Keizer, Mrs. Gerben (Lidia) 1858-1943

KEIZER, CALSBEEK

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 2/24/2005 at 21:47:09

From the LeMars Sentinel, Friday, June 4, 1943, Page 1, Column 3:
Mrs. G. Keizer Passes Away
Was Early Settler In Sioux County

Mrs. Gerben Keizer, 85, of Alton, well known in Sioux and Plymouth counties, died May 30, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gerritt Rensink.

Lydia (sic--Lidia) Calsbeek was born March 23, 1858, in the Netherlands, and was married September 15, 1877, to Gerben Keizer. With their five children, the couple came to the United States a few years later.

They settled at Orange City, where Mrs. Keizer's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johannes Calsbeek, had preceded them six years earlier. The Calsbeeks were the first immigrants to ride on the newly bulit (sic--built) Northwestern railroad through to Orange City, then the end of the line.

Six more children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Keizer after their arrival in America, making eleven in all, of whom eight survive: Mrs. John Schut, Granger, Wash.; Mrs. Wesley Giebing (sic--Giebink), Alton; Cornelius, Mountain Home, Idaho; Peter, Alton; Mrs. Gerritt Rensink, Hospers; Gerben, Hawarden; Bert, Orange City, and Wesley of Sheldon. Their (sic--there) are twenty-five grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.

The funeral was held from the Peter Keizer home, with services at the First Reformed church, Thursday afternoon.