Family Bible tells of family legacy

Oskaloosa's Library Director Wanda Gardner (left) and Howard Westercamp (right) with Westercamp's Family Bible

There are items that link the past to the present like no other. Family Bibles are one such item. Many families have them, and they contain family records for generations.

Howard Westercamp is one such owner. He is now in custody of his family’s Bible dating from 1637. The Bible is printed in Dutch and affixed with the seal and certified by the Auditor for the State. At that time, The Dutch Church was the State Church until the demise of the Dutch Republic in 1795. The Seal contains the signature of the official to certify it’s authenticity, because during that time such a Bible might cost a man’s wages for an entire year.

The Bible moved with the family making the Trans-Atlantic voyage in 1878. It’s said that Westercamps Great-Grandfather did not entrust the Bible to his trunk, and always kept it with him. Later on, the Bible survived a fire at one of the families homes. It was in a spare room, that had the door shut and locked. One of the hottest parts of the fire was directly below that room. That room and the Bible itself, received little damage.

I want to thank Howard for sharing his family heirloom with me, it was amazing to see such a piece of history right in front of you.