Rev. John Peter Battema1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 12162, (1888 - 1963)
FatherPeter A. Battema4,5,6 (13 Nov 1859 - 7 Mar 1921)
MotherKatherine Boersema7,8,6 (11 Oct 1863 - 22 Feb 1927)

Key Events:

Birth: 17 Nov 1888, Muskegon, Michigan9,10,11
Marriage: 25 Aug 1918, Holland, Michigan, Regina Schoonbeck (6 Nov 1892 - 11 Feb 1931)6,12,13
Marriage: before 1935, Jane Meyer (20 Oct 1894 - 26 Nov 1956)14,15
Marriage: Aug 1960, Franklin Co., Ohio, Evelyn Osgood Fenker (12 Dec 1899 - 12 Jun 1994)16,17,18
Death: 9 Oct 1963, Bexley, Franklin Co., Ohio19,20
Burial: 14 Oct 1963, Inglewood, California21
ChartsDescendants of Hermann Hinrich Fennker

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Rev. John Peter Battema was born on 17 Nov 1888 in Muskegon, Michigan.9,10,11
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Muskegon, Muskegon Co., Michigan, in the household of his parents, Peter A. Battema and Katherine Boersema.22 He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Muskegon, Muskegon Co., Michigan, in the household of his parents.5
     John also appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, at 181 Lake Ave., enumerated 18 Apr 1910, in the household of Ralph Bolt and his family, listed as a boarder. It seems likely he was a college student there, though no direct record of that has been found.23,24
     John applied for a passport 10 Jun 1915 stating that he intended to go to Canada for three months to do missionary work. The passport was issued two days later.25

Becoming a Clergyman --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     He was ordained by the Christian Reformed Church in 1917. His first assignment was Maple Avenue church in Holland, Michigan.26,2,27 He registered for the draft for World War I on 5 Jun 1917, while living at 60 Amity St., Muskegon, Michigan, reporting he was employed as a minister of the Christian Reformed Church.3
     John married first Regina Schoonbeck, daughter of Tice Schoonbeck and Heikena Pekelder, on 25 Aug 1918 in Holland, Michigan, with Rev. J. F. Bowerman officiating.6,12,13
     John and Regina appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Holland, Ottawa Co., Michigan, at 151 West 18th St., enumerated 5 Jan 1920, reporting they owned their home, free of mortgage. Their son John was listed as living with them, as were his parents.28
     John and Regina moved to Kalamazoo about 1921, when they were living at 410 W. Walnut St. He was pastor of the Third Christian Reformed Church there, serving from 1920 to 1926.29,30
     John and Regina moved to the Grand Rapids area by 1927, where he was the pastor of the Wyoming Park Christian Reformed Church from 1926 to 1929.31,32,33 He was then pastor of the Wyoming Park Gospel Tabernacle, where he served until at least May 1931.34,33
     John and Regina appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Wyoming Twp., Kent Co., Michigan, on Oaklawn Ave., enumerated 26 Apr 1930, reporting they rented their home, for $50 per month, and owned a radio. Their children John and Theodore were listed as living with them.35
     His wife died on 11 Feb 1931 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.36

Entering the Oil Buiness --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     He was involved with oil land royalties by 1935. In the summer of 1937 he and others who owned fractional interests in an oil lease arranged for an operator to drill a well there. After receiving partial payment, he defaulted, and in exchange sold interests in another oil lease to John and others. After a series of complex transactions involving sales of additional fractional interests in that lease a well was successfully drilled there. Owners of other fractional interests in this lease sued John and others claiming they were entitled to additional compensation. They won in trial court, and John and the other defendants appalled. The appeal court reversed that decision and awarded the defendants costs.37,38
     John married Jane Meyer, daughter of Meno J. Meyer and Anna Clawson, before 1935.14,15
     John and Jane settled in Kalamazoo after their marriage. In 1935 they were living at 226 E. Walnut St.37
     John and Jane appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of South Westnedge, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at 3826 South Bendick St., enumerated 4 May 1940, in the household of her widowed sister Abbie and her 18-year-old daughter. They reported they had lived in the same town in 1935.39
     John reported in 1940 that he was not employed, not seeking work, and had worked no weeks the prior year, earning $0. By 1942 he was operating a filling station in Kalamazoo.39,40 He registered for the draft for World War II on 27 Apr 1942, while living at 439 Woodland Ave., Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, reporting he was employed by at a Pure Oil station in Kalamazoo.41

Moving to California --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     John and Jane moved to California by 1944, when they were living at 816 W. Colden Ave., Los Angeles. He was working as an engineer there.42
     His second wife died on 26 Nov 1956 in Los Angeles Co., California.43
     John continued to live in California as late as 1960, when he was living at 1222 W. 162nd St., Gardena.44
     John married third Evelyn Osgood Fenker, daughter of Albert August Fenker and Mary Grant Hillebrandt, in Aug 1960 in Franklin Co., Ohio.16,17,18
     John died on 9 Oct 1963 in Bexley, Franklin Co., Ohio, at age 74.19,20 He was buried on 14 Oct 1963 in Inglewood, California.21

