USA > Iowa > Marion County > Pella > Souvenir history of Pella, Iowa : contains a concise story of the founding and life of Pella, Iowa > Part 14
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151
BIOGRAPHIES
K. VAN STIGT
One of "Old Guard" who took a leading part in the educational and religious life of the community. Was born on the 8th of August, 1837, in Westmaas, South Holland, and lived there until ten years of age, attending school some five years. In 1847 he came to America with his parents in the first Holland colony. They resided in St. Louis nine months and then came to Pella. His father started a shoe shop and Kommer attended school here. At the age of twelve he commenced to learn the shoemaker's trade and worked at it ten years and then entered into partnership with his father. They dealt in boots and shoes, leather, findings, etc. This partnership lasted until January, 1865, when his father was called to his final rest, and Kommer conducted the business in his own name until June of the same year. His brother, A. Van Stigt, then purchased an interest. On the 1st of February, 1878, Kommer opened a boot and shoe store and in October, 1880, he retired from the partnership with his brother, and gave his entire attention to his own store. He married Miss Johanna de Zeeuw, a native of Holland, born on the 19th of May, 1837. Their marriage occurred on the 23d of September, 1859. By this union there were five children: Cornelius, Anna, Jane, Christena and Sarah. Lost two. They were members of the First Reformed Church, in which Mr. Van Stigt long held the office of deacon and superintendent of the Sunday School, and up to the day of his death took a leading part in all the activi- ties of the church. He held the office of alderman of the third ward for a number of years. As the author of a history of Pella and vicinity, published in the Hol- land language, in 1897, Mr. Van Stigt performed invaluable service to the com- munity. This is the only complete history of the colonization movement and the early life and development of the Holland colony.
A. H. VIERSEN
MRS. A. H. VIERSEN
A. H. VIERSEN
Was born in the Netherlands March 26, 1831, and lived there until 1847, when he came to America with his parents, and settled on a farm near Pella, the Vier- sen family being among the original colonists. He had a mercantile experience of twenty years. In 1858 he was elected city treasurer at the time that Isaac Overkamp was mayor. From 1861 until 1862 he was county treasurer and re- corder. He also held the offices of city clerk, township clerk and was a member
152
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
of the city council. In 1872 he was appointed as postmaster, a position which he held until a democratic administration was elected in the eighties. Mr. Vier- sen was a prominent and faithful member of the First Baptist congregation, a warm friend of Central College, and he took a deep interest in the religious and educational life of the community. The writer remembers few if any former citizens of Pella who were so universally loved and respected as was Mr. Viersen during his long and useful life. If it can be said of any man that he never had an enemy, this could be said of Mr. Viersen. In 1857 he was married to Miss Henrietta F. Roelofsz, daughter of Dr. Roelofsz. Their family consisted of twelve children: Joost, Lillie, Mary, Auke, Henrietta, Lulu, Lydia, Josie, Benjamin, Ype, Andrew and Birdie.
A. VAN STIGT
MRS. A. VAN STIGT
A. VAN STIGT
There are individuals in every community who, though modest and unassum- ing, are possessed of such pronounced ability and excellence of character that they command the universal respect and love of all their fellow citizens. The good that such individuals do and the influence they exert extends far beyond the limits of the community in which they live, and continue to affect the lives and characters of others long after they are gone. Of this class our esteemed townsman, Mr. A. Van Stigt, is a shining example. He was born in Westmaas, South Holland, August 6, 1832, where he passed his youth and received his edu- cation. In 1847, when not quite fifteen years old, he came to America with his parents. They arrived in Pella in the spring of 1848 and engaged in shoemaking. From 1855 to 1865 Mr. Van Stigt was in business for himself, after which he formed a partnership with his brother, K. Van Stigt, which continued up to 1880, when his brother retired and Mr. A. conducted it until he retired from active life on account of advanced age. He married Miss Teentje Den Hartog on the 18th of April, 1855. She was a native of the same province as her husband and was born on the 19th of October, 1836. They had no children of their own, but adopted a child, Sygie Vander Wilt, who lived with them until her marriage. So high was the esteem in which Mr. Van Stigt was held by the entire community, that had he not rather sought retirement than public recognition, he would have been called upon to fill public office the greater part of his adult years. He was
153
BIOGRAPHIES
a member of the school board and held the office of township trustee for a num- ber of years. As an elder of the First Reformed Church and an untiring and devoted worker in every department of church life, he was one of the leaders to whom large credit is due for the great development and present strength of that congregation.
