In a long letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to his wife\u27s brother, Carl Godfried de Moen, he chided his brother-in-law for not writing more often. The letter is a goldmine of information on many matters such as giving a description of the Van Raalte home, their dog who goes after the numerous rodents, people such as Paulus den Bleyker, business matters, and the Free School in Ommen. He also wrote: We are laying the foundations of towns and villages, foundations of a mightily blessed people, a people who, if they do not leave their God, will have a wonderful influence in the West. He also wrote: The congregations [of the Holland Classis] are glad with the ecclesiastical union with the old Dutch Church. Mrs. Christina Van Raalte added a note saying, I have a good life here and it is to my liking.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s/1199/thumbnail.jp
