Muilenburg, Jacob 1849-1935 and Aaltje Vander Meer family

MUILENBURG, VERSTEEG, VANDERMEER, VANDENBOSCH

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 14:53:38

Muilenburg, Jacob 1849-1935 and Aaltje Vander Meer family

This story was taken from the Sioux Center Centennial Book of 1991 page 451, and submitted to the book by Alice Schutt and Wilma J. Vande Berg . The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw, and some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg; both of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society of Sioux Center Iowa.

Jacob Muilenburg was born in St. Louis, Mo. on June 12, 1849 and moved to Pella, Iowa, with his parents in 1850. At the age of twenty he came with a group of prospectors to Sioux County in 1869. Jacob’s parents Huibert and Klazina (VerSteeg) Muilenburg and their family came from Pella to Orange City, Iowa, by wagon the following summer. The Muilenburg family were among the early group who were instrumental in setting up the Dutch Colony in Orange City.

Jacob Muilenburg married Aaltje Vander Meer on December 27, 1871, she was born November 7, 1857 at Pella, Iowa, the daughter of Dirk Vander Meer and Cornelia Vanden Bosch. Her parents also were among the first settlers of the Dutch Colony at Orange City, Aaltje was eighteen years old at the time. As told in a newspaper article on the event of her death, “She was truly an American Pioneer Mother, her parents brought her to a new frontier in Sioux County, Iowa, she in turn led the establishment of first settlers in South Dakota.”

Jacob and Aaltje attended the First Reformed Church in Orange City as young people with their separate families, and after their marriage until 1882 when according to church records they left for Harrison, South Dakota. The family started farming in 1871 near Orange City. In 1882 they moved to Harrison, South Dakota and after suffering the many disappointments of crop failure there, they moved back after thirteen years. They then settled on a farm near Newkirk, Iowa. They lived there 21 years and retired in Sioux Center in 1916. From 1904 until their deaths they were members of the First Reformed Church in Sioux Center.

The following reminiscent occurrences are remembered by two grandchildren of the Muilenburg’s. Alice Muilenburg Schutt remembers when her grandmother was an elderly woman and had developed a heart condition and usually retired early in the evening. One evening after a visit from son, Asa Muilenburg’s family, Alice was getting in the car when she discovered that she had forgotten her mittens, as she entered the house she saw her grandmother drinking a glass of wine which the doctor had prescribed for medication. Both of her grandparents were so upset that Alice had seen this, that Alice was set down for the longest temperance lecture she ever had. Alice said she remembered that lesson learned as a child and passed it on to her children. Alice’s brother, Everett Muilenburg, recalls that one day he was waiting at his Grandfather Muilenburg’s home for his father Asa to pick him up after school. Grandfather Muilenburg asked Everett to sit with him under an apple tree. (His grandfather was very proud of his apple trees and liked to share the apples, but in his own way. He was a stern man who impressed young minds.) Everett happened to look up in the tree and saw a little boy sitting in the top of the tree. After visiting several minutes with Everett, Grandfather Muilenburg called for the little boy to come down. After the shaking little boy came down, Grandfather Muilenburg sat him down in the chair and told him there was a box of apples nailed to a tree by the side walk. The little boy could have as many as he liked. If he had to have one from the top of the tree Grandfather Muilenburg would get it for him. The little boy never climbed a tree again.

Jacob Muilenburg died August 13, 1935 and his wife Aaltje died September 24, 1930. Quoting from her obituary in the newspaper, “What a thrilling book the life of Jacob and Aaltje would fill. A book alive with the brave struggle against stubborn nature. There would be chapters on back breaking toil, loneliness and disease, death and sorrow. Then there would be chapters with the hope of reward and the joy of conquest. All the lines in the book would be devout with a faith in the love of God. The last chapter would tell of patience in suffering the ills of old age for which a life time had schooled them for. And the last line of the book would tell of a hope and assurance of eternal reward.” They were the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom survived to adulthood.

1.Huibert Muilenburg was born January 4, 1873 and died August 28, 1889.
2.Cornelia Muilenburg was born December 4, 1874 and died May 12, 1876.
3.Dirk Muilenburg born October 15, 1876 and married Rena Stackhouse and their family was from Hurley, South Dakota.
4.Cornelia Muilenburg was born June 1, 1879 and she married S.A. Kalsbeek and their family was from Rock Rapids, Iowa.
5.Klazina “Clara” Muilenburg was born October 22, 1880, married John Boeyink and their family was from Sioux Center. Their children were Henry who married Bess Vander Ploeg, Alede (Mrs. Don Jurriens), Sylvia (Mrs. Clarence Van Wechel) and Dorothy.
6.Agnes Muilenburg was born August 14, 1882, married Ralph Boeyink and their family was from Sioux Center. Their family is described further under Ralph Boeyink in this book.
7.Josie Muilenburg was born September 11, 1884 and never married.
8.Asa Muilenburg was born May 2, 1886 and married Jennie Vermeer. Their family was from Sioux Center. Their family is described further under Asa Muilenburg in this book.
9.David Muilenburg was born August 5, 1888 and he married Alice Younie. Their family was from Hawarden, Iowa.
10.Huibertha Muilenburg was born October 17, 1890 and died April 7, 1891.
11.Huibert Muilenburg was born February 29, 1892 and he married Cora De Mots. Their family was from Orange City, Iowa. Children were: Elwin, Nolan and Everly.
12.Allan Muilenburg was born August 25, 1895 and he married Jena Gotz. They were from Sioux Center and had no children.
13.Harvey Muilenburg was born August 17, 1899 and he married Winnie Juffer. They were from Sioux Center, their one daughter Eleanor, married and moved to California.

