H04-1535.5. Roon, Willem (1838–1865).
Papers, 1862-1865, 1891, 2004. 2.00 linear ft.

Abstract

Willem Roon was a native of the Netherlands and resident of Zeeland, Michigan. On December 1, 1862, along with seven other men from Zeeland, Michigan, volunteered and joined the Michigan 9th Cavalry regiment. The regiment trained at Coldwater, Michigan, and saw action in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee against the famous raiders of the Confederate John Hunt Morgan. Roon died of disease in Knoxville, Tennessee, on April 3, 1864. The regiment continued through Georgia with General Sherman and was disbanded in 1865. The other seven Zeeland cavalrymen came home safely. This collection contains photocopies, transcriptions and translations, and originals of the Civil War letters of Willem Roon. Also includes letters of Jacob Roon, Stoffel Kaslander, Jan Vogel, and Martinnes Foppe. Correspondence is divided into two sections: letters from Willem Roon are in section 1, and other contemporary letters are in section 2. Also includes information on other members of the 9th Michigan Cavalry: Jan Beaukamp, Hermanus (Manus) Gezon, Mason Streeter, Jurrien (Juri) Hoekstra, Roelof Strik, and Yallow Defries. Relevant persons include Pieter and Ariaantje Roon, Anna de Vree, W. van Loo, Douwe Bouma, P. Peesk, P. Hoekstra. Includes materials from descendents of involved parties, John Richard de Witt, and Ruth Tidd. Also contains photographs of Willem Roon, the Roon House in Zeeland, and Roon’s gravestone in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Accession No.:H04-1535.5
Provenance:John Richard de Witt and Ruth Tidd
Donor:John Richard de Witt and Ruth Tidd
Photographs:4 images
Processed by:Michael Douma, Summer 2004

Biography

Willem Roon was born in Ouddrop, Goeree-Overfakke, province of South Holland, the Netherlands, in 1838. In 1847, he emigrated with his parents and two brothers, Pieter and Jacob, aboard the ship Hugo Grotius. His parents, Herman Roon and Adriaantje (Van Regenmorter), originally planned on settling in Evansville, Indiana, but chose West Michigan, where they settled in Holland Township. They later moved to Zeeland Township.
On December 1, 1862, the 24 year-old Willem Roon, along with seven other men from Zeeland, Michigan, volunteered and joined the Michigan 9th Cavalry regiment. The regiment trained at Coldwater, Michigan, and saw action in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee against the famous raiders of the Confederate John Hunt Morgan. Roon died of disease in Knoxville, Tennessee, on April 3, 1864. The regiment continued through Georgia with General Sherman and was disbanded in 1865. The other seven Zeeland cavalrymen came home safely.

Scope and Content

This collection contains photocopies, transcriptions and translations, and originals of the Civil War letters of Willem Roon. Also includes letters of Jacob Roon, Stoffel Kaslander, Jan Vogel, and Martinnes Foppe. Correspondence is divided into two sections: letters from Willem Roon are in section 1, and other contemporary letters are in section 2. Also includes information on other members of the 9th Michigan Cavalry: Jan Beaukamp, Hermanus (Manus) Gezon, Mason Streeter, Jurrien (Juri) Hoekstra, Roelof Strik, and Yallow Defries. Relevant persons include Pieter and Ariaantije Roon, Anna de Vree, W. van Loo, Douwe Bouma, P. Peesk, P. Hoekstra. Includes materials from descendents of involved parties, John Richard de Witt, and Ruth Tidd. Also contains photographs of Willem Roon, the Roon house in Zeeland, and Roon’s gravestone in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Container List

Box 1

9th Michigan Cavalry
History of, 2004, n. d.
List of Soldiers in Company C
Military Pension Records
Jan Beaukamp, 2004
Stoffel Kaslander, 1891
Mason Streeter, 2004
Roelof Strick, 1886-1921 (2 folders)
Correspondence (Section 1) From Willem Roon (Dutch with English translations) (in chronological order)
16 December 1862, to Jan Vogel
9 February 1863, to Mother, Brothers
Undated 1863, to Unidentified
23 February 1863, to Mother, Brothers
4 March 1863, to Mother, Brothers
17 March, 1863, to Mother, Brothers
24 March? 1863, to Mother, Brothers
15 May 1863, to Mother, Brothers
23 May 1863, to Mother, Brothers
29 May 1863, to Mother, Brothers
16 June 1863, to Mother, Brothers
20 July 1863, to Mother, Brothers
23 July 1863, to Mother, Brothers
31 July 1863, to Mother, Brothers
6 August 1863, to Uncle, Cousins
30 October 1863, to Mother, Brothers
14 November 1863, to Mother, Brothers
28 November 1863, to Mother, Brothers
28 November 1863, to Martinnes Foppe
1 January 1864, to Mother, Brothers
14 March 1864, to Mother, Brothers
16 March 1864, to Mother, Brothers
1863/1864, Unidentified Recipient (damaged, not translated)
Correspondence (Section 2)
Bouma, Peesk, Hoekstra to Willem Roon, 24 December, 1863
Jacob Roon to Willem Roon, 13 February, 1863
Jacob Roon to Willem Roon, 12 March, 1863
Jacob Roon to Willem Roon, 23 December, 1863
Jacob Roon to Willem Roon, April, 1864
Stoffel Kaslander to Adriaantje Roon, n. d.
Unidentified to Jacob Roon, 31 August, 1891
Foppe, Martinnes, Correspondence, n. d. (Dutch, not translated)
Kaslander, S. to Neighbor lady Adriaantje, n. d. (Dutch, translated)
Douma, Michael
Article
“A Look Man’s Look at War,” Holland Sentinel, 2004
Correspondence with de Witt, John Richard, 4 February-21 March, 2004
Research Notes Concerning Roon and Translations, 2004
Photographs
Roon Home, n. d. (1 image)
Willem in Uniform, n. d. (1 image)
Willem Roon Gravestone/ Ruth Tidd, n. d. (2 images)
Roon Family Data, 2004
Van Loo, W., Minutes of Meeting, n. d. (Dutch with English translation)

Box 2

Original letters of those listed in Box 1

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