USA > Iowa > Marion County > Pella > Souvenir history of Pella, Iowa : contains a concise story of the founding and life of Pella, Iowa > Part 6
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Jelsma, Zacharias Jelsma, Otto Jelsma, Sietse
Jelsma, Mijntje
Jelsma, Gaardske Jelsma, Egbert Jelsma, Egbert Mrs. Jelsma, Jelle
Jot, Gerrit
Kamerik, Martinus
Kallemijn, Maria
Klein, Antonie Klein, Antonie Mrs.
Koolbeek, Jan
Koolbeek, Jan Mrs.
Koolbeek, Jacob
Koolbeek, Gerrit
Koolbeek, Johan
Kolk, van der W. W.
Kolk, van der W. W. Mrs.
Kolk, van der Wigert
Kolk, van der Sip
Kolk, van der Burti
Kuyper, A. C.
Kuyper, A. C. Mrs.
Kuyper, Arie
Kuyper, Hugo
Kuyper, Jacob
Kuyper, Pieter
Kuyper, Maaike
Kuyper, Aagje
Kuyper, Simon
Kuyper, Johannes
Kuyper, Jan
Kuyper, Maria
Kuyper, Cornelus
Kuyper, Cs. Mrs.
Ley, van der Pieter
Ley, van der P. Mrs.
Ley, van der Rogina
Ley, van der Johannes
Ley, van der Adrianus
Ley, van der Hannis
Leeuw, de Geertruida Leeuw, de Adriana
Loon, van Gideon Loon, van G. Mrs. Loon, van Christina
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SECOND IMPORTANT EMIGRATION TO PELLA
Loon, van Maria Jacoba Loon, van Hendriana
Maasdam, Jacob Maasdam, J. Mrs. Maasdam, Leendert Maasdam, Jacob Maasdam, Elizabeth
Meulen, van der A. G.
Meulen, van der A. G. Mrs.
Meulen, van der Geurt
Meulen, van der Henry
Middlekoop, Klaas Middlekoop, Klaas Mrs.
Middlekoop, Sygie Middlekoop, Gerrit
Meer, van der Isaac
Meer, van der I. Mrs.
Meer, van der Jan
Meer, van der Jannetje
Meer, van der Dirk Meer, van der Leendert
Meer, van der Antje
Meer, van der Neeltje
Meer, van der Isaac
Meer, van der Frans Meer, van der Alida
Meulen, van der Bonne Meulen, van der B. Mrs.
Meulen, van der Egbert
Meulen, van der Aartje Meulen, van der Jacob
Meulen, van der Tenske
Meulen, van der Gaardske Meulen, van der Arie
Molendijk, Bastiaan Molendijk, B. Mrs.
Nieremeyer, Jan Nieremeyer, Jan Mrs. Nieremeyer, Johannes Nieremeyer, Simon Nieremeyer, Jan
Nieremeyer, Jacob
Nieuwland, Phillipus
Overheem, Willem Overheem, Willem Mrs.
Roolvink, Eelze
Rozendaal, Eimerd Rozendaal, E. Mrs.
Rozendaal, Aafje
Rozendaal, Aaltje
Spruit, Peter
Vark, van Willem Jr.
Vark, van Willem Mrs.
Vark, van Matje
Veen, Dirk
Versteeg, Gerrit Versteeg, Jan
Vogelaar, Jan
Vos, Klaas
Vos, Klaas Mrs.
Vos, Rokus
Vos, Pieter
Vos, Adrianus
Vos, Joseph
Velder, de Jan
Velder, de Jan Mrs.
Velder, de Johanna
Velder, de Cornelia
Velder, de Jan
Verwers, Jan
Wieringen, van Cornelus
Witzemburg, Maarten
Witzemburg, M. Mrs.
Witzemburg, Berendtje
Witzemburg, Jelle
Zwart, Marinus Zwart, M. Mrs.
