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e Smits Family History f

Petronella "Nellie" Smits (1891-1954)

Petronella Smits was born on July 29, 1891 in De Pere, Wisconsin, the eighth child of Jacob Smits & Christina Baeten.  On Nellie's second birthday, her mother, Christina, died from complications from childbirth leaving the family to be raised by Jacob and probably Nellie's older sisters Dora & Hattie. 

In June 1900 Nellie was living on her father's farm in Ashwaubenon with her brothers & sisters.  In June 1905, the 13 year old Nellie was still living on the farm with her father and brothers; Peter & Henry.  That was still the case in May 1910, when Nellie was 18 years old.

On November 26, 1912, the 21 year old Nellie married the 22 year old Bernard Bain, also from De Pere at St. Boniface's Church in De Pere.   Their first child, Norman J. was born on June 24, 1913, followed by Emmet in 1916 and Alma in 1918.

In February 1920 the family was living on their farm in the Town of Lawrence, Wisconsin.  Over the next 10 years Nellie & Bernard had 5 more children; Eunice in 1921, Betty in 1924, Delmar in 1926, and twins Alvin & Melvin in 1928.  In April 1930, the entire family of 10 was living on the farm in Lawrence. Their last two children followed in the 1930's; Kenneth in 1930 & Robert Vernon in 1936.

Bernard & Nellie were still living on the farm when on January 21, 1954 Nellie died in a Green Bay Hospital of a cerebral hemorrhage.  She was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in De Pere, Wisconsin.  Bernard retired from farming that year and served as a supervisor for the Town of Lawrence, as well as its Treasurer.  Bernard died in 1963.