I started my research knowing only that "Beppa" (Froukje Annes Schilstra) had brought her children to America in the early 1900's after the death of her husband (Jacob Cornelis Faber) in 1903. I knew that he made ice skates and that the children were too young to keep the business operating.

For the remainder of the history of the Faber family of skatemakers, I am indebted to Drs. Wiebe Blauw and his book, Friese Schaatsenmakers: Van ambacht tot industrie (1994, Van Wijnen, Franeker). With his kind permission, I have used some of the material from this book. Below is a rough translation (using dictionary and online translators) of several passages. Here is the original 'Dutch version' and I welcome any corrections to my interpretation!

"The oldest skatemakers in IJlst come, as far as known, from the family Faber. In the Quotisatiekohier, a tax register from 1749, it is laid down: "Jacob Faber, Master Blacksmith". His wealth is valued at 800 Carolyguldens. His grandson, Jacob Thomas Faber, born in 1805, was also a blacksmith. As iron merchant H. Borgrink from Leeuwarden in December 1847 advertised ‘the IJlster skates of Faber with such a range of years with so much celebrity is known’ probably means those of Jacob Thomas Faber. His sons Thomas Jacob (born 1825) and Cornelis Jacob (born 1830) were also renowned skatemakers. Jan Baes, the founder of the firm J. Nooitgedagt, entrusted his first skate irons to blacksmith Faber. Sjoerd Thomas Faber, in 1832, was a blacksmith in the premises Zevenpelsen 11. Later Heero Nauta Sr. had a forge here. The heir of Thomas Sjoerds Faber sold on 26 March 1861 a house with a forge, Popmawal no. 9. Dirk Douma (blacksmith) inhabited this premise in 1883.

Cornelis Faber (1830-1904) was the last Faber who made skates in IJlst. He had a forge on the premises Geeuwkade 3 in 1885 and on the premises Galamagracht 18. On 12 January 1885, in IJlst 'one strong well-maintained shop-house at East of the Ee on the best location of IJlst ' is, as it happens, sold for f 710, -'. The purchaser is Pieter Pieters de Jong as a representative of Cornelis Jacobs Faber, blacksmith, an IJlst resident. After his death the business apparently still continued a short time, because Prijcourant shows text with the title: "C.J. Faber & Son skate manufacturer Ylst awarded with Silver Medal of the Industry Exhibition, Leeuwarden 1906." Cornelis Faber is the maker of a pair of large Friesian skates 1,60 meter long. These giant skates were hung over the track/rink at skate games of the ice club 'The IJlster Skates.' These skates were given in 1991, to the Fries Scheepvaart Museum.

Thomas Faber, the older brother of Cornelis (born in 1825), had a skate forge in the building Popmawal 8. In the Leeuwarder Courant of 26 January 1885, he made it known that the skates would be recognized by the initials TF. He died in 1886. His widow and two sons, Jacob and Tjeerd continued the business. In 1895, the widow of Thomas Faber offers:

‘The habitat since more than 40 years of the boasted skate forger Thomas J. Faber of IJlst, now used by the Widow Faber, by 12 May 1895 to accept (bill of exchange?).

Around 1900, the blacksmith Johannes Visser took over this business. On 7 December 1908, C. Rikkers from Groningen still advertises the skates of Thomas Faber in the Provincial Groninger Courant. It is unclear who is then responsible for the production."