Sixth Generation

82. Herman Semmelink was born on 10 Sep 1868 in Doetinchem, Netherlands.¹⁷ He went for building training with his uncle, Dirk Semmelink, in 1882 in Nijmegen, Netherlands.¹⁷ He was educated HBS classes in 1882 in Nijmegen, Netherlands.¹⁷ He immigrated in 1889 to Cape Town, Cape, South Africa.¹⁷ He travelled on the Dunbar Castleship from Cape Town, Cape, South Africa in 1889.¹⁷ He travelled with a co-student (vakgenoot), Jan B Wijers from Ellecom. On board they met another builder, Matheus Carl August Meischke. He travelled train and oxwagon in 1889 in Witwatersrand, South Africa.¹⁷ Travelled to Kimberley with the newly completed railway and then to the Witwatersrand on an oxwagon for 4 pounds rather than 11 pounds for a faster coach. They were looking for a future in the building industry. Jan Wijers as an architect in Pretoria. About 1890 he was Builder (bouwaannemer) in Transvaal, South Africa.¹⁷ In 1897 he was building railway between Krugersdorp to Klerksdorp in Trawal, Cape, South Africa.¹⁷ Worked together with his friend, M C A Meischke. The piece between Krugersdorp to Potchefstroom was completed Thursday, 11 January, 1897 and Klerksdorp on Tuesday, 3 August 1897. About 1897 he was built a farmhouse (een boerenplaats) for a family Gouws on the farm, Boschhoek in Potchefstroom, Transvaal, South Africa.¹⁷ In 1897/98 he was Manager of the building contractor, M C A Meischke on the Rissikstreet postoffice building in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.¹⁷ The architect was 'n other Achterhoeker, J Kraayenbrink. About 1898 he was attempted (unsuccesfully) to make bricks in Vereeniging, Transvaal, South Africa.¹⁷ Before Oct 1899 he was started a match factory with his friend Meischke and others in Klip River, Transvaal, South Africa.¹⁷ The factory was closed at the beginning of the war in October 1899. On 19 Dec 1899 he was newspaper reporter for the Nieuwe Rotterdammer Courant in Pretoria, South Africa.¹⁷ While on a visit to the Netherlands when the Second War of Independance broke out on 11 October 1899. Could not return on an English ship so went overland to Naples by trainon 8 November 1899 with the German ship Koenig to Delgoa Bay.On request of the newspaper he acted as a reporter.

He went with his friend, Matheu Carl August Meischke, in the Heidelbergse Komando, to the seige of Ladismith, Natal and then on to the battle of Spioenkop (20-24 January 1900) where his friend was seriously wounded. Herman rescued Meischke and escourting him to Johannesburg, helped him until he was returned to the Netherlands on parole. Herman and some of his friends went to the Free State, then back to Johannesburg (die Goudstad) ending the war for them.

Erfgoed (J Semmelink) In 1905 he was engaged in building the new government buildings in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa.¹⁷ He was back on 1 Jan 1906 in Doetinchem, Netherlands.¹⁷ In 1911 he was architect-projects manager (architect-makelaar) in Amsterdam, Netherlands.¹⁷ About 1920 he was Builder (bouwaannemer) in Amsterdam, Netherlands.¹⁷ He lived Jan van Eijckstraat 18 in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1930.¹⁷ He lived with good friends, family Brokhaar in Maastricht, Netherlands between 1945 and 1952.¹⁷ He visited in 1948/49 in Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa.¹⁷ Took a trip with his good friend, Wentink making contact with his NZASM and Rand Pioneer friends as also the historian, Jan Ploeger. Refer article in the Volkstem, Friday, 26/5/1949. He died on 23 Aug 1952 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.¹⁷ He was cremated on 27 Aug 1952 in Velsen, Netherlands.¹⁷ His reference number is a353.¹⁷

Herman Semmelink and Elizabeth Henriette Wilhelmina (Betsy) Heijink were married in Nov 1911.¹⁷ Elizabeth Henriette Wilhelmina (Betsy) Heijink¹⁷ was born about 1868.¹⁷ She died on 10 Apr 1943 in Amsterdam-Zuid, Netherlands.¹⁷ She was cremated on 15 Apr 1943 in Velsen, Netherlands.¹⁷ Herman Semmelink and Elizabeth Henriette Wilhelmina (Betsy) Heijink had the following children:

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(Els) Semmelink17 was born on 9 Dec 1913 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.17 She died on 13 Dec 1942 in Maarn, Utrecht-Ede, Netherlands.17