Zeeuw, de Cornelus
Zeeuw, de Cs. Mrs. Zeeuw, de Leendert
Zeeuw, de Johanna Zeeuw, de Cornelia
Zeeuw, de Cornelus Zeeuw, de Maria Zeeuw, de Jannigje
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
From a diary of the journey we learn that the emigrants of 1849 did not escape the hardships suffered on the ocean voyage by those who had preceded them in 1847.
The following extracts from the diary, which is too long to give in full, will give present day readers some idea of the sacrifices made and the hardships suffered by the brave men and women who were ready to give up all the com- forts and associations of their native land, in order to secure civil and religious liberty for themselves and their children.
John Hospers, the writer of the diary, was born at Amsterdam on the 30th of August, 1801. He taught school from an early age until he emigrated with his family and scores of other Hollanders to the state of Iowa. In the winter of 1848-49 Mr. Hospers, A. C. Kuyper and J. Maasdam united to act as a committee to promote a second exodus to North America. Kuyper had Rotterdam and vicin- ity, Maasdam took Utrecht and North Holland, and Hospers had charge of South Holland, North Brabant and Gelderland.
BEGINNING OF THE OCEAN VOYAGE
"Saturday, May 5 .- At 3:30 this morning the 'Franziska' set sail. The voy- agers were summoned early to appear on deck, and there at the captain's request I read to them the ship's regulations for the preservation of order and cleanli- ness. We sailed with an east wind, slowly at first, but we soon lost sight of Holland. The wind grew stronger and we sailed three or four hours in one hour. At about 11 o'clock p. m. we could see the lights of England and France. Very few people free from seasickness.
"Wednesday, May 16. Making good headway. There is much preaching from God's word. Religious exercises every day as proposed are sometimes hin- dered by the wind and cold rains. To the prevailing seasickness one person has fallen a victim; a two-year-old child died last night at 11 o'clock. First, Maaike van Gorp.
"Friday, May 18. At 4 o'clock in the morning died Cornelius Louwe, second, of Goeree, 34 years of age. At 7 o'clock the passengers come out on deck; the first mate fastens the child's body to a canvas sack filled with stones and places the corpse on a board, which lies with one end resting on a cask and the other extending overboard. The captain stands at one end near the cask, reads sol- eminly in high German, then commands the seamen who stand on opposite sides of the board to let the corpse slide into the water. All stand with uncovered heads. At the captain's word Maasdam announces the singing of Psalm 103:8 and 9. The solemnity is impressive. Storm in the evening; much commotion in the ship.
"Saturday, May 19. Strong west wind. Mighty waves, one of which comes to make us a visit in the ship. The captain notifies me to let the body of C. Louwe overboard at half-past two o'clock, and asks me for a prayer book. After consultation with Maasdam and Kuyper we suggest to the captain that he read the 90th Psalm at the ceremony. The captain asks me to do so after the corpse is let down into the sea. The people are gathered on deck; the seamen are lined up on both sides of the plank which bears the body; the captain reads high Ger- man; and then the corpse is delivered to the waves. Hospers then reads Psalm 90, and announces the singing of Psalm 89:19. Storm from the northwest.
"Saturday, May 20. Northwest storm. Numerous waves enter the ship; the rolling and pitching is violent; everything rumbles and jolts and tosses and breaks. Prayer meeting in two groups. Great dejection reigns. Nothing can be cooked -only cold things to drink. Never in our life a more wretched Sunday. The
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SECOND IMPORTANT EMIGRATION TO PELLA
4
storm increases its fury as the darkness comics on. Sailors run on deck with knives in their hands to cut the ropes in case of necessity.
"Tuesday, May 22. Strong west wind. Since Saturday, May 12th, the barber has not dared to shave us on account of the ship's rolling. At about 5 o'clock an English ship is hailed. The wind grows fiercer and fiercer. A. C. Kuyper wakens us all in the night on account of the heavy storm, whereupon a general awakening takes place in the ship. Kuyper offers up prayer in the midst of his family.
