History:
        The provence of Gelderland, The Netherlands, 1913. Johannus Martinus Bultman, his name given at birth, was 8 years old and he was about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime for a boy his age. His father had already left for the United States arriving on May 13, 1910 on the S.S. Noordam. Now Johannus, his mother, 2 brothers and 2 sisters were about to leave their home for the unknown in the United States. Arriving by way of he S.S. Noordam on August 25, 1913 they began their American experience. Traveling as one of 1,800 third class passengers on a ship only 575 feet long could not have been comfortable for the six of them. With a speed of only 15 knots it would take almost 10 days to cross the Atlantic. As my dad, Joe, would talk about it, the food wasn't great and sanitation wasn't terrific.

S. S. NOORDAM
So there they were at Ellis Island "fresh off the boat" from Hattem. Anna and children, Jan (John) age 11, Gerrit (Harry) age 9, Johan (Joe) age 8, Machtelop age 6, and Gertruida (Gertrude) age 4. They went to Kenosha, Wisconsin to meet father and husband, Marten Bultman. Although I don't have the address where they lived, I heard stories about outdoor plumbing, cold winters, hard work and not a lot of schooling for any of the children.

At age 14, Joe left school to help support the family after his father Marten died in 1919. His brothers John and Gerrit (Harry) did the same. Joe also had two more sisters, Margaret and Betty to feed by this time.

Note: Information on NoordamBuilt by Harlan & Wolff Limited, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1902. 12,531 gross tons; 575 (bp) feet long; 62 feet wide. Steam triple expansion engines, twin screw. Service speed 15 knots. 2,278 passengers (286 first class, 192 second class, 1,800 third class). Built for Holland - America Line, Dutch flag, in 1902 and named Noordam. Rotterdam-New York service. Chartered by Swedish American Line, in 1922 and renamed Kungsholm. Gothenburg-New York service. Returned to Holland - America Line, Dutch flag, in 1924 and reverted to Noordam. Rotterdam-New York service. Laid up in 1927. Scrapped in Holland in 1928.

In 1922, the family decided to move to Los Angeles because of the girl's health. This move was made with the help of the local Christian Reformed Church, the Los Angeles church and other friends and family. By now, Joe was 18 and was able to work full time along with his brothers to support the family. Sometime in the 1920's he met Dorothy Kramer who had moved here from Chicago with her sister Agnes and their mom and dad, Richard and Cornelia Kramer. On June 1, 1930, Joe and Dorothy married and began their family life at 837 West 98th Street. House payments were $29 per month.

Because of the depression and a lackof formal education, the 1930's were not easy. Amongst the occupations held were proprietor of "Joe's Fix It Shop". On Vermont Avenue and 96th Street, Joe's Fix It shop could handle almost any small appliance or device, (not that many had been invented by that time). When that venture didn't do well and didn't qualify to offer and IPO stock deal, Joe went to work for the Hollywood Casket Company doing the final finish work on caskets.

With WWII in full swing in the early 40's rationing didn't lend itself to a family so it was 1944 before Richard came along. Still living on 98th Street, Richard grew up going to Bret Harte Jr. High and George Washington High School. 1962 marked entrance to Pepperdine University on the old L.A. campus (before Malibu). Joe and Dorothy were members of the Los Angeles Christian Reformed Church since it was first established in the 1920's. Joe served many terms as an elder in the Consistory. As Richard was a music major in college, he eventually became the church organist and choir director.

In the 1950's Joe finished a 10 year stint with Lockheed in Burbank and no longer had to drive all the way to the San Fernando Valley in a 1939 Chevrolet without the help of freeways. Through his brother-in-law Andy Van Noord (sister Gertrude's husband), Joe obtained a machinist position at Garrett-Airesearch next to the Los Angeles International Airport. He continued there until his retirement in 1965. Moving to Gardena and eventually to San Marcos, California, Joe and Dorothy continued to make their home there until Joe's death in 1982. Dorothy moved to the Christian Reformed Church's Home for the Aged in Artesia until her death in 1991.

After his graduation from Pepperdine University in December, 1966 Richard was drafted but enlisted in the U.S. Army serving at Ft. Lewis, Washington and 2 years in Stuttgart, Berlin and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Following the Army, Richard experienced a wide variety of positions over the next 25 years. From V.P. of a gourmet food company to managing a law firm to General Sales Manager of 2 radio stations, it was a varied and far reaching career.

In 1986, Richard's cat became ill and went to the Veterinary Clinic around the corner. There is met and fell in love with the Vet, Dr. Tracy McFarland. A little more than a year later they were married in Woodland Hills, CA. 18 months later, Alexander Richard was born 29 Oct 1988. On 2 October 1990, Carolyn Glee was born. Today, Richard and Tracy with Alex and Carolyn, 3 cats and a rat live in Santa Clarita, California.

Family Tree from earliest known ancestor through present day through the line of Marten Bultman

Mother of Jannigje Knul
Geertje Mulder
Born: unknown
Married: unknown
Died: unknown
end of data
 

MARTEN

No picture available
Son of Jan Bultman & Jannigje Knul
Marten Bultman
Born: 23 Jan 1870, Oldebroek
Married: 8 Oct 1899
Died: Nov 1919, Kenosha, WI

Pictures of minor children are not presented
Son of Richard Bultman & Tracy McFarland Bultman
Alexander Richard Bultman
Born: 29 October 1988, Santa Clarita, CA
Married: unmarried
Died: Living