Children:
     Children with Regina Schoonbeck:

  • John Peter Battema Jr.28,35,45 (21 May 1919 - 8 Dec 2010)
  • Theodore Rex Battema35 (9 Nov 1925 - 7 Jul 2011)

Children:
     There were no children with Jane Meyer

Children:
     There were no children with Evelyn Osgood Fenker

Citations

  1. [S10598] Peter Battema household, 1900 U.S. Census, Muskegon Co., Michigan, shows name as Johnnie Battem.
  2. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1918, Ottawa Co., no. 228, John P. Bettema and Regine Schoonbeck, shows his occupation as clergyman.
  3. [S10594] John Peter Battema, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
  4. [S10598] Peter Battema household, 1900 U.S. Census, Muskegon Co., Michigan.
  5. [S10599] Peter A. Batlema household, 1910 U.S. Census, Muskegon Co., Michigan.
  6. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1918, Ottawa Co., no. 228, John P. Bettema and Regine Schoonbeck.
  7. [S10598] Peter Battema household, 1900 U.S. Census, Muskegon Co., Michigan, shows him as the son of her husband and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  8. [S10599] Peter A. Batlema household, 1910 U.S. Census, Muskegon Co., Michigan, shows him as the son of her husband and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  9. [S10598] Peter Battema household, 1900 U.S. Census, Muskegon Co., Michigan, shows month, year, age 11, and state.
  10. [S10609] John Peter Battema, Passport Application (10 Jun 1915), shows date, city, and state.
  11. [S10594] John Peter Battema, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows date, city, and state.
  12. [S10600] John P. Battema household, 1920 U.S. Census, Ottawa Co., Michigan, shows married.
  13. [S10602] John P. Battema household, 1930 U.S. Census, Kent Co., Michigan, shows married, with his age at first marriage as 28, and hers as 23.
  14. [S10604] Polk's Kalamazoo City Directory, 1935, pg 89, shows her as his wife.
  15. [S10603] Abbie Roundhouse household, 1940 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows married.
  16. [S10592] "Marriage Licenses," Columbus Dispatch, 23 Aug 1960, shows license issued, no date.
  17. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000, shows married.
  18. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for Evelyn Battema, 13 Jul 1994.
  19. [S1324] "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-1944," Ancestry.com, record for John P. Battema, citing cert. no. 75774, shows date, city, county and state.
  20. [S10593] John P. Battema obituary, Columbus Dispatch, shows died Wednesday.
  21. [S10593] John P. Battema obituary, Columbus Dispatch.
  22. [S10596] Peter A. Battema, Certificate of Death.
  23. [S10610] Ralph Bolt household, 1910 U.S. Census, Kent Co., Michigan.
  24. [S10603] Abbie Roundhouse household, 1940 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows he attended college for five years.
  25. [S10609] John Peter Battema, Passport Application (10 Jun 1915).
  26. [S10611] Christian Reformed Church, online, record for John P. Battema.
  27. [S10600] John P. Battema household, 1920 U.S. Census, Ottawa Co., Michigan, shows occupation as preacher and industry as church.
  28. [S10600] John P. Battema household, 1920 U.S. Census, Ottawa Co., Michigan.
  29. [S10604] Polk's Kalamazoo City Directory, 1921, pg 317, shows occupation and residence.
  30. [S10611] Christian Reformed Church, online, record for John P. Battema, shows church and service years.
  31. [S10607] Polk's Grand Rapids City Directory, 1927, pg 160.
  32. [S10611] Christian Reformed Church, online, record for John P. Battema, shows service years.
  33. [S10602] John P. Battema household, 1930 U.S. Census, Kent Co., Michigan, shows occupation as minister and industry as undenominational.
  34. [S10612] Wyoming Park Gospel Tabernacle church notice, Grand Rapids Press, 9 May 1931, shows him as pastor.
  35. [S10602] John P. Battema household, 1930 U.S. Census, Kent Co., Michigan.
  36. [S10597] Regina Bettema, Certificate of Death, shows date, city, county, and state.
  37. [S10604] Polk's Kalamazoo City Directory, 1935, pg 89.
  38. [S10613] Bartlett et. al. v. Battema et. al., 300 Mich. 262: 263-64.
  39. [S10603] Abbie Roundhouse household, 1940 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  40. [S10604] Polk's Kalamazoo City Directory, 1942, pg 45.
  41. [S10608] John Peter Battema, World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of Michigan.
  42. [S6249] Great Register, California, 1944, Los Angeles Co., Los Angeles City precinct no. 48, Battema, John P. Battema and Mrs. Jane.
  43. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Jane Battema, shows date and county.
  44. [S6249] Great Register, California, 1960, Los Angeles Co., Gardena precinct no. 6, Battema, John P.
  45. [S10601] John Peter Battema obituary, Kalamazoo Gazette.