Olivier, Arthur William 1872 and Fanny Wiersema Family

OLIVIER, WIERSEMA, NEINOORD

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/20/2021 at 11:08:20

Olivier, Arthur William 1872 and Fanny Wiersema Family

This story was taken from the Sioux Center Centennial book of 1991on page 464. It was submitted to the book by Wilma Duits. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw and some notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg both of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.

Arthur William Olivier was born September 5, 1872 in Pella, Iowa, the second of three sons. His ancestors were French Huguenots who fled from their native country to Holland in search of religious freedom.

Fanny Wiersma was born in Holland on September 5, 1877, the middle child of three daughters. The family emigrated to the United States in 1881, and settled first in Chicago, Illinois where they had relatives, and later came to Sioux County, Iowa, where they also had family living. Fanny’s father was a farmer and later worked as a laborer to lay the tracks for the Great Northern Railroad in northwest Iowa. As a young girl Fanny worked as a hired girl for different farm families.

In 1890 Arthur’s family moved to Sioux County by train to Alton, and then by wagon the rest of the way to Hull where they homesteaded between Hull and Sioux Center. When Arthur and Fanny were married in 1900 his parents retired and the newlyweds moved on the home place. Six children were born to this union, as follows: Nellie, Mrs. Al Scholten (deceased), Arend (deceased), Arie (deceased), Asa, who lives in Sioux Center, Anna, Mrs. Richard Harsma of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Wilma, Mrs. Bert Duits of Sioux Center.

The children attended country school. Arther was the school director, so the teachers used to board and room in our home. This gave Arthur many uncomfortable moments because his children were no exceptions.

In 1924 the Oliviers retired from the farm and moved to Sioux Center. Nellie was already married and Arend was already on his own. The four youngest children moved to town with their parents. Asa, Anna and Wilma attended the Sioux Center Public Schools.

Nellie and Al Scholten had four children, John (deceased) was a salesman, Feynor (deceased) a farmer, Marlys Schouten Groeneweg, a homemaker living in Rock Valley, and Ila Dirksen, a homemaker living in Ripon, California.

Arend and Minnie (Shuett) had three children, Carole Kroese, a homemaker in Mesa, Arizona, Donald (deceased) and Keith (deceased).

Asa and Fanny (Van Essen) had two sons, Roger (deceased), and Lowell of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Later Asa married Alyda Van Der Weide and they have one daughter, Loretta Lo.

Anna and Richard Harsma had three children, Donna Marker, a homemaker in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Richard, a Los Angeles California police officer, and Pamela Borger, a homemaker in Singapore.

Wilma and Bert Duits had three children, Terry (deceased) was a teacher, LaVonne Kessler, a homemaker in Sioux City, and Dale, a teacher and farmer in Vining, Minnesota.

by Wilma Duits

OBITUARY of Arthur William ‘Art’ Olivier born 1872 died 1944
From the Sioux County Index, Hull, (Sioux), Iowa, Thursday, December 14, 1944, Page 1, Column 3:
Mr. Art Olivier, Former Hull Resident, Died Tues.
Relatives and friends in Hull were saddened Tuesday to learn of the passing, Tuesday morning, December 12th, of Mr. Art Olivier at his home in Sioux Center.
Mr. Olivier, who had been ailing and bedfast for a number of months died at the age of 72 years from cancer.
He was born in Pella, Iowa, and farmed in the Hull vicinity for a number of years. He was also a Hull resident prior to moving to Sioux Center.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 14th, at 1:00 o'clock at the home and at 1:30 at the Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center.
Mr. Olivier was the father of our townsman, Mr. Arend Olivier, to whom is extended the sincere sympathy of a host of friends.

BIRTH RECORD of Fenne Wiersema born 5 September 1877 at Usquert, Groningen, Netherlands to Arent Wiersema 30 years and Anna Neinoord.

OBITUARY of Fannie Wiersma Mrs. Arthur William Olivier 1877-1961
From the Sioux Center News, Sioux Center, (Sioux), Iowa, Thursday, June 1, 1961, Page 8:
Mrs. Art Olivier, 83, Dies While at Church Sunday A. M.
Funeral Is Held Wednesday
Funeral services were held at Central Reformed church here at 1:30 p.m. yesterday, May 31, for Mrs. Art Olivier (nee Fannie Wiersma), who died suddenly and unexpectedly Sunday morning.
She suffered a heart attack while attending the morning church service at Central church and passed away a few minutes later in the church basement while a local physician was attempting to revive her with oxygen.
Mrs. Olivier was born in The Netherlands September 5, 1877, and came to this country with her parents at the age of 5. She was united in marriage to Art Olivier on December 21, 1900, and to this union six children were born, three sons and three daughters.
Mr. Olivier passed away on December 12, 1944. Others who preceded her in death were a son, Arend, who passed away in August in 1950; and two sisters, Elizabeth (Mrs. John Heusinkveld) and Jennie (Mrs. John Hoff).
Survivors include two sons, Arie and Asa, both of Sioux Center; and three daughters, Nellie (Mrs. Al J. Scholten) of Rock Valley, Mrs. Ann(a) Harsma of Casper, Wyo., and Wilma (Mrs. Bert Duits) of Rock Valley.
John and Billie Olivier and Mrs. Ralph Vander Schaaf made their home with Mr. and Mrs. Art Olivier after the death of their mother.
The Rev. Marion Klaaren, pastor of Central Reformed church, officiated at the funeral service. Burial was made in the Hull cemetery under the direction of Vander Ploeg's Funeral home.
Pall Bearers were John T. Oliver, Billie Olivier, John Hoff, and John Bierma, Lane DeStigter and Peter Verrips.