ACKERMAN, Berend W. 1848-1930

ACKERMAN, HAYUNGA

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/6/2012 at 08:53:36

Berend William Ackerman was born February 4, 1848, at Neermon, Eastfriesland Germany, and after an illness of a few weeks passed away, May 7, 1930, attaining the age of 82 years, 3 months and 3 days. As a boy he always dreamed of the sea and at the age of 14 years he became a sailor and was thus engaged for 5 years. Thru the death of his mother, his father had preceded her, it was necessary for him to be at home. It was always the desire of his mother that he and his sisters should join his oldest sister who had migrated to America. In the same year, 1867, he sought employment on the ship on which his sisters were to sail, in which he succeeded, thus receiving a free passage to his new home. They came to Freeport, Ill., where he was employed at various tasks. Having decided to make America his future home he took every opportunity to acquire the English language, attending both day and night school.

In 1870, he left Illinois and came to Grundy county, Iowa, where he purchased a small farm and where he resided the last 60 years of his life. On April, 1875, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Hayunga. This union was blessed with 7 sons and 6 daughters, of which one daughter, Nancy, passed away in 1904, at the age of 21 years. He lost his wife in February, 1920. Those surviving and mourning his departure are his children, Elmer, Lula, Mrs. Nettie Best, Mrs. Clara Rieher, Thomas Charley and Mrs. Elizabeth Wiarda, all of Grundy county. Fred of Ackley, Mrs. Rena Wiarda of Marble Rock, William of Earlham, and Ben and John of Allison, Iowa. Twenty-two grandchildren, his two sisters, Mrs. Weasel Bushal of Parkersburg, and Mrs. Dena Miller of Ackley, Iowa, besides other relatives and friends.

Funeral services, conducted by the pastor of Westfriesland Presbyterian church, of which the deceased and his wife were members since 1886, were held Saturday afternoon. His body was laid to rest in the family lot of the cemetery.

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 14 May 1930

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Pleas. Valley Pioneer Dead

Ben Akkerman Passed Away at His Home Yesterday

Berend Akkerman passed away at the family home in Pleasant Valley township Wednesday morning, May 7th, of cancer. He had been able to be up and around until eight days previous to his death.

He was born in Emden, Germany, Feb. 4th, 1848. He and two sisters came to this country, settling near Freeport, Ill., where they lived for three years before coming to Pleasant Valley, three and one-half miles southwest of Aplington, where they have made their home continuously ever since.

He was married to Elizabeth Hayunga of Ackley, May 23, 1875. To this union were born twelve children: seven boys, Elmer, Thomas and Charles of Aplington; Fred of Ackley; John and Ben of Allison and William of Earlham; five girls, Mrs. Elizabeth Wiarda, of Ackley, Mrs. Rena Wiarda of Marble Rock, Mrs. Nettie Best, Mrs. Clara Rieher and Lula of Aplington. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Best, Lula and Elmer were making their home with their father at the time of his death. He had no brothers but two sisters, Mrs. Dena Miller of Ackley and Mrs. Grace Buscol of Parkersburg.

Funeral services will be held from the West Friesland church at 1 o'clock Saturday, Rev. Johnson officiating. Burial will take place in the West Friesland cemetery.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 May 1930, pg 1