So Big a Life for Selina DeJong in 1888 Chicago
Selina DeJong, daughter of gambler Simeon Peake, moves from seamy fortune to teaching in Chicago 1888. Her life intersects with school friend Julie Hempel and neighbor Klaas Pool as gossip swirls about Pervus DeJong and social boundaries. Selina marries Dirk DeJong, faces hardship as a farmer’s wife, and bears a son, Roelf.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dirk DeJong
Selina DeJong
Simeon Peake
Chicago
Julie Hempel
Seen Hempel
Simeon
Selina
Klaas Pool
Roelf
Klaas
Sdow Paarlenberg
Pervus DeJong
Seling
DeJong
Owith
Dirk
Chapter VI Continued Pervus in Chicago Market
Pervus drives into the Chicago market every other day and, during July and August, sometimes lacks fresh clothes for a week. Canes and Jap ride the wagon with the driver as they head toward town. The historic scene unfolds amid daily commerce.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pervus
Chicago
Selina’s Farm Dreams Meet Hard Reality on Halsted Road
Selina and Pervus pursue an ambitious plan to drain and improve the west sixteen on their Halsted road farm. She studies a Chicago farming book, fights resistance, and endures lonely winters as she learns soil, drainage, and marketing while the tiny twenty five acre garden remains unprofitable.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Targie
Elina
Daver
Halsted
Selina
Auckland
Acta
Pervus
Paakenberg
Lina
Chicago
High Prairie
Klaas Pool
Ina
Pervys
Irié
Jan
Towa
Kansas
Ilnois Prairie
Dirk
Setina
Infanta Eulalie Visit and a Prairie Life Echoes
A fragment from a narrative follows Selina in Chicago and the prairie fields. It recalls a letter about Infanta Eulalie of Spain, Mrs Potter Palmer, and a ball at the Palmer House, juxtaposed with Selina’s rural work and family life. The text notes her marriage, two children, and a friend’s death, while describing Selina’s shift to field labor and early widowhood.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Michael Arnold
Kansas
Arnolds
Michael
Chicago
Wanna
Eugene
Pauline
Lady Bugs
Infanta Eulalie
Spain
Seyi
Infanta
Selina
Pervus
Dirk
Pervis
High Prairie
Maartje Poot
Maartje Pool
Maartje
Selina's Energy and Ideas Transform the Farm
Selina drives change on a farm using new energy practices and bold ideas. She faces environmental limits but shows resilience, balancing innovation with mindful stewardship of soil water and crops.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Selina
Fragmentary notebook note on lawyers and undertaker duties
A fragmented snippet describes a young lawyer explaining sincerity of smiles and a hobby. It mentions pay, resale, and undertaker duties, noting the undertaker’s busyness and attempted help despite it.
Ancient Acacia Veteran Graces Paris Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes hosts Paris oldest living plant, an acacia planted in 1635. Originating as a cutting from North America for Sean Robin, it grew beside the Seine during Louis III’s era and inspired the species name by Linnaeus. Today it stands aged, reinforced by a cement belt and pillars, yet still bears leaves and flowers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fontainebleau
Paris
Jardin Des Plantes
France
North America
Sean Robin
Henri IV
London Mail
Robin
Louis III
Linnens
Siberian Gold Discovery Reported on Lena River Bank
A rich gold field was found along a stream flowing into the Lena River in Siberia. The report notes high yields and potential mining interest.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Siberian
Lena River
Science Service
Also Mentioned on This Page
Edna Ferber
Doadieday, Page& Co
WNU
Cever
Undertaker
Grand Retine Co
Grand Rapids
Spiria
Guster of
Ballegiese
Cuticura
Taloum
N. AL Linton
WoLfe
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!