Andrew (Andy) Reekers was born in Holland about 1881.
He lived in Grand Rapids Michigan for two years between 1890 and 1892 when he was a child.
Grand Rapids had a very large Dutch population at the time. We don’t know the details of why he lived there.
Andy permanently immigrated to the United States from Holland on June 1, 1902 at the age of 21.
He sailed on a ship named the T.S.S Rijndam which was a four full deck, steel passenger ship that could rig one triangular boom sail.
His immigration record indicates he was a coppersmith, had $30 to his name, and was headed for Buffalo New York to join a friend.
The records also indicate he was not a polygamist. We have no idea how they knew he was not a polygamist or why they cared, but they documented it.
In case you were wondering, no on else in my family practice polygamy either.
On Christmas Day 1906, Andy married Harriet Montje in Grand Rapids Michigan. Harriet was born in Michigan. She was also Dutch as both of her parents were born in Holland.
Harriet had been engaged to someone else, but he died of pneumonia and she married Andy on the rebound.
By 1910, they had moved to Portland Oregon where they lived in a boarding house on Belmont Street, probably near the Willamette River waterfront.
By 1920, they had two children, Margine who was three, and Jack who was two. They rented a house and Andy was working as a sheet metal worker.
A third child, June, was born in 1921. June Reekers, later to become June Olson, was my mom.
In 1922, Andy submitted his first patent for a trolling spoon. In the 1930 census his occupation was listed as “manufacturer of fish trolling spoons”.”
In 1936, he submitted a second trolling spoon patent.
By 1937, the family lived at 3971 SE Lincoln Street in Portland. Through the quirky nature of the Internet you can go on a virtual tour of his home at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMyXdkmbLjI.
I have no idea why you would want to do that, but you can if you want to.
Sometime in the 1940’s, the Reekers separated. Andy continued as a manufacturer of fishing spoons until at least 1948.
He ultimately sold the rights to his fishing lures and established trusts for his grandchildren with the proceeds.
Andy died on April 3, 1953.
Thank you for sharing. I had lots of vintage lures but my mom had to sell my jeep and my tackle box was in there and I forgot to tell her to get my tackle box. My father passed away a few years ago and I found an Andy Reeker spoon in his tackle box. He was 87 years old when he passed. The spoon was badly tarnished but with a rag and some Brasso I got it looking mint condition. I will always cherish this lure.
Thank you for your post. Our condolences on the death of your father. We’re glad your Andy Reekers lure provides a connection to him.