Submitted to the book by Alice Schutt and Wilma J. Vande Berg

RESEARCH NOTES added by Wilma J. Vande Berg

OBITUARY of Jacob Muilenburg 1849-1935
Source: Alton Demcrat (8-30-1935)
Birth: June 12, 1849 Death: September 9, 1935
SIOUX CENTER PIONEER GONE
J. A. Muilenburg One of First Sioux County Settlers
Jacob. A. Muilenburg, venerable and well known Sioux Center pioneer, died Friday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. S. A. Kalsbeek, at Rock Rapids where he had been residing for some months.
Mr. Muilenburg was one of the last survivors of that little band of twenty which came by prairie schooner from Pella in 1870 to scout out the land for the first settlers of Sioux County.
Born at St. Louis 86 years ago, he came to Iowa with his parents at the age of one year, the family settling at Pella. In early manhood he joined the band of pioneers looking for new land and homes. His marriage to Miss Ellen Vander Meer, daughter of another pioneer family, on December 27, 1871, was the culmination of a prairie romance. The couple settled on a homestead near Orange City where they underwent the many hardships and experienced the joys of pioneer life. Imbued with courage and high adventure of that life in 1882 they moved west to Harrison, South Dakota, where they again assisted in the early settlement of a new country. In 1895 they returned to Sioux county and lived for a few years on a farm near Newkirk before moving to the Sioux Center vicinity. In 1916 they retired from farm life and moved to Sioux Center, where they were held in highest regard. Having reared a splendid family of nine children, they were able in their later years to enjoy the fruits of their labors.
On September 24, 1930, Mrs. Muilenburg passed on after a full and active life. Mr. Muilenburg continued to maintain in his advancing years a keen interest in family, community and national affairs, and until some months ago was a familiar figure on Sioux Center streets. His honorable and courageous life will long be a beacon light to his family and many friends.
Surviving are his children, namely: Mrs. Kalsbeek of Rock Rapids, Mrs. John Boeyink, Miss Josephine, Ase, all of Sioux Center, Hubert of Orange City, Dave of Hawarden, Allen and Harvey of Sioux Center.
Three sisters and two brothers survive Mr. Muilenburg, namely, Mrs. John Kuiper and Mrs. C. De Booy of Orange City, Mrs. Noteboom of Zion City, Illinois, John Muilenburg of Manchester, South Dakota, and Sam Muilenburg of Orange City.
Services were held Monday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Boeyink and at Central Reformed Church, Reverend J. H. Keuning officiating. Besides local friends many were present from Orange City, Hawarden and neighboring towns. Mr. and Mrs. Gt. Muilenburg of Beresford, South Dakota, were among those here for the funeral.

OBITUARY of Aaltje Mrs. Jacob Muilenberg 1852-1930
Alton Democrat October 3, 1930
Early Settler In Sioux County
Mrs. J. H. Muilenburg came from Pella with Vander Meer Family in 1870
Mrs. J. H. Muilenburg, one of the last of the early pioneers, died at her home in Sioux Center Sept 24, after an illness of some months. She was 78 years of age.
Aaltje Vander Meer was born Nov. 7, 1852 at Pella, Iowa. In the year 1870 she came to Sioux County with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. Vander Meer, who homesteaded southwest of Alton. The next year, on December 27, 1871, she was married at Orange City to Jacob H. Muilenburg who had come with the very first caravan from Pella in 1869. The ceremony was performed by Justice Leonard Vander Meer of Alton. In 1882 the couple moved still farther west, to South Dakota, but returned to Sioux County in 1895. They resided near Newkirk for several years and then moved to the Sioux Center vicinity. In 1916 they retired from the farm and moved to Sioux Center, which has since been their home.
Mrs. Muilenburg is survived by her husband and nine children, namely Mrs. S. A. Kalsbeek of Rock Rapids, Mr. J. Boeyink, Mrs. Ralph Boeyink of Sioux Center; Dave Muilenburg of Hawarden; Miss Josie of Sioux Center; Herbert of Orange City; Allan and Harvey of Sioux Center. She is also survived by seven brothers and sisters, of whom she is the eldest. They are Isaac Vander Meer of Seattle Wash.; Cornelius Vander Meer of Alton; Jacob Vander Meer of Dumont IA; Mrs. A. Kuyper of Hollandale MN; Mrs. A. C. Jongewaard of Sioux Center; Mrs. G. Van Steenbergen of Hull; Mrs. C. Van Citters of Sibley.
Had Mrs. Muilenburg lived 2 more months, she and her husband would have passed the 59th anniversary of their wedding. Their golden wedding nine years ago was a happy event in the family and each succeeding year at the anniversary has bee the occasion for a family gathering and reunion. Mrs. Muilenburg was one of the splendid pioneer women, in whom courage and unselfishness were outstanding qualities and whose example will long be an inspiration to her family and friends.

A large number of the family connection from both the Muilenburg and Vander Meer families, and many friends were present at the services Saturday afternoon, Sept. 27. After brief services at the home Rev. A. Haverkamp had charge of services at Central Reformed church and interment was in the local cemetery.
(Words from another obituary posted in the Sioux Center News of Oct 2, 1930 goes on to describe this pioneer woman. What a thrilling book her life would fill. A book alive with the brave struggle against stubborn nature. There would be chapters on back breaking toil, loneliness and disease, death and sorrow. Then there would be chapters with the hope of reward and the joy of conquest. All the lines in the book would be devout with a faith in the love of God. The last chapter would tell of patience in suffering the ills of old age for which a life time had schooled her and the last line of the book would tell of a hope and assurance of eternal reward. )

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