B. Vander Las

VANDER LAS, GEERLINGS, EVERDS, WAGNER, VAN LOH, FOKKEN, BRINKEMA, HARBERTS, HERONIMUS, MEESTER, KRUSE, NEESEN, ABELS, SAATHOFF, MAYER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 8/19/2010 at 17:30:35

REV. B. VANDER LAS, pastor of the German Presbyterian Church of Holland, now living on section 15, Colfax Township, Grundy County, was born in Holland beyond the water, April 30, 1824. In the land of his birth the days of his boyhood and youth were passed, and in its public schools he acquired his education. He there learned the tailor's trade, at which he worked until 1854, when he came to America, locating in Freeport, Ill. There he followed his trade for nearly four years, after which he went to Holland, Mich., and entered the seminary at that place, pursuing a theological course for a year and a-half. On the expiration of that period he went to Stephenson County, Ill., where he studied theology for a year under Rev. John M. Wagner. He was then licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Dane, Wis., and entered upon the work of the ministry at Hazel Green, that state, where he preached for two years, when he was called to the Holland Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee. For the long period of ten years and eleven months he was the honored and loved pastor at that place, and in 1874 he came to Grundy County, Iowa.

The church of which he has since been pastor was organized by his brother, John Vander Las, June 11, 1871. The first elders were John Van Loh and Gerhard Fokken, and the first minister was Jacob Brinkema. The church was organized with twenty-nine members, and the house of worship was erected in 1872. The present elders are Dirk Harberts, Poppe Heronimus, Harm Meester and John Kruse. The present deacons are Else Grote, Conrad Kruse, Anton Neesen and Fred Abels. The trustees are John Saathoff, Harm Meester and Marks Mayer.

In 1866, the Rev. Mr. Vander Las was married in Milwaukee to Miss Gertie Geerlings, who died February 17, 1893. Unto them were born nine children, seven of whom are now living. Martha is the wife of Rev. John W. Everds, the minister at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; Jennie is a successful teacher in the public schools of this county; Bernard is clerking in Grundy Centre; and the other children are at home.

Our subject is a stalwart Republican, but takes no active part in politics. The church of which he is pastor has a membership of seventy-two, and is in a flourishing condition. The pastor is beloved by his people and has the confidence and high regard of all the citizens of the community of whatever denomination.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894