SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Peter Liefbroer, Page 561

PETER LIEFBROER, residing in the village of Cedar Grove, in the town of Holland Sheboygan County, Wis., is one of the early pioneer settlers of the community.  He is a native of Kortgeen, province of Zeeland, Holland, born February 20, 1823.  His parents, Peter and Mary (Derwalter) Liefbroer, were also natives of the same place as their son.  In their family were seven children, three sons and four daughters, of whom but three survive, namely:  the gentleman whose name heads this record; Cornelius, who still resides in the Fatherland; and Mary, who became the wife of Adrian Carlman, a farmer of the town of Sheboygan Falls.

    Peter Liefbroer was reared and educated in the common schools of his native country, where his boyhood and youth were spent.  At the age of twenty-seven, Mr. Liefbroer was united in marriage with Miss Mary Flepse, the ceremony being performed on the 25th of October, 1850.  Mrs. Liefbroer was born January 10, 1830, in the same village as her husband, and is the only surviving member of a family of three children born unto Paul and Adrienne (Amperse) Flepse.  In Mr. and Mrs. Liefbroer's family were seven children.  Peter, born November 1, 1851, is a resident of Milwaukee; Paul, born April 10, 1859, resides in the same city; John, born August 10, 1862, is a harness-maker in Oostburg, Sheboygan County; Henry, born August 29, 1865, is at home; Jennie, is deceased; Mary, born May 31, 1856, married George Clinton, of Pewaukee, Waukesha County, Wis.; and Nellie, born August 26, 1861, became the wife of William Parker, of the same city.

    On the 10th of March, 1854, Mr. Liefbroer, accompanied by his wife and two children, sailed from Rotterdam for New York, arriving in the latter city some forty-three days after their embarkation.  From New York they continued their journey Westward by way of Chicago to Milwaukee, making the trip on rail and by boat.  Only about six months were spent in the Cream City, when they came to Sheboygan County, and settled in the town of Holland, on the site known as Cedar Grove, where Mr. Liefbroer purchased twenty-four and three-fourths acres of land, which he still owns, and which has been his home for nearly forty years.

    Mr. Liefbroer has been identified with the Republican party, and warmly advocates and supports its principles.  The entire family attend the Dutch Reformed Church of America, of which they are consistent members.  Mr. and Mrs. Liefbroer are well preserved and active old people, who apparently have many years before them in which they may enjoy the fruits of past years of labor.