At the time the Tjadens lived there, Emden (Dutch name Embden) was a town in Hanover and the capital of East Friesland. Today it is part of Lower Saxony, with about 60,000 population. This old Frisian town is on the right bank of the Ems River, where it empties into the Dollart estuary. It has the appearance of a Dutch town, with numerous bridges and canals that connect the town with the harbor. There is a great dike towards the sea that holds it back. It was breached in 1826 when water stood in the streets and up to the first floor of houses for several months. In 1871 the population was 12,588.

The Tjaden family left Germany in 1854 arriving in New York City in August of that year according to son Kobus who later told the story. They came by train from New York to Freeport, Illinois, expecting to stay in the German Valley, Stephenson county area with their friends, the Ruters. There was illness in that family so they were put up with the Baals, who were relatives of the Ruters. These people had come to Illinois at least two years prior, it was said, and possibly earlier.

From Freeport they came by covered wagon, drawn by oxen, to Hardin County, Iowa, where other German families had located. On 29 Sep 1854 they settled in the little settlement of Hazel Green (later known as Hardin City). At the time it consisted of one water-driven mill and one general store. Their journey is documented in the book "The East Friesens in America", 1986 edition, by Kenneth H. De Wall, Jostens Printing, pages 189-193. Some years later the family settled in German Township, Grundy County, just east of Ackley, on the SW quarter of the SE quarter of Section 19 where they farmed. German Township was first called Orcutt, which was renamed in 1867. William Tjaden was elected township clerk in 1864, the second man in the office (the first being Charles Orcutt).

William's name is entered as "Weet" Tjaden on the 1842 christening record of his son Kobus Tjaden in the German Church records at Emden. William was a teacher in the rural schools of Hardin and Grundy counties in Iowa. He also served as a notary and around 1870, on the Board of Supervisors for Grundy County, and as township clerk for German township. William was naturalized at Eldora, Hardin county, Iowa, but he is recorded under the name "William Jordan." Likewise, on page 532 of the 1856 Iowa State Census for Hardin County, Jackson Township, he is incorrectly listed as "William Jerden", age 43, born Germany his occupation given was wagon maker. These spelling errors make it hard to find him. He is recorded in the 1870 Iowa census for Grundy county, in German Township under dwelling 67, family 67. --- (Another birth date seen for him is given as 12 Aug 1812)

DEATH: We are pained to announce the death of Wm. Tjaden, of German Township, Grundy county, which occurred last Friday. Mr. Tjaden was one of the prominent men of Grundy county and held various offices of trust. He is a supervisor of Grundy, just re-elected. - from an undated clipping

• Married: ABT 1837 in Emden, Ostfriesland, Hanover, Germany

1. Stephen Tjaden b: 27 Mar 1840 in Emden, Ostfriesland, Hanover, Germany
2. Kobus Tjaden b: 31 Aug 1842 in Emden, Ostfriesland, Hanover, Germany
3. Gertrude Tjaden b: 8 May 1845 in Emden, Ostfriesland, Hanover, Germany
4. Mary Gertrude Tjaden b: Sep 1847 in Emden, Ostfriesland, Hanover, Germany