DeVries, Herman 1884-1934 and Bertha Duistermars Family

DEVRIES, DUISTERMARS, WESTRA, ZAKEMA

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/11/2021 at 06:56:38

DeVries, Herman 1884-1934 and Bertha Duistermars Family

This story was taken from the Sioux Center Centennial book of 1991 pages 299 and 300 and was submitted to the book by Wilma J. Vande Berg. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw and some research notes were added at the end by Wilma J. Vande Berg, both members of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.

Harmen “Herman” De Vries was born in Oosterbierum Netherlands on April 20, 1884 to Ynze De Vries and Atje Zakema. He came to America when he was but four years old and the family lived in Maurice, IA. Herman’s father died just a half year after their arrival in America and as a consequence, Herman was forced to work ever since a lad. His education was limited to three years in the public school.

On July 27, 1906, Herman De Vries married Bertha Duistermars. Bertha was born October 26, 1887 Sioux Center, to Willem Duistermars and Tryntje Westra.

Just before Herman was married when he was 20 years old, he was a rural mail carrier and delivered the mail on horseback. Herman was next engaged in the implement business and then in 1908 he went to the farm near Hull, IA. He farmed there until 1919 when he moved to Sioux Center. He then attended the Jones School of Auctioneering in Chicago, IL. Upon finishing the auctioneering course, he became a partner in the auctioneering team of Ramaker and De Vries. During the fifteen years of association the two men “cried” sales that totaled about 2000.

By then he had acquired the title “Colonel” De Vries and played an active part in the life of the Sioux Center community. He was chairman of the NW Iowa Breeders Association before he was an auctioneer. For ten years he was a member of the board of directors of the Cooperative Gas and Oil Company and served as president and as secretary. He was the president of the Volunteer Fire Department. He also helped organize the Livestock Sales Company and he was a partner with Van Aller in the hardware business. Before moving to Sioux Center, he had been a Welcome Township Trustee for many years.

Herman De Vries died February 23, 1934 and Bertha De Vries (Duistermars) continued to live in their home, which is now the home of Louise Oliver, until due to health reasons she lived in an apartment in her daughter Arta Wandscheer’s home for seven years. Bertha died March 7, 1976. Both Herman and Bertha are buried in the Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.

Children of Herman and Bertha De Vries are as follows: Arta Catherine De Vries was born January 6, 1908 in Sioux Center and she married James “Jim” Wandscheer on August 27, 1935. (See their separate story.)

Their second child was Catherine Arta De Vries born March 5, 1911 at Hull, IA. Catherine married Daniel Voorderman on June 8, 1933. They lived in Sioux Center and were the parents of two children: Ronald Dan Voorderman born September 3, 1934 and Erma Beth (Mrs. David L. De Vries) born July 4, 1939.

Their third child was Clarine Johanna De Vries born February 22, 1914 at Hull, IA. Clarine married Joe Wandscheer May 30, 1940. They are from Sioux Center and are the parents of one child: Jolene Jane (Mrs. Max Bochmann) born March 29, 1945.

Fourth child was Lorance Edwin De Vries born July 6, 1916 at Hull, IA. Lorance married Garnet Hooks on June 15, 1940. They were from Rock Valley and were the parents of two children: David Herm De Vries born May 30, 1942 and Susan Jane (Mrs. Virgil French) born October 6, 1948.

Fifth child was Wilma De Vries who was born September 23, 1919. She died very young at the age of 16 months.

Information for the story of Herman De Vries was gathered from the 1941 Jubilee Edition of the Sioux Center News and from the daughters Arta, Mrs. Jim Wandscheer, and Clarine, Mrs. Joe Wandscheer.

by Wilma J. Vande Berg

RESEARCH NOTES added by Wilma J. Vande Berg

BIRTH RECORD of Harmen de Vries born 20 Apr 1884 to Ynze de Vries and Attje Zakema born at Barradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
Confirmed by a report on ancestry.com (done by others) Ynze Harmensz de Vries born 31 Dec 1848 Achlum Friesland died 6 Oct 1888 Maurice IA. and Aattje Arta Zakema born 24 Jun 1849 Tzum Friesland died 10 June 191 Orange City IA. Their children were Clara 1879, Peter 1880 and Herman De Vries born 10 Apr 1884 Oosterbierum Friesland died 22 Feb 1934 Sioux Center IA.

OBITUARY of Herman E. De Vries 1884-1934

All northwest Iowa was shocked by the sudden death early Friday of Col. H.E. De Vries. Mr. De Vries was killed when his car ran into the guard rail on Highway No. 10, a short distance east of the Million Dollar corner. It is believed that he fell asleep at the wheel. The auto ran into the guard on one side of the road and then evidentially rebounded to the other side and back again into the fence. The bar across the top of the guard crashed through the windshield, striking Col. De Vries in the head, killing him instantly. Another two by four was driven through the door joint and out of the rear window of his coupe. Mr. De Vries was found at about one o'clock by Faber, an Orange City trucker. According to Coroner Dr. A. D. Jongewaard the auctioneer had been dead about an hour before he was found.

