John De Bok

DE BOK, HERRELL, HOECKSTRA, POSTMA, RHODES

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 6/29/2006 at 08:18:07

John De Bok, of Lincoln township, is the proprietor of the Tileville Stock Farm and although he has resided in the county but a comparatively brief period he is already recognized as one of its leading farmers and stock breeders, and is meeting with substantial success in the management of his affairs. Iowa claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Summit township Marion county, on the 26th of October, 1863. His father, Dingeman De Bok, was born in Holland, March 1n, 1832, and when sixteen years of age crossed the Atlantic to the United States. He made his way to Marion county, Iowa, where, he began farming and he also dealt extensively in lands, owning at different times a number of valuable farms. He was married, March 2, 1855, to Hannah Postma, who was born m Holland, April 15, 1838. When but four or five years of age she was brought to America by her parents, who settled in Marion county, Iowa. Her death occurred July 15, 1905, but Mr. De Bok survived until April, 1910. In their family were ten children: Jane, born February 19, 1856; Yetske, April 10, 1858; Elizabeth, December 29, 1860; John; George, born February 21, 1866; Johanna, July 8, 1867; Sarah, August 23, 1869; Mary, July 21, 1871; Charles, March 16, 1874; and Henry, October 24, 1876.

John De Bok passed his youthful days in the manner of most farm lads and remained upon the old homestead to the age of twenty-three, when he started out in life on his own account, following the occupation to which he had been reared. For an extended period he resided in Red Rock township, Marion county, and spent one year each in Polk and Mahaska counties, Iowa, and two years in South Dakota. He then came to Madison county, Iowa, and purchased a farm of six hundred and forty-two acres in Lincoln township. Here he engages in general farming and he also makes a specialty of raising registered Polled Angus cattle. He is today one of the prominent farmers and cattle breeders of the county, and his methods, which are at once scientific, practical and progressive, are bringing to him substantial success. His farm is improved with excellent buildings and supplied with all modern equipments, and the latest machinery is used to facilitate the work of the fields.

Mr. De Bok married Miss Maggie Postma, a native of Marion county, Iowa, and a daughter of Albert and Gertrude (Hoeckstra) Postma, who were natives of Holland but spent their last days in Marion county, Iowa, dying during the early girlhood of their daughter Mrs. De Bok, who by her marriage has become the mother of ten children. Dee, who was born April 7, 1886, and is a farmer of Crawford township, married Edna Rhodes and they have one child, Zylpha, who was born June 11, 1914. Elizabeth, born April 21, 1888, died May 28, 1893. Gertrude, whose birth occurred December 9, 1892, is the wife of Clifford Herrell and they have one child, Delbert, born May 22, 1914. William, born April 3, 1895, Elsie, born December 16, 1896, Alfred, whose birth occurred December 30, 1899, Edith, born July 22, 1903, Ruby, whose natal day was April 2, 1906, Howard, born March 17, 1909, and Gail. born August 21, 1912, are all at home.

Mr. and Mrs. De Bok became members of the Evangelical church at Red Rock, Marion county. In politics he is a progressive republican, but not an office seeker, as he prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, and his close application, sound judgment and capable management have brought him gratifying success, gaining him a place among the foremost farmers of the district in which he lives.