DIRKS, Cornelius 1862-1929

DIRKS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/5/2015 at 11:37:20

C. Dirks, Early Grundy Resident Dies From Cancer

Passed Away At His Home In Holland At An Early Hour Monday

He Came To Grundy County 54 Years Ago

Is the First of a Large Family to Answer the Final Summons

Cornelius Dirks died at his home in Holland at 4:20 Monday morning. Cancer was the cause. He began to show signs of failing health early in the year. He was confined to his bed two months before the final summons came.

Funeral services were held at the home at one o'clock Wednesday afternoon and later at the Lutheran church in Holland, of which the deceased had been a member for several years. The local pastor, Rev. Athenstadt, delivered a sermon in the German language, Rev. J. E. Drake spoke in English. There was a very large attendance at both services. Interment was made in the Holland cemetery. The pallbearers were John Frerichs, Hilko Siebrands, B. U. Venenga, R. Stickfort, John Bettenga and John Neessen.

Mr. Dirks was born in Emden, Eastfriesland, Germany, November 22nd, 1862. He would have been 67 years old on his coming birthday. He came to this country with his parents in 1870. They located at Freeport, Ill. The family resided on a farm near there for five years. In 1875 they came to Grundy county. At the time there were the father and mother, one daughter and five sons. The deceased, though he was next to the youngest in the family of six children, was the first of the family of children to answer the last call. Since the passing of the father and mother his death breaks the first link in a family chain which has grown into one of the largest of our many big families in Grundy county. The family when they came here 54 years ago moved on a farm in Lincoln township which the father had purchased before he brought his family here. This is still known as the old Dirks homestead and it is owned by the oldest son, Otto. The family remained together on this homestead farm until they married, when they spread out and built homes of their own.

Cornelius Dirks was married in 1886. The ceremony was performed by the late Rev. VanderLas at the Colfax township Presbyterian church. Following their marriage the young couple made their home on a Grundy county farm for three years. In 1889 Cornelius and his brother Henry left the farm and went into the lumber, coal and farm machinery business in Holland. The two men made a hustling firm and they prospered in their business enterprise. This partnership was continued for a period of twenty years, when Cornelius retired from the firm and devoted his time and energies to the manufacturing of concrete products. He continued in this business until his health failed him.

His long residence here and his activity in business gave Mr. Dirks a wide acquaintance over the county and it will be with deep regret that his many old friends will learn of his passing.

Mr. Dirks is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. James Smith, and the sons, Cornelius Jr. and John. One of the children from this marriage died in infancy. Other near relatives who survive are his sister, Mrs. D. J. Dieken, who was the oldest in the family, Otto, Evert, Henry and John, all of this county.

Those from a distance who were here at the funeral services were Mr. and Mrs. Tom Race from St. Paul, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Lingelbach and Miss Anna Lingelbach from Waterloo, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kiewiet and Mrs. Henry Asmus and son John from Buffalo Center, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Schuck and Mrs. Turner from Parkersburg.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 24 October 1929, pg 1