Cornelis Borgman visits America in 1850

"For some time now I have been keen to visit the members of my family and friends in the United States of North America," begins the travel report by Cornelis Borgman, a farmer in Kloosterburen: Visit to the United States of North America.

Cornelis Borgman, is the man who brought the first Eagle plough to Groningen from America.
He was born in 1822 on the Oud-Bokum farm, north of Kloosterburen. Cornelis is the nephew of Hendrik Klaassens Borgman, who, after serving in Napoleon's army, was "maire" and later the first mayor of Kloosterburen.

Exhibition of donated portraits, chair and travel log Cornelis Borgman

One of the three cabinets in the Verhildersum Museum farmhouse is furnished this year with two 19th century portraits from the Borgman family, which were added to the Verhildersum collection last year. Greet Bierema, descendant of Borgman, donated them last year. In the portraits we see Hendrik Klaassen Borgman and his wife Marthjen Mulder with two of their children. Moreover, Verhildersum received from her the travel log of Cornelis Borgman and a chair from the family.

Journey causes revolution in agriculture and wealth of Groninger farmers

The Arendploeg is one of the most important pieces in Verhildersum's collection of 19th century agricultural tools. The Arendploeg plough turned the soil deeper and better than the old ploughs did. Moreover, it required much less horsepower. The Eagle Plough caused a revolution in agriculture: within ten years, the traditional cart and foot plough virtually disappeared in favour of the factory-made Eagle Plough, partly due to the fact that Cornelis Borgman acted as commission agent or importer. Grain yields became much higher and Groningen farmers became richer and richer. Partly because of the war in the Crimea, grain was scarce and its price rose.

Cornelis Borgman went to America to visit his uncle Klaas Beukema who had already emigrated to the US with his family in 1835. Thanks to his travel report that we received, we now know how the trip went and what Cornelis experienced. This gives a new dimension to the story of the arrival of the Eagles in Groningen.

What did Cornelis Borgman experience in America? What route did he take? You can see this in the app Verhildersum To Go. Scan the QR code at the cabinet and take the story home if you wish. Verhildersum To Go works everywhere.