"Wednesday, May 23. Storm. The captain, who has made fifty voyages to America, declares it noteworthy that we should meet with so many storms this timc. We earnestly desire to find more contrition among the passengers. Klaas Vos, of Den Hitzerd, fifty-four years of age, dies. There are still sick people on board. Light cases of scarlet fever prevail, manifested especially in sore throats.
"Thursday, May 31. Last night a child of Anthony Klein died at the age of cighteen months. I told the mate, who had the body brought on deck by a sailor. Favorable north winds- good progress.
"Friday, June 1. Nice, calm weather. The ocean is smooth and shiny as a mirror. The little body was let overboard at 2:30-ceremony as usual. I read Revelations 20, and we sang Psalm 89:19. Maasdam closed with prayer."
The limited scope of this history does not permit us to continue the account of the hardships experienced by the emigrants of 1849, in detail. On June 5th a little child of W. Van Vark died. On Junc 7th the death of Maaike Hospers oc- curred; on June 8th, Gerrit Bezemer, aged five, and Adriana Klein, aged seven, and on June 9th, Hendrik Obertop, aged seven, died.
On Wednesday, June 13th, the ship arrived at New York after being at sea about five weeks. On Saturday, Junc 23d, the seven-year-old son of A. C. Kuyper died in Albany, and was buried there in Rev. Wyckhoff's churchyard. June 25th, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, a child of Nahuis was buried in Rev. Wyckhoff's churchyard and in the evening at 8 o'clock the death occurred of Cornelia Ger- trude Hospers, aged sixteen years.
Owing to so much sickness in their families Hospers and Kuyper met with so much delay that they did not reach Pella until July 25th, making the duration of the trip two months and twenty days.
The arrival of this large number of emigrants in 1849 not only meant much to the little colony because of the money brought into circulation, but also because among these emigrants were some of the most highly educated and gifted men who ever came to this country from Holland. Some of them became leaders and inen of great influence for good to this community, and their descendants are among our best citizens.
EFFECTS OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE EMIGRANTS OF 1849
As has already been mentioned, the moncy brought by the first colonists in 1847 had been exhausted and business and development in the colony had become stagnant, so that the arrival of so many able and well financed men had a decidedly stimulating effect.
With the exception of some of the Vriezlanders who bought farms west of Pella, and J. Hospers, J. De Haan, A. C. Kuyper, van der Linden and a few others,
60
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
by far the greatest number located in the town of Pella. The result was a num- ber of new residence and business buildings were erected, new stores started and a general revival of industry took place.
A large store building was erected by H. Van Dam, which was the third im- portant business building constructed in Pella. Here Mr. Van Dam and his sons conducted an extensive mercantile business for a number of years.
J. Berkhout conducted a very successful general store for many years on Washington street, on the corner afterwards occupied by Arie Boogaards as a residence.
A. G. van der Meulen opened a jewelry store on West Washington street on the corner that in later years became the residence of L. Stegeman and family. . This was the beginning of the mercantile firm that afterwards became known as one of the largest and most successful business concerns in central Iowa, and is still doing an extensive business under the firm name of Van der Meulen & Company.
On Franklin street, on the corner west of the Garden City Feeder Factory, H. Kuyper opened a jewelry store that in later years developed into a general merchandise establishment that was conducted for many years on the corner where the Bell clothing store is now located, and up to recent years in the store room now occupied by Doedyn & Son.
In the block on Franklin street, west of the Garden City Feeder Factory, the Van Spanckeren Brothers had established a shoe shop, and Dikker & Van Gorkom a blacksmith shop. In the early years the mercantile business was scattered over Pella from the extreme east limits of the city to the west end of Washington street. For a long time B. H. Van Spanckeren, Sr., had a bakery on East 3d street, about two blocks south of the East Market Square.
At that time the main thoroughfare came up from the south through East 3d street to the southeast corner of the East Market, then cut across the Market to the J. J. Bousquet corner, thence north to Franklin street, west to Main, north to Washington and thence west to the city limits. For many years the business of Pella was located along this route, and Washington street was the most im- portant business street of Pella.
