Jensma, Sicco James

JENSMA, BIERMA, VANDAM, PEEREBOOM

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/1/2009 at 07:38:25

Jensma, Sicco James

The Netherlands have sent many of their best and most enterprising citizens to our various states and they have, as a rule, proven of great assistance to us in our general work of development. One of this worthy number is Sicco James Jensma, of Kellogg Township, Jasper County, whose influence as an honorable, upright citizen is productive of much good upon all with whom he comes into contact.

Mr. Jensma was born in the Netherlands, October 9, 1872, and he is the son of Joseph Sicco Jensma, his mother's maiden name having been Sarah J. Bierma, both born in the Netherlands. The father spent his life on a farm and died October 2, 1889. His family consisted of five sons and two daughters, namely: Sicco James, of this review: John J., Levi, Andrew D., Pete, Anna M. and Ann Sarah.

Sicco J. Jensma, of this review, spent his boyhood days at home, assisting his father with the various duties about the farm, and attending the common schools from the time he was five until he was fourteen years of age, having been a pupil in both the day and night schools. He began life as a farmer when young in years. Having heard of the good opportunities to secure a large amount of rich land cheaply in America, he set sail for our shores when eighteen years of age, coming direct to Marion County, Iowa, where he farmed one year, then moved to Jasper County, locating near Monroe, in Fairview Township, where he remained three years, then went to Prairie City, remaining there three years also, then he took up his abode near Newton where he continued to reside ten years, then located on his present farm of two hundred and forty acres in Kellogg Township, but which consisted of only two hundred acres then, but he has since added forty acres, ten acres of which is timbered, a portion of which he has cut for his own use in various ways. He has added many substantial and valuable improvements on his farm, which renders it one of the best in the Township, and as a general farmer and stock raiser he ranks with the best. He has a good, comfortable home, barns and such outbuildings and improved farming implements, as his needs require.

Mr. Jensma was married on September 27, 1910, to Christiana Jacoba VanDam, who was born in the Netherlands, November 9, 1892, the daughter of William and Rensje (Peereboom) VanDam, both natives of the Netherlands, the father born in 1863 and the mother on March 18, 1862.

Politically, Mr. Jensma is a Republican and he belongs to the Baptist Church. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1055.