Col. De Vries had cried the sale of the Peter Nye Estate, near Sheldon the afternoon previous to his death. In the evening he went to Granville where he visited at the home of Nye's parents and consoled them over the untimely and unfortunate death of their son. Less than twenty-four hours after Mr. De Vries had comforted them the same family was offering condolences to the De Vries family.

In the passing of Mr. De Vries thousands of people in this vicinity lost a friend. During the fifteen years of his auctioneering Col. De Vries won friends in the three states of Iowa, S.D. and MN. Col. De Vries was straight forward and honest in his dealings. When he worked a sale farmers placed absolute confidence in his word.

Mr. De Vries was born in the Netherlands, April 20, 1884. He came to America when but four years old and lived at Maurice. His father died just half a year after their arrival in American and as a consequence Mr. De Vries was forced to work ever since a lad. His education was limited to three years in Public school. However, although he attended school for so short a time he always kept on learning.He admired the ability in others, and was always grateful for the help given him by friends by which he improved himself.

In 1906 Mr. De Vries was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Duistermars. Previous to his marriage he had served for several years as a rural mail carrier, beginning when but 20 years old. For two years he engaged in the implement business. In 1908 he went to the farm. He continued at his occupation until 1919 when he moved to Sioux Center and attended the Jones Auctioneering School in Chicago. Immediately after finishing his course he became a partner in the auctioneering team of Ramaker and De Vries. During the fifteen years of association the two men cried sales in the three northwest states. Their total number of sales approximated 2000.

Col. De Vries played an active part in the life of the Sioux Center community. For many years before he moved to Sioux Center he served as Welcome Twp. trustee. He was also chairman of the Northwest Iowa Breeders Assn. before he was an auctioneer. For ten years he was a member of the board of directors of the local Cooperative Gas and Oil Company, serving as secretary and was just recently elected president of that organization. He was also honored by the election to the presidency of the local Volunteer Fire Dept. this year and appointed to the County Corn-Hog committee. Mr. De Vries helped organize the Sioux Center Livestock Sales Co. and was a member at the time of his death. For a number of years he headed the hardware firm of De Vries and Van Aller, before he sold out; not having enough time to attend to both his auctioneering and merchandise business.

Col. De Vries is survived by his widow, three daughters, Arte who is an instructor in the local public school; Mrs. Dan Voordeman and Clarine, who is a rural school teacher; a son Lorance, a senior in high school a brother County Supervisor P.E. De Vries; and two sisters, Mrs. Arie Reekers and Mrs. Gerrit Te Horst, both of Orange City. A daughter preceded him in death in 1919.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the home and 1:30 at the First Reformed Church with Rev. J. H. Keuning officiating, assisted by Rev. L.A. Brunsting. Mr. De Vries was a member of the Central Reformed Church but the services were held at the other church to accomodate the enormous concourse that attended the last rites. Approximately 1500 people attended the services and paid silent homage at his coffin. Other hundreds had comforted the family previous to the funeral. Interment was in the local cemetery. Pall bearers were Henry Ramaker, Dr. N. R. Jongewaard, Lane Kosters, Ben Poll, J. P. Schutt, and Peter Hanson of Alton who clerked his last sale.
Source: Sioux Center News March 3, 1934

RESEARCH notes for Bertha
‘Find a Grave’ states her parents as Willem ‘William’ Duistermars abt 1850-1901 and Tryntje Wiekamp 1861-1931. She was born 26 Oct 1887 at Sioux Center died 7 Mar 1976 Sioux Center. Husband Herman Edwin De Vries and children listed were – Arta Wandscheer, Clarine Wandscheer, Lorance E. De Vries, Catherine Voorderman and Wilma Marie De Vries.
(In the story above Bertha's mother was listed a Westra. A report in ancestry.com also lists her as Westra. In Find a Grave listed as Wiekamp.)

OBITUARY of Bertha Mrs. Herman De Vries 1884-1976
Mrs. Herman De Vries, 88, Sioux Center, died March 7 at a Sioux Center Hospital after a short illness.
Services were held at 10:30 A.M. March 9 at the Central Reformed Church with the Rev. Wesley Kiel officiating. Burial was in Memory Gardens under direction of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home.
Mrs. De Vries, the former Bertha Duistermars, was born Oct. 26, 1887, in Sioux Center and was married July 27, 1906. Her husband died Feb. 24, 1934.
Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. James (Arta) Wandscheer, Mrs. Daniel (Catherine) Voorderman and Mrs. Joe (Clarine) Wandscheer, all of Sioux Center; a son, Lorance of Rock Valley; five grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Source, Sioux Center News, March 17, 1976

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