Among the most prominent of the arrivals in 1849 was Mr. A. E. Dudok Bous- quet. Not only was he a man of education and culture, but for those days he was a man of means, and being full of public spirit, he became an important factor in the commercial development of the community and a leader in all that made for the moral and educational improvement of Pella. Mention has already been made of his unselfish efforts to provide Pella with better transportation fa- cilities. In addition to this he associated himself with Pella's first mercantile firm, Wolters & Smeenk. The financial strength which he added to the firm enabled it to carry a much larger stock of merchandise than any Pella had before, and also made it possible for the firm to erect the largest store building in the town, being the first two-story business block built in Pella. This was one block west of the northwest corner of the Square, on the corner known to the present generation as the G. Thomassen corner. Here, in the old "Pella Store," this enter- prising firm carried on one of the most extensive mercantile establishments in Pella.
It was during these years that the first hog packing business had its beginning. In 1852 the firm of Bousquet, Wolters & Smeenk slaughtered and packed 500 hogs.
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SECOND IMPORTANT EMIGRATION TO PELLA
In 1852 Mr. Wolters was appointed postmaster and the office was located in the store. From this time on the business development was rapid for a number of years. New stores were opened by De Booy & Barendregt, Geurt Thomassen, A. J. Betten. James Muntingh and others.
.9 %
North side of Square in 1856, showing Pella National Bank and Gazette Office on second floor.
ARRIVALS FROM HOLLAND IN 1850
While the emigration of 1849 was the greatest and most important to the colony of any year in our history, except that of 1847, the following year (1850) proved the contrary. Only the two families whose names we give below, came in that year:
Preesman, Pieter
Preesman, P. Mrs.
Preesman, Anna
Reus, de Arie
Reus, de Arie Mrs.
Reus, de Arie Jr.
Reus, de Pieter
Reus, de Nelis
Reus, de Marinus
THE GOLD RUSH TO CALIFORNIA
Even more stimulating to the financial and business conditions of Pella, than the coming of the Hollanders in '49, was the mad scramble for the California gold fields. In the fall of 1848 the report of gold in California spread like wildfire over the land. In the spring of '49 the great rush for the gold fields commenced, and for some three or four months caravans of covered wagons passed through Pella in almost unbroken succession. And after the gold fever had subsided, for a number of years a more or less steady stream of emigrants continued to pass through Pella, some in search of gold in California and Colorado, and others, like the Mormons, to build homes in Utah and Oregon.
From a Hollander, an eye witness, we have the following description of the gold seekers' rush through Pella.
"They came in all sorts of ways. Many wagons were drawn by six, eight or ten yoke of oxen. Some were drawn by cows; most people had two teams
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
of horses or mules hitched to their decorated covered wagons, which were gener- ally provided with stoves, and no one lacked firearms except the man who under- took the journey with a wheelbarrow whereon he bore his supplies. If we had not seen it with our own eyes, we should have doubted the truth of this. He had his place in the long train of wagons and made way for no one.
"We noticed later that the wheelbarrow man arrived in California. The train of wagons was often so long drawn out as to fill the entire street from east to west. The number of well-behaved persons among the trekkers was very small; most of them were coarse and disorderly."
Those who were not stampeded by the gold excitement, but remained on their farms, sold food and other articles to the gold seekers at immense profit to themselves. A Holland farmer who lived on the route of travel, stated :
"We sold the trekkers to California all we had, and bought up more from our neighbors who lived farther from the road. We sold a bushel of corn for one dollar, a bushel of oats for one dollar, a bushel of wheat for one dollar, 100 pounds of hay for one dollar, everything for one dollar; that was easy to remem- ber. A yoke of oxen brought from $50 to $55; a cow from $20 to $25. The trekkers, however, could stand it. Some had cooks and negro servants. A man from Davenport came with 350 head of cattle. He has two more herds of the same size, altogether 1,000 head, on the way."
Thus it will be seen how the spirit and energy of our colonists was renewed by the emigrants from Holland and the "forty-niners" from the eastern states. The former not only brought much needed capital, but also the industry and ambition to make the most of the wonderful opportunities offered by the new country.
