern Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin