Sneller, Egbert 1855-1921

SNELLER, JUFFER, DEGROOT

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg (email)
Date: 4/7/2019 at 04:17:22

This obituary was posted under the Obit Heading, but thought due to the history family content it should be post under the Bio Heading also.

Source: Alton Democrat (5-21-1921)
Born: January 16, 1855
Died: May 2, 1921
Egbert Sneller was born in 1885 and died May 3rd, being buried in the Sioux Center Cemetery the following Friday. The funeral was held at the Central Reformed Church the pastor Reverend Haverkamp and the Reverend James DePree officiating.

The deceased was born at Elburg, Holland in the South Sea Country but at the early age of eleven years he came with his parents, Ryk and Mattje (Juffer) Sneller, to this country where they settled at Waupon, Wisconsin. This was in the year 1866. Five years later the family moved to Sioux County where his parents died and where he departed this life to join the circle above.

The family did not have the privilege of a Pullman car and its present day comforts but the journey was made from Waupon to Sioux County with a prairie schooner. Horses were used to convey the wagon and the party drove more than twenty head of cattle to their new home besides household goods of limited amount of course. The journey was void of accident or anything sensational. It was simply a delightful trip amid pioneer surroundings.

The family moved on to a farm near Newkirk where Mr. Sneller worked until he married Jane DeGroot in 1880. The young couple started farming on 160 acres of school land and later brought a farm in Welcome Township where they farmed until about five years ago when the couple moved to Sioux Center where they have since lived.

Mr. Sneller health has not been good for twenty-five years and therefore he had not been before the public eye as that of some men of the community who came to the county about the same time or later. He was of a retiring disposition not craving a public life not given much to entertaining his friends but a man of sterling worth and a good husband and father. His wife has passed away close to the valley and shadow of death recently and is still under the physician’s care.

There were born to this couple nine children; all are living, five boys and four girls as follows: They are all married but one girl who is at home. The eldest is Mrs. Martha Vander Sloot, who lives seven miles from Sheldon; Henry of Hull; Mrs. Gertie Baartman of Leota, Minnesota; Mrs. Carrie Baartma of Matlock, Iowa; Richard, Andrew, William, and John of Sioux Center and Annie Swiers of Sioux Center.

The family were members of the First Reformed Church, later of Middleburg and for the last few years were transferred to the Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center. The remains were buried in the Sioux Center Cemetery.