While the improvement in Pella was great, it was exceeded by the develop- ment in the farming communities. It was often remarked at that time that the town of Pella did not keep up with the progress of the surrounding country. We are glad to state that this is no longer true, and that Pella is known far and wide as one of the most beautiful, progressive and modern little cities in the great Mississippi Valley.
In the year 1850, E. F. Grafe and Dingeman de Haan Jr. opened a general store in Amsterdam. In anticipation of the importance this embryo village would attain when the Des Moines river should have been made navigable for traffic, many people had purchased lots there. J. A. Toom had started a brick kiln to which he later added a lime kiln. The unprecedented flood conditions of 1851. however, permanently discouraged the attempt to build an industrial center and shipping port at that place.
The flood conditions of 1851 are still known as the most destructive ever experienced in this. locality. What added to the damage wrought was the fact that the floods came in the month of June, when growing crops gave promise of a rich harvest. As practically all fences were made of rails in those days, it is readily understood that many miles of fencing disappeared entirely. In that year there was a great surplus of corn in the colony, and Bousquet, Wolters & Smeenk, and H. Van Dam and Berkhout undertook the construction of a number of flat boats with which they hoped to carry this corn to the market at St. Louis. This would have been of great benefit to the entire colony. Everything was carefully figured out in advance, and on paper the project promised sure success. There were men like Mr. Kramer and Gerrit Jot, who had been experiened water traffic men in the Netherlands, and it was expected that they would have no difficulty in handling a fleet of flat boats. Unfortunately for the promoters as well as for
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SECOND IMPORTANT EMIGRATION TO PELLA
the colony, the plans did not work out successfully. Some of the boats were stranded on sand bars in the Des Moines river, others were wrecked in the Mississippi, and only a part ever reached their destination. Fortunately, while there was considerable financial loss, no loss of life was involved in the under- taking.
There was one case of death by drowning that year, but not in connection with the flat boat project. On the 12th day of September, 1851, Dirk Den Hartog, 35 years old, who was employed by Rev. H. P. Scholte, was drowned while swim- ming in the Des Moines river. He left a wife and three children to mourn his loss.
The emigration from Holland was almost negligible in 1851, the only arrivals of record being the following:
Breen, Frans
Also
Rubertus, Herman D. Dr.
Breen, Pieter
Rubertus, Antonetta Jatina Rubertus, Herman D.
GERMANS WHO LOCATED IN PELLA
An important addition to the citizenship of Pella, and a material factor in the growth and development of the community, consisted of a number of Ger- mans who came to Pella in the early days. Some of them took a leading part in the commercial and industrial affairs of the town, and a number of their de- scendants are among our honored citizens today. Below we give the names of those found recorded in Van Stigt's History of Pella :
E. F. Grafe
Edward de Borde
C. R. Frowein
Heinrich von Ramming
F. W. Waechter
Carl Bergck
George Henckler
Mrs. Kalb
Carl Schmidt
Guido Kalb
Fritz Schmidt
Hermina Kalb
Philip Mathes
Andrew Kroedel
Fritz Mathes
John Shafer
Valentine Mathes
Daniel Shafer
G. H. Hoening
F. W. Brinkhoff
Wm. Karel Kruger
C. A. Gieseler
H. Holst
Geert Laug
Wm. Herbig
John Ulrich
E. H. Shubring
J. B. H. Steinkamp
John Schlosser
Johann Traub
George M. Blattner
Mrs. Rosina Kraft
Wm. Lust
Mrs. Wm. van Asch
THE FIRST SCHOOL IN PELLA
One of the causes that led up to the emigration movement was that the gov- ernment in Holland interfered with the religious instruction in the schools. That the Holland people believe in education is evident from the fact that there are less cases of illiteracy among them than of any other class of foreigners that come to America.
One of the first things taken up by our pioneers was to supply school facili- ties for their children. Before ever a school building had been erected, I. Over- kamp, H. Hospers and James Muntingh gave daily instruction to the youth of the colony.