In 1848 Mr. Van Stigt and Kuindert Van Klootwyk organized the first Sunday School in Pella. This was the seed from which, in later years, grew the present First Reformed Church Sunday School, the largest in Marion county, if not in the state. From the beginning in 1848, up to the present time, Mr. Van Stigt has an unbroken record as a successful teacher in the same Sunday School, and at the age of ninety he still conducts a large adult class of women. He has the proud record of never having missed attendance except in case of severe sickness.
DINGEMAN DE HAAN
Was a son of Jacob De Haan and was born February 21, 1831, at Heerjansdam, Netherland. He came to America with his father in 1849, at the age of seventeen years. He received his education in the common schools in Holland and continued his education in Pella in the English language in Central Univer- sity of Iowa.
At the age of twenty-four he returned to Hol- land and in the following year he married Grietje Nugteren and returned to America by way of New Orleans, sailing up the Mississippi river to Keokuk, and from there took the stage to Oskaloosa, where the horses gave out on account of the bad roads and they were obliged to continue their journey on foot to Pella. He was engaged in farming all his life, partly retiring for the last 18 years of his life. He died in the old homestead his father built in 1849 and on May 19, 1909, at the age of 78 years. Mrs. D. De Haan died the year following on De- cember 31, 1910.
They raised a family of seven children, name- ly: Heiltje, now Mrs. Teunis Verros; Simon; Jacob; Floris; Catherine M., now Mrs. A. Leatart, DINGEMAN DE HAAN and Margaret, now Mrs. Simon Douwstra. All of which reside at Pella, Iowa, ex- cept Cornelia and Floris, who reside in California.
W. RIETVELD
Was born in Holland February 21, 1829, where he lived until eighteen years old, when he came to Pella with his parents in 1847. His father, John Rietveld, was one of the leaders of the Holland colony, and a man who took a prominent part in the colonization movement and in the later development of the community.
The subject of our sketch was one of the largest and most successful farmers and stock raisers in this part of Iowa, and at one time owned over nine hundred acres of valuable farm land. He married Miss Annie Grundman July 1, 1858. She was born in the Netherlands and came to America in 1849.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
H. KUYPER
MRS. H. KUYPER
H. KUYPER
Was born at Charlois, Netherlands, August 5, 1833. He came to Pella, Iowa. with his parents in the year 1849 and in the same year opened a watchmaker's shop, which trade he had learned in Holland, and continued this business until 1861. Then, in company with an older brother, he started a general merchandise store, which business he continued until he retired from active work in Novem- ber, 1911.
He held his first public office in 1854, when he was elected to the office of township clerk. He served as alderman from 1860 to 1865, as treasurer of the school board twenty years in succession, and as secretary twenty-eight years. He was elected mayor of the city in 1883 and served seven terms.
MRS. H. KUYPER
Was born at Utrecht, Netherlands, April 6, 1836. She was a daughter of Rev. and Mrs. A. J. Betten, who were among the pioneer settlers that came to Pella in 1847. She was married to H. Kuyper in 1847 and died December 9, 1916.
BANNER G. BOWEN
Dealer in general merchandise. Mr. Bowen was one of Pella's teading mer- chants. He was born near Dayton, Ohio, on the 31st day of January, 1832. His youth was divided between attending school and assisting in the management of the farm. He followed farming until twenty-two years of age and then emigrated to Iowa and stopped for a short time at Oskaloosa, and thence to Pella. After working for a short time at the carpenter trade he entered the mercantile busi- ness. For some time he was a member of the leading firm of Munting & Bowen, also of Bowen & Aikens, and for several years conducted a store under the name of Banner G. Bowen. He was elected to represent his district in the state legis- lature in 1868, and was a diligent and faithful representative. He was a member of the Baptist Church and one of its most active workers and a liberal contributor.
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BIOGRAPHIES
The older citizens of Pella remember him as a worthy and public-spirited citizen who enjoyed the full confidence of the community. He married Miss Alice J. Lindsey in 1857. She was born in Pennsylvania. At the time this was written (1881) they had four children: Arazella I., Inez Josephine, John B. and Alice Pearl. Lost five.
JACOB DE HAAN
Was born January 4, 1803. The place of his birth was Hendrik Ido Ambacht, Netherland. In his native land he was engaged in raising flax and preparing same for the manufacture of linen cloth.
