Jans Jurgens Janssen was born in Wiesens, Ostfriesland, Germany in 1856 and died near Basco, Hancock County, Illinois. He married Fredericka Sartorius in Adams County, Illinois, in 1888. A few things I’ve learned about research and life from Jans:

• Retirement is not always permanent. Jans retired to Golden, Illinois, and returned to farm life after his grown son left farming.
• Not every farm family during the 19th century had large families. Jans and Reka had three.
• Some immigrants translate their names the moment they land in the United States only to have their “old country” name put on their tombstone. Jans is John Johnson on just about every record in which he appears in the United States. Except for his tombstone where it says Jans Janssen.

My ancestor table can be viewed on my site. Jans Janssen is my great-great-grandfather.