Mary: I just stumbled onto your message about Pieter(Peter) Ploegsma and know that it has to be my Great-Grandfather. I have been doing research off and on now for a few years and slowly have collected small bits and pieces. Your "Mary" was not his first wife, but possibly his last, as he said to have outlived four, and he died in 1943
shortly prior to his 87th birthday in Indiana. I have little history about him other than he immigrated in or prior to 1875 and before his 18th birthday. I have searched all available ship's passenger lists and also cannot find his name or any Ploegsma close to his age there. He was always said to have been born in Friesland on 25 December 1856. It is also thought he may have arrived from Germany. Perhaps he could have been a stowaway or ships crew member and jumped ship here. His first marriage was in Chicago, 12 Oct 1876 at 19 years of age. If you can assist me in finding where in Holland he came from it would be greatly appreciated. Hey it looks as if we are related through marriage. Thanks, howard