Not being allowed his religious freedom, he turned his thoughts to America, America with his family of four children, namely: Pieternella, later Mrs. Jacob Colyn; Cornelia, later Mrs. P. J. Koelman; Teunis, and Dingeman, the oldest son, Mathew, remaining in Holland, and his wife having died several years previous.
After a long voyage upon the sea they reached America and traveled to Baltimore by train and from there by tug boats on water and stage coach on land, and arrived at Pella, the city of refuge, on the 24th day of June, 1849.
Their friends who had settled here two years previous received them with open arms and kindly housed them for a few weeks until he could locate himself a place for a home. He soon purchased a large tract of land adjoining what was then laid out as the town of Pella, on the south side. Later he laid out that part of Pella south of University street and west of East Third street, and known as the De Haan Addition, and containing what is known as the South Pella Square, which he do- nated to the city for a future park.
After purchasing the land, he immediately made plans for building a sub- stantial home, and his boys, Teunis and Dingeman, then aged seventeen and eighteen years, were set to work hauling sand, brick and lumber with ox teams, the brick being hauled from a yard near what is now Howell Station, and made by the Hollanders, who thoroughly understood the making of brick, and the lum- ber being hauled from the sawmill. Carpenters and masons were employed and the home was completed the same year.
This homestead, of which we give an illustration, still stands as a landmark after a period of seventy-three years, and is still in good repair. The old picket fence shown in the illustration was sawed from native walnut lumber and en- closed a large garden and is still in its original place. The first wall paper brought to Pella was put in this house, and the first single harness made in Pella by Van Stigt was purchased by Jacob De Haan.
Jacob De Haan was a man very highly respected among the early settlers and was one of those men who took a great deal of interest in the welfare of the people of Pella and surrounding country. During his life in Pella he was con- nected with the First Reformed Church, and served as elder for a number of years and later helped to organize the Third Reformed Church, where he again served as elder until the time of his death, which came on the 20th of November, 1891, at the age of eighty-eight years.
JACOB DE HAAN
156
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
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B. TEN BROEK
B. TEN BROEK
Cooper. Was born on the 18th of January, 1830, in the city of Wageningen, Gelderland. He was raised in that province until fourteen years of age, and received a common school education, and at nine years of age commenced to learn the cooper trade with his father. In the fall of 1846 he crossed the ocean with his father and brothers. They landed at New Orleans and came up the river to St. Louis, where they settled. His father died the same year and the boys went to work at their trades. Our subject worked here some eight years and then came to Pella. In 1854 he opened a shop. Himself and son made 8,500 barrels for B. S. Schermerhorn & Co. in 1880, besides doing consid- erable repair work. He married Gertrude Van Os on the 9th of October, 1854. She was a native of Gelderland and was born on the 27th of January, 1828. There were four children, Henry, Annie, Aart and Elisabeth.
B. H. VAN SPANCKEREN, SR.
For many years one of the leading merchants of Pella. Was born in Amsterdam, Holland, Octo- ber 15, 1826, where he was raised and received his education. At the age of fifteen he commenced to learn the baker's trade, at which he worked for five years. In 1846 he came to America, landing at Bal- timore, where he remained one year, working at his trade. He emigrated to St. Louis, spent one year there working at his trade, and came to Pella in 1848. Here he conducted a bakery until 1873, when he opened a general merchandise store and continued in that business until he retired on ac- count of advanced age, after which the store was in charge of B. H., Jr., for many years, and was known as one of the leading business concerns of Pella. He married Miss Dirkje Versteeg in 1851. She was born on the 8th of July, 1832. By this union there were four children: B. H., Carrie, Dora and John. Mr. Van Spanckeren died on the 18th day of December, 1914.
B. H. VAN SPANKEREN, SR.
157
BIOGRAPHIES
MRS. ENGELTJE VAN ZEE
Was born in the Netherlands on July 4, 1837. She came to America with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Koenraad van Zee, in the fall of 1847. She was united in marriage to Peter De Kock, who came from the Netherlands, in 1854. In 1868 they pur- chased a farm southeast of Pella, where they lived until the death of the husband February 15, 1893. To this union there were born seven children: An- tonia, Mattie, John P., Conrad, Elizabeth, Engeline and Ira P. Antonia died in 1892. The other chil- dren, with their mother, are living in this vicinity.
