MEESTER, Daniel 1839-1933

MEESTER, DEVRIES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/14/2015 at 20:00:49

Daniel Meester, Pioneer Settler, Passed Away

Daniel Meester, one of the early pioneer settlers of Pleasant Valley township, passed away at his home Wednesday noon, September 6. Mr. Meester came to Iowa nearly 64 years ago and bought the farm two miles west of Fern, where he lived continually, until his death, since 1869.

Mr. Meester was born in Pilsum, Germany, September 23, 1839. He came to America with his brother John in 1861 at the age of 22 years, settling first at Freeport, Ill., where they lived for a number of years. He came to Grundy county in 1869. He had four brothers and one sister and they all came to Grundy county at about the same time and bought land in Pleasant Valley township.

On November 30, 1867, he was united in marriage to Meetje deVries and to this union nine children were born, eight of whom with his wife preceded him in death. Mrs. Meester died Feb. 1, 1925, at the age of 82 years. Five children died in infancy. One daughter, Mrs. Henry Klunder, died in 1901. Another daughter, Fannie, at home, died January 16 this year and a son, John F., passed away April 16 this year.

One son, Joe D. Meester, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and a host of more distant relatives and friends remain to mourn his loss.

Short services were held at the home at one o'clock Saturday, followed by services at the Siemsen church conducted by his pastor, Rev. Siemsen. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were John Wubbena of Sibley, Iowa; Henry H. Wubbena, Henry S. Wubbena, Ralph Wubbena, Mense Wubbena and Miss Aletha Wubbena, all of Freeport, Ill.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 14 September 1933, pg 1