Terpstra, Watson Valentine

TERPSTRA, NAPJUS, PLANTENGA, ZUIDMA, GEORGE, DICK, ROMANS, HOLMES, DOVE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/22/2009 at 18:54:39

Terpstra, Watson Valentine

One of the worthy citizens of Elk Creek Township, Jasper County, who has long followed agricultural pursuits is Watson Valentine Terpstra, who, by close application when a boy, established those habits of industry and frugality which insured his success in later years. Only a cursory glance at his well-tilled fields, well-cared-for buildings and fences and the comfortable buildings on his place is necessary to demonstrate his successful management and the characteristic thrift of his family, for since the pioneer days of this section of the Hawkeye state the Terpstras have been admired for their enterprise and honesty. In every relation of life they have been regarded as representative citizens, discharging every duty devolving upon them with commendable fidelity and proving themselves worthy in every way of the large measure of respect with which they have been treated by all who know them. Their lives have been as an open book, the pages of which are singularly free from blot or blemish, and citizens in whom all classes have been pleased to repose the most implicit confidence and trust, so that we are glad to give the readers of this work a review of their careers, although somewhat brief and imperfect.

Watson V. Terpstra was born in Marion County, Iowa, on February 14, 1868. He is the son of Dow W. and Rosa (Napjus) Terpstra, both natives of Friesland, Holland, the father born on June 11, 1842, and the mother on September 23, 1848, and from there they emigrated to America, the mother when she was eight years of age, with her parents, John and Rosa (Plantenga) Napjus; they settled near Red Rock, Marion County, Iowa, in 1856, where they lived one year and then moved to Pella. There the mother of the subject grew to womanhood and attended school, marrying Mr. Terpstra on February 14, 1867. Dow W. Terpstra was the son of Watson and Sietska (Zuidma) Terpstra, natives of Holland, who emigrated to America in 1850 and located in the state of New York, engaging in farm work there for a period of five years, then moved to Iowa, locating in Marion County, and there bought eighty acres of land and there the father of the subject grew to manhood and helped develop the farm from the raw prairie. After his marriage he moved to Jasper County in 1869 and bought about eight acres of land near Killduff, which he later traded for one hundred and twenty acres in Elk Creek Township. Here he worked hard and forged ahead and became one of the substantial and influential men in his community, finally becoming the owner of four hundred and fifty acres on which he carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, being known as one of the largest cattle feeders in the county. Laying by a competency, he retired from active life in 1905 and he and his good wife retired to their pleasant home in Sully, Iowa, and there they continued to enjoy the fruits of their earlier years of industry until Mr. Terpstra's death, on July 11, 1906, Mrs. Terpstra subsequently returning to the farm and she is at present living on a portion of the old homestead.

Politically, Dow W. Terpstra was a Democrat and he took a great deal of interest in the affairs of his community, holding several local offices with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. He was a man of fine personal characteristics, a typical pioneer, having found in Iowa a wild, new country, and here he bore the hardships and worked hard to develop himself and eventually wrenched success from a resisting nature and, passing from the arena on to his reward, left behind a clear record.

To Mr. and Mrs. Dow W. Terpstra eight children were born, named as follows: Watson Valentine, the immediate subject of this sketch; Mrs. Sietsk George, of North Dakota; Harry D. is farming in Elk Creek Township, this county; Albert L., Mrs. Rose Dick, Mrs. Yetta Romans, Martin and John.

When Watson V. Terpstra was about a year old his parents moved to Jasper County and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the McKinney district school. When he was sixteen years of age he went to Pella, Iowa, and, having had a desire to enter the mercantile field, found employment there and learned the business, clerking in a general merchandise store for two years. But not taking to this line as kindly as he had anticipated he returned to his father's farm and there assisted with the general work or the same until he was twenty-one years old. Then for two years he clerked in the store of August Wendt at Newton, Iowa. Shortly after this he took charge of the clothing department in the large department store at Boyden, Iowa remaining there two years, giving his usual high-grade service and general satisfaction. Then, in 1899, after having spent several years in the mercantile business, he traded his property in Newton for a restaurant in Prairie City; in southwest Jasper County, and he lived there one year, then traded his restaurant for a farm in Decatur County, Iowa. In 1900 he began renting a farm of his father, a part of the old Jonathan Black place and also a part of the old Nels Alloway place, Mr. Alloway having been the picturesque character well known in this part of the state as the mail carrier between Marshalltown and Newton before the days of railroads. The subject still lives on this place, now owning eighty acres there on which he is making a very comfortable living, and he also rents other land. He built a new commodious and convenient dwelling in 1904 and he has improved the place generally. He keeps good livestock, making a specialty of Poland China hogs.

Politically, Mr. Terpstra is a Republican and an active worker for his party in a Democratic Township, and his influence always helps to lower the majorities of the opposing party. Fraternally, he belongs to the Woodmen of the World and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Terpstra was united in marriage in 1892 with Anna Luella Holmes who was born in Cass County, Nebraska, on March 5, 1870. She is the daughter of Frank T. and Hannah (Dove) Holmes, the father born in Cape May County, New Jersey, on July 7, 1837, and he was the son of Theophelus and Mary Holmes, both natives of New Jersey, in which state this family has long been more or less prominent.

Theophelus Holmes was a wheelwright by trade and during the latter part of his life he was quartermaster and ship carpenter in the navy and was regarded as a very skilled mechanic by the department. Frank T. Holmes, father of Mrs. Terpstra, grew up in his native state and was educated there, and in 1855 he came west to Sangamon County Illinois, where he remained until 1858, when he went overland to Colorado and worked in the Pike's Peak gold mines. The Civil War coming on while he was in the West, he enlisted, in 1861, in Company F, First Colorado Cavalry, and he served very faithfully until October 1864. In 1866 he came to Marion County, Iowa, and farmed on different rented lands until 1876, when he moved to Galesburg, Elk Creek Township, Jasper County, and there worked at the carpenter's trade. He is now living in the town of Galesburg retired, an aged, well-known and highly respected pioneer.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson V. Terpstra: Ina, born September 14, 1893; Blanche, born May 15, 1895; Forest, born November 14, 1900: Harold, born January 7, 1903.

Mr. Terpstra is a well-informed man, having been a student all his life and his home is well supplied with good literature. He is a very versatile man, speaking four languages fluently, English, Dutch, German and Friesland. This accomplishment has been a big asset to him in a business way. Personally, he is a pleasant gentleman to meet, straightforward and genial enjoying a reputation for fairness in all the relations of life.

Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 707