STEPHEN DE KOCK
MRS. ENGELTJE VAN ZEE
STEPHEN DE KOCK
Was born in Herwynen, Province of Gelder- land, Netherlands, in 1838. He came to America with his parents in 1856 and located in Pella. He became affiliated with the First Reformed Church in 1858 and served as a deacon for several years. In August, 1862, he volunteered in the service of the civil war and was wounded while in action on April 30, 1864. He served his country almost three years and received an honorable discharge. After arriving home he engaged in farming south of Pella. On January 1, 1867, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Engeltje Marie van Zee, who was born October 20, 1847, and departed this life on Sep- tember 10, 1916. To this union were born eleven children, seven still remaining, three having died in infancy. Aantana (Mrs. E. De Geest) died Jan- uary 1, 1916. Cornelia Marie (Mrs. C. Muller) died February 2, 1917.
N. NIEUWERF
Was born in Holland on the 8th of August, 1839, where he received his edu- cation. In 1857 he crossed the ocean with his parents and settled in Buffalo, New York, and engaged in the nursery business. He came to Pella in 1860 and clerked for G. Dingemans about two years after which he held a position with Snow & Huber for twelve years. Later he had a grocery store on the west side, about where the Weekblad office now stands. He was a member of the first Pella band. After conducting the store here for many years he moved with his family to Win- terset, Iowa.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
ENGLE VAN ZEE
Born in Heerwynen, Providence of Gelderland, Netherlands, in 1775. Died in 1868 at the age of ninety-three years. He was of noble birth. His grand- father, Frederick van Zee, was born in 1695 and was a member of a prominent Dutch family who used a coat of arms consisting of a double eagle with a back- ground of gold. He was united in marriage to Miss Maria Roose, a member of a Spanish family whose members were driven from Spain for a religious cause in 1522. Engle van Zee's descendants, Koenraad, wife and three children, and Stephen, wife and two sons, Gerrit and Engel, arrived in America in 1847. Gerrit still remains in this community. Engle, the brother, died in 1849. Five years later Mrs. H. ver Ploeg and five children arrived in Pella to make their future home. The above mentioned were members of that courageous band who came from the Netherlands under the leadership of Rev. H. P. Scholte and were among the first settlers to colonize the territory surrounding the city of Pella. Just be- fore the band left the Netherlands in 1847, Mr. van Zee wrote a chronology of the Zee families, extending from 1695. There are now eight generations, num- bering about four hundred and seventy-five. Many of these descendants live in Pella and vicinity and have aided in the development of the great farm industry which has made this territory what it is today.
BIOGRAPHIES
159
HENDRICK WORMHOUDT
MRS. HENDRICK WORM- HOUDT
1
HENDRICK WORMHOUDT
Born in the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands, in 1825. A young man of twenty years of age he emigrated to America in 1847 and located in Pella. He came to this country with J. Kegel, who acted as his guardian on the trip, which was made on the ship Maasstrom. Having received a good education in Holland, he was well fitted for the life he selected. Upon his arrival here he engaged in the carpenter business and conducted a saw mill until 1872 when he engaged in the lumber busi- ness as agent for F. F. Baldwin, which position he filled until 1875 when he engaged in the retail business which was known as Waechter & Wormhoudt, and as long as this firm continued they enjoyed the unlimited confidence of the public. He died on February 9th, 1907, at the ripe age of 81 years. For a number of years he was a member of the Board of Education in the early days of the public schools and served as a member of the First Reformed Church Consistory until the time of his death. His children are H. D., of Chicago, Ill .; Mrs. Effie Kuyper, of Chicago, Ill .; John, of Ottumwa, Iowa; Isaac, of Eddyville; Edward, of Kahoka, Mo., and Domin- icus, of Newton, Iowa.
FRANK C. GARLICK
received his education. In 1865 he went to New York City, where he spent five years in clerical work. He then accepted a position as advertising agent for the Mac Eboys New Hibernican. In March, 1875, he settled in Pella and engaged in the mercantile business. He was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Schoon- maker of New York City on July 27, 1876, and he grieved by her death on Sep- tember 8, 1877. On November 26, 1879, he was united in wedlock to Miss Jennie Mortimore of Monroe, Iowa. To this union two children were born: Leo Cole of the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company at Bradentown, Fla., and Harold Lynne, deceased. Mr. Garlick died in September, 1909. His widow, Jennie M.,
now resides in Des Moines, Iowa.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
GERRIT VAN HORSEN
Came to Pella with his parents in 1853. He was married to Miss Adriana Maria Hasselman, on the 28th day of March, 1857.