ยท
64
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
For some three years J. Muntingh had a day school in his log residence which was located just east of the warehouse on East Washington street, about one-half block east of Wormhoudt's furniture store. Mr. Muntingh also conducted an evening school which was continued long after the day school was given up. The educational work of these men was of inestimable value to the early settlers, especially in the days before regular school facilities had been provided.
What made their system of teaching exceptionally effective was that they taught both the English and Dutch language, so that while the students were mastering the language of their adopted country, they also improved their knowl- edge of their own language. As they were required to translate the lessons from one language into the other, it greatly added to their proficiency in both languages. While the fundamentals, reading, writing and arithmetic, were emphasized, in- struction was also given in geography, history and music. It has often been re- marked that the scholars who received their education under these early, pioneer teachers were so thoroughly grounded in the essential studies, that many of them would have been a credit to the best equipped schools of today.
In the instruction of the pioneer youth of Pella, both secular and religious, the work of Mr. Isaac Overkamp was invaluable. He was a man of high learning and a devoted Christian. In the teaching of the catechism to the youth he had no equal; and it has been said of him, that no minister of the gospel had such an important and long continued influence on the Christian training and instruc- tion of the community than did this cultured and devoted servant of God.
NAMES OF HOLLANDERS WHO CAME TO PELLA IN 1852
Brandt, Hendrik Brandt, Jan
Tilma, M. Mrs. Tilma, Douwe
Tilma, Machiel
Sleyster, Werner
Tilma, Trintje
Sleyster, W. Mrs.
Tilma, Geertje
Tilma, Meindert
Tilma, Teunis Tilma, Willem
LOG CABIN
An old land mark which was recently razed to make way for a beautiful modern home. It was located on First East Street.
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SECOND IMPORTANT EMIGRATION TO PELLA
SHOW & HUDER I
ELEVATOR
Storage. Capacity 300000 Buskela.
STORHET
HAMAR SNOW & HUBER
GRAIN AFRODOCE. UMALO
Snow & Huber's Old Elevator and Office
Old Home of H. Neyenesch
5
One of the Early Universities in Iowa
CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
One of the marked characteristics of the early pioneers was their intense desire to secure adequate educational advantages for their children. The Bap- tists of Iowa did not wait until the state had been admitted to the Union, but early in the fifties took preliminary action that finally led to a meeting which was held in Oskaloosa on the 10th day of November, 1852. At this meeting a commission of fifteen was appointed to consider various offers made by towns and cities in Iowa, among which were those made by Oskaloosa and Pella. This commission met at Pella, June 4, 1853, and decided in favor of locating the school at Pella.
We believe every intelligent citizen of Pella will heartily agree with us when we say that nothing in the history of this community had a more far-reaching effect for good to Pella than the establishing of "Central" here.
In gathering the data for this history, we have been impressed with the fact that some of the best, the most cultured and devout citizens who located in Pella, came here because of Central College. So inany American families came here as soon as the school had been established, that by 1860 about one-half of the citizens were native Americans. Not only did this mean much for the moral and intellectual development of the community, but among those who became citizens because of "Central" there were a number of business men who did much to build up the commercial and industrial part of the city.
The work of erecting a suitable building was begun immediately. An execu- tive committee was appointed, consisting of Rev. H. P. Scholte, Rev. I. C. Curtis, Rev. Edward O. Towne, Rev. E. Boekenoogen and Dr. Putnam. The land for the campus was donated by Rev. Scholte, who did not stop there, but gave liberally of his means; besides furnishing much of the building material. Of money there was but very little; this made the progress of building slow, but many who could not give money, volunteered work, others gave building material, some hauled this material free of charge, and so, by the united efforts of many, the three- story brick building was erected, to stand for almost seventy years as the visible token of the interest our people had in the higher education of our youth. So great was the desire of the pioneers to provide adequate educational advantages for the community that they did not wait for the completion of the college build- ing, but a two-story brick building was leased, and the work of the Academic Department was commenced. This was in the brick residence building on West Washington street, known to the present generation as the H. De Booy residence.
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