De Baets Family — Maldegem to the USA

The De Baets family from Maldegem shows a wide migration footprint, spreading across the American Midwest and beyond. The records reveal several connected branches — Kewanee (Illinois), South Bend (Indiana), Detroit (Michigan), Rochester (New York) and Union Grove (Wisconsin) — with repeated crossings and strong family anchors.

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Kewanee, Illinois — early route

An early Kewanee route appears with August De Baets (born 28 April 1863, Maldegem), who departed on 30 April 1903 aboard the VADERLAND. A later record shows him departing again on 29 April 1910 on the POTSDAM, travelling to cousin Basiel Vercauteren in Kewanee. The notes also tie him back to Maldegem through his wife Mathilde Lelieart.

On that same POTSDAM crossing (29 April 1910) we find Emiel De Baets (born 6 August 1894), also bound for cousin Basiel Vercauteren. His mother is recorded as Mathilde Lelieart in Maldegem (Kerreweg in Akkers).

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South Bend, Indiana — a short stop

A younger August De Baets (age 20, born before 1885) appears departing on 6 March 1905 with destination South Bend, Indiana. A note suggests an earlier stay in South Bend around 1890–1891, indicating that the family’s American contacts were already forming before the main waves.

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Rochester, New York — 1910 wave

A clear Rochester branch emerges in 1910. Prudent De Baets (born 21 June 1890) departed on 4 March 1910 on the FINLAND, heading to a friend E. Verstraete in Rochester.

Shortly after, Florent De Baets (born 8 February 1886) departed on 29 March 1910 aboard the KROONLAND, travelling to friend Hippolyte Van Caseele in Rochester. His parents are noted as Theophiel De Baets and Emma Riberge in Maldegem.

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Detroit, Michigan — the later family consolidation

A later and very strong consolidation happens around Detroit, Michigan. Several family members travel on major liners:

• Emma De Baets (born before 1865) departed on 20 Oct 1919 on the ROTTERDAM, bound for daughter Madeleine Cafmeyer in Detroit. Notes point to Florent De Baets in the Roode Kalseide, Maldegem.
• Malvina De Baets (born 26 Aug 1900) departed on 20 Oct 1919 on the ROTTERDAM, travelling to sister Madeleine Cafmeyer in Detroit; linked to Florent De Baets in Maldegem.
• Victorina De Baets (born 16 Dec 1898) departed on 9 May 1920 on the FINLAND, and again on 10 Nov 1922 on the AQUITANIA, both times heading to brother Prudent De Baets in Detroit.
• Madeleine De Baets (born 5 Apr 1895) departed on 10 Apr 1914 on the KROONLAND, travelling to brother Prudent in Detroit; father noted as Theophiel De Baets (Rookalseide, Maldegem).

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Union Grove, Wisconsin — Lelieart connection

Another route points to Union Grove, Wisconsin. Alice De Baets (born 6 May 1897) departed on 22 Sep 1919 aboard the LA LORRAINE, travelling to brother Emiel De Baets.

Also on LA LORRAINE (22 Sep 1919) we find Mathilde De Baets (Lelieart) (born 3 May 1854), travelling to son Emiel. This confirms a strong De Baets–Lelieart family corridor between Maldegem and Wisconsin.

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Migration pattern

The De Baets story is a layered migration: early links in Illinois and Indiana, a firm wave toward Rochester in 1910, and later family consolidation in Detroit after 1914–1922. Across all routes, the same mechanism returns: one anchor in America, followed by siblings, parents, and cousins — step by step, ship by ship.