GERRIT VAN HORSEN
STEVEN VAN ZEE
MRS. STEVEN VAN ZEE
STEVEN VAN ZEE
Was born in Heerewench, Netherlands, on February 12, 1817. Died January 21, 1905. Mrs. Judith van Zee, his wife, was born November 30, 1820; died June 23, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Van Zee were among the first arrivals of the Hollanders in America and settled in Pella. He worked as a farmhand for several years, when he became the possessor of a farm about two miles south of Pella, where he and his helpmeet fought the pioneer life, growing with the community as it prospered. In 1900 he retired and moved to Pella, where they resided up to the time of their death. There were thirteen children born to this union, seven of whom are living, Gerrit S. van Zee of this place being the oldest, and is now eighty years of age. The advancement of the farming community in this town- ship is due largely to such as the subjects of this sketch.
161
BIOGRAPHIES
GERRIT S. VAN ZEE
Was born at Herwijnen, Netherlands, the third day of April, 1842, and came to Pella with his parents in 1847. The family settled on the farm and Mr. Van Zee worked there until his majority. March 1, 1865, he was married to Dirkje Van Zante, who was born in Holland, January 5, 1843. She died the 20th day of April, 1904. There were seven children in the family, four of whom are still living. Mr. Van Zee lived on the farm until he re- tired on account of advancing age, when he be- came a citizen of Pella. He was so successful that he amassed a considerable fortune. He is a member of the Third Reformed Church of Pella, and takes a prominent part in the work of that Congregation.
GERRIT S. VAN ZEE
GEORGE HENCKLER
Was born in Weisparde, Germany, and came to Pella in 1853. In connection with E. F. Grafe, he built and operated the Washington Roller Mills, which was one of the first and best equipped mills of that period in Central Iowa. He later engaged in the stove and tinware business here for a num- ber of years. We have been unable to obtain the date of his death.
..
GEORGE HENCKLER
CORNELIUS WELLE
Born in South Holland September 13, 1828. He learned the bakery business with his father and worked with him in the shop until they emigrated to America in 1847. Upon arriving in this country the family located on a farm where he helped his father and in spare moments acquired the English language which he mastered quite successfully. When twenty-eight years of age he settled on a farm just west of Pella which he occupied until the time of his death which occurred February 9, 1880, aged eighty-two years. At the time of his death he owned four hundred acres of land as a legacy to this family consisting of his wife, two sons, Henry and Peter, of Sully, Iowa, and Misses Daisy and Sarah who still remain in this city.
CORNELIUS WELLE
11
162
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
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PETER KRAMER
MRS. PETER KRAMER
PETER KRAMER
Born in Edam, the Netherlands, February 7, 1811. He was united in marriage to Miss Welmoet Pos in 1839. In 1847 he with his family sailed for America on the ship Nagasaki and arrived at Baltimore, they making the trip to St. Louis and thence to Pella. He was connected with the Merchant Marine in Holland, but when he came to America he did all kinds of work, especially in the carpentering business. He lived about three and a half miles northwest of Pella on the Jno. Antonio Pos farm. When his property and home was destroyed by fire they made their home in a dugout, but this was not all roses, as in January there was a thaw and they were compelled to carry the water out of their home in buckets before it was ready for occupancy again. They moved in with the father of Theo. and John LeCocq, Sr., one mile west of town and later they purchased four acres of ground near Oakwood cemetery and built a log house on it where they lived until January 17, 1890, when Mr. Kramer died.
F. LeCOCQ, SR.
F. LeCOCQ, SR.
Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1805. He came to America in 1847 and was one of the lead- ers of the organization of the Holland Colony. He was appointed as commander of the sail ship Pieter Floris by Rev. H. P. Scholte and was finan- cial adviser and leader of the emigrants. He was born in the business world in his native country. but upon his arrival in this country started farm- ing. He died in Pella in 1888 at the age of 83 years.
163
BIOGRAPHIES
MRS. G. H. OVERKAMP
Aaafje Kruyt was born in the Netherlands in the city of Heukelom, September 6, 1804, and was married to G. H. Overkamp, January 3, 1830, and emigrated to Pella, Iowa, with the first colonists in 1847. Seven children, five daughters and two sons, blessed this wedlock; the youngest son died in St. Louis, July 27, 1847.
She was an earnest, devoted Christian woman, well versed in church history and in the Scrip- tures. Up to her 98th birthday she enjoyed a clear mind and often entertained her relatives and friends with interesting accounts of days long past. When a girl she saw Napoleon Bonaparte ride through the streets of The Hague, in Holland.
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