Kooistra, John

KOOISTRA, ELLSCOTT, BRAND

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/10/2009 at 17:56:35

Kooistra, John

Jasper County, Iowa, can boast of no better class of citizens than those who have emigrated there from Holland. Thrifty, industrious and honest, they are fast forging to the front. The subject of this sketch is a fine example of this, the success he has achieved being proof of his energy, good judgment and management.

Born in Holland on October 20, 1874, John Kooistra came to the United States with his parents, William and Bankje Kooistra, about the year 1889, when he was about fifteen years of age, coming across the water on the ship "Rotterdam." There were four children in this family besides the subject of this sketch, namely: Kate, living near Sully, Iowa, the wife of Frank Ellscott; Richard, also living near Sully; Herman, living on a farm near Sully, this State, and Dora, the youngest daughter, who lives at home.

Soon after landing in this country the family came to Sully, Iowa, and settled on a farm near the latter place, the father buying two hundred and thirty-four acres; this land he farmed with the assistance of his sons until his death, which occurred about three years ago, when he was about sixty-one years of age. The mother still lives at Sully, Iowa, and is now fifty-four years of age.

When John Kooistra was twenty-two years old he began working for himself. He worked as a farm hand for a while, afterwards renting land, which he farmed, and by energy and industry he now is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Buena Vista Township. On March 12, 1900, he was united in marriage with Minnie Brand, daughter of Jacob and Jane Brand, both natives of Holland, the father coming to the United States with his parents when a child of seven. They settled on a farm in Wisconsin, where they carried on agricultural pursuits for many years. The mother was only a baby of two years when her parents immigrated to this country. Minnie Brand was born January 13, 1874, at Pella, Iowa, and was one of a family of eleven children, namely: Henry, Frank, John, Jacob, Ira, Charles, and Katie, who married Richard Kooistra, a brother of the subject of this sketch, and all live near Sully, Iowa; Eva married Will Rykhouk and lives near Taintor, Iowa; Mary and William are living at home with their parents, near Sully, this state.

To Mr. and Mrs. Kooistra have been born six children: Walter John, born October 29, 1902; Janette Marie, born January 21, 1904; Elmer Leroy, born October 31, 1905; Harold Raymond, born February 13, 1907; Lester Charles, born March 31, 1909; and Thelma Delene, born October 2, 1911. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1364.