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e Smits Family History f

Henry Smits (1889-1971)

Henry Smits was born on October 16, 1889 in De Pere, Wisconsin, the seventh child of Jacob Smits & Christina Baeten.  When Henry was 3 years old his mother, Christina, died from complications from childbirth leaving the family to be raised by Jacob and probably his older sisters Dora & Hattie. 

In June 1900 Henry was living on his father's farm in Ashwaubenon with her brothers & sisters and going to school.  In June 1905, the 15 year old Henry was still living on the farm with his father and brother Peter & sister Nellie.  That was still the case in May 1910, when Henry was 21 years old as he was working on his father's farm.

On July 19, 1911, the 21 year old Henry married the 18 year old Annie Kleuskens, also from De Pere at St. Boniface's Church in De Pere.   Annie was the daughter of the late John Kleuskens and Marie Sobriejie.  Their first child, Edward J. was born on December 17, 1911, followed by Merlin J. in 1915 and Marie C. in 1917.

In January 1920 the family was living on Main Street in De Pere, Wisconsin and Henry was working as a loftman at a American Writing Paper Co., a paper mill.  Over the next 10 years Nellie & Bernard had 3 more children; Richard J. in 1920, Rita in 1924, and Grace in 1927.  In April 1930, the entire family of 8 was living in the house on Main Street.  Henry was now doing steel gate work with Hudson Manufacturing Company & his son Edward was working at the paper mill.  Henry retired in 1955.

Henry died of pneumonia on January 15, 1971 in a Green Bay hospital and was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in De Pere.