Bernard L. Van Lanen &
Elisabeth Vander Landen
Bernard (Gerardus) L. VAN LANEN was born in 1825 in the town of Boekel, Noord Brabant, Holland. Bernard was the fifth child of Gerardus VAN LANEN and Johanna Adriaan Giele VAN DER HEIJDEN.
Elisabeth VANDER LANDEN the daughter of John VANDER LANDEN and Johanna VANDER HEIDEN, was born in Belgium, in 1842.
Bernard grew up in Boekel and with his parent and siblings worked the family farm. In July of 1849, Bernard's family boarded a ship in Rotterdam , Holland and immigrated to Brown County, Wisconsin. In 1850 we find the extended family settled in Census District #12 of Green Bay. (see Gerardus Van lanen Family History). Bernard is listed as a male, age 25, occupation farmer, and born in Holland. At this time his father Gerardus was 61 and his mother Johanna 58. We also know that his elder brother Peter was married with one child and that sometime before the arrival of their next child, Mary on November 29th, 1851, Peter and Wilhelmina purchased land for a farm and moved to Bay Settlement (the Town of Scott). That left Bernard as the eldest son to care for his parents and establish a farm of his own in the town of Scott. On November 1st, 1852 Bernard delcared his intent to become a citizen of the Untied States (Declation of Intent).
On May 14th, 1860, Benard married a Belgian immigrant Elisabeth VANDER LANDEN (Marriage certficate) in Holy Cross Church Bay Settlement as witnessed by Leoard Nooyen and Gerardus Van Lanen. Later that year we find Bernard listed in the 1860 census as a head of household. Residing with him and his new wife are his parents Gerardus and Johanna as follows:
- Gerardus L. Van Lanen, Age 35, male, Farmer, born in Holland, Land = $100.00, Property = $125.00
- Elisabeth, Age 18, Female, Spouse, born in Belgium
- Gerardus, Age 72, Male, Father, born in Holland
- Johanna, Age 70, Female, Mother, born in Holland.
Two years later in 1862, Bernard and Elisabeth birthed their
first son John.
This was followed by the birth of their first girl Hannah in1863.
- Mary was born in 1864.
- Bernard Jr. in 1865.
- Henry in 1868 who married Pauline MALLIOT. Herny and Pauline had four children.
- Wilhelmenia on 7 February,1869. Wilhelmenia died in September of that same year.
- Philemena their next daughter was born (must have been premature).
- Elizabeth born 10 October, 1870.
- Francisca born 19 September, 1871.
- Johanna in 1874.
- Finally there was Francis born in 1878.
At this time it is not know when either Bernard or Elisabeth
died.
VAN LANEN Ancestry 
The VAN LANEN surname originates in the towns of Boekel and
Uden, Noord Brabant, Holland and means "from the
lanes". The earliest Van Lanen identified to date is Peter VAN LAANEN who was
married to Wilhelmina VAN DEN
ANKER. This couple had at least one son Gerardus VAN LANEN (1788 -
<1870) who married Johanna
Adriaan Giele VAN DER HEIJDEN (1790 - <1870).
Gerardus Van Lanen and Johanna Van Der Heijden had at least seven
children (Gerardus Van Lanen Family History) the fifth born was Bernard (Gerardus) L. VAN LANEN
(1825 - ?) who married Elisabeth
Vander Landen (1842 - ?) who are described above.
VANDER HEIJDEN Ancestry
The VAN DER HEIJDEN surname originates in Holland, and is the
subject of on-going research. At present the oldest known Vander
Heijden is Adriaan VANDER HEIJDEN (?) who married Anna Maria
PETERS (?). They had at least one daughter Johanna Adriaan Giele VAN DER
HEIJDEN (1790 - <1870) who married Gerardus VAN LANEN (1788 -
<1870). Gerardus and Johanna had seven children (Gerardus Van Lanen Family
History). Their fifth child was Bernard (Gerardus) L. VAN LANEN
who married Elisabeth VANDER
LANDEN. Their familiy history is described above.
VANDER LANDEN Ancestry
The VANDER LANDEN surname originates in Belgium. The eldest
VANDER LANDEN identified to data is John VANDER LANDEN (?) who
married Johanna VANDER HEIDEN
(?). They had at least one daughter Elisabeth VANDER LANDEN who
married Bernard (Gerardus) L.
VAN LANEN. Bernard and Elisabeth family history is described
above.
VANDER HEIDEN Ancestry
The VANDER HEIDEN surname is a subject for further research.
The only currently identified VANDER HEIDEN is Johanna VANDER HEIDEN (?)
mother of Elisabeth VANDER LANDEN described above.
Last updated: November 27th, 1999
Copyright, Richard M. Balza, 1999
To make corrections or obtain more information contact: Richard M. Balza