HARKEN, Isebrant 1843-1926

HARKEN, BRASS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/9/2010 at 15:03:17

Last Rites for Ackley Man to be on Tuesday

The funeral of Isebrant Klassen Harken, 83, will be conducted at West Friesland Presbyterian church three miles east of Ackley, at 1 p.m. Tuesday and burial will be in the cemetery adjoining. Rev. Harry Johnson will officiate.

Mr. Harken's death occurred Saturday at noon. He was born in Germany on March 22, 1843, and had been in the United States since 1869. He first made his home in Illinois, coming to Austinville, Ia., in 1880 and occupying a farm near there until his retirement to Ackley in 1917.

His marriage to Sibentja Brass took place in 1874. She, with 12 of their 13 children, survives. There also are 40 grandchildren, three great grandchildren and a brother, Reemt, surviving.

The children are: Will, Raymond, Ahme, Ubbe, Eno, John and Isebrant, jr.; Mrs. Venne Janssen, Mrs. Rykus Redkena, Mrs. Ben Stubbe, Mrs. Randolph Abbas and Anna. One son, Class died three years ago.

--Waterloo Evening Courier (Waterloo, Iowa), 8 November 1926

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Isbrandt K. Harken was born March 22, 1843 in Eilsum, East Friesland, Germany. As many others, he too had a desire to improve his social, and economic conditions, and so he turned his face westward. In 1869 he came to the Untied States of America and settled in the vicinity of Forreston, Ill. On Oct. 3, 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah W. Brass and fifty-two years they were permitted to share the joys and difficulties of life. Six years later he moved with his family to Butler county, Iowa, and lived on the farm southeast of Austinville until 1917 when he and his wife and daughter Anna came to Ackley, where he passed the evening of his life.

In the beginning of this year complications harassed him and to such an extent that he finally had to submit himself to an operation from which he never fully recovered. On Nov. 6, 1926, after prolonged illness and much suffering, he passed away at an age of 83 years 7 months and 15 days. The home was blessed with thirteen children, all of whom live except the oldest son, Claus, whose funeral was held just three years prior to the passing away of his father.

Mr. Harken was for many years a loyal member of the West Friesland church and served several years in the capacity of a trustee.

Funeral services were held on November 9 in the West Friesland church, conducted by the pastor, Henry Johnson, and attended by a large group of relatives and friends. The body was laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining the church.

There remain to mourn his departure his wife, his children, William, Raymond, Mrs. Venno Janssen, Mrs. Rykus Riekena, Ahme, Ubbe, Mrs. Ben Stubbe, Mrs. Rudolph Abbas, Eno, John, Anna and Isbrandt, forty grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, one aged brother, Reemt, of Austinville, besides a large number of relatives and friends.

--Ackley World-Journal (Ackley, Iowa), 11 November 1926, pg 1