Braskamp, Albertus 1854-1929 & Gertrude Rouwenhorst Family

BRASKAMP, ROUWENHORST, LANDAAL, VANDEKRAATS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/14/2022 at 22:09:48

Braskamp, Albertus 1854-1929 & Gertrude Rouwenhorst Family

This BIOS narrative was compiled by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Iowa Genealogical Society. See his obituary further down this narrative for more biographical accounts of his life.

There are several good books that describe the early life and times of the pioneers that settled in Sioux county; including ‘The Story of Sioux County’ by Charles Dyke; ‘Siouxland A History of Sioux County’ by Nelson Nieuwenhuis and the Alton Centennial book 1883-1983. Page 20 of the Alton Centeenial book has a picture Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Braskamp, of the Store front, also a picture of the inside of the store along with an ad of the time, and many other pages with references to the Braskamp name.

RESEARCH Notes:
www.wiewaswie.nl reports his birth as Albertus Marinus Braskamp. Born 29 May 1854 at Apeldoorn, Gelderland to Bernardus Gozewijn Braskamp a carpenter age 42 and Johanna Louisa Landaal 36. He was a brother to Johannes Hendrikus Braskamp 1842-1920, from Alton IA. Some reports have him as a son of Johannes Braskamp 1842-1920 but that is in error. Albertus 1854 and Johannes 1842 were brothers. Albertus died 14 May 1929 at Alton, Iowa. Albertus M. Braskamp married in 1879 to Gertrude Rouwenhorst.

Gerritje ‘Gertrude’ Rouwenhorst was born 30 Dec 1854 Apeldoorn, Gelderland, Netherlands to Otto Rouwenhorst 1823-1899 and Crisje ‘Christina’ Van de Kraats 1822-1901 She died 18 Jan 1941 Los Angeles CA

CHILDREN:
1. Bernard G. Braskamp 1880-1885 Braskamp, Benjamin G., 5 year son died 1885 of Albertus & Gerretje, of Alton IA . De Volksvriend issue May 28, 1885 Alton IA, 21 May 1885 In Dutch Reported that death had taken their eldest son having been sick three days Thanks to all those who have express sympathy. Signed by A. Braskamp and Gerretje Rouwenhorst

2. Albertus Marinus Born 26 May 1881 Alton Iowa died 28 May 1965 married 28 May 1905 Alton IA to Maggie ‘Gretchen’ Hoeven He died 24 Jan 1965 at Madison SD they had a son Howard Braskamp.

3. Christina J. Braskamp, single, born 2 May 1883 Alton IA died 15 Apr 1966 Long Beach CA

4. Otto Albertus Braskamp born 19 Oct 1885 Sioux County IA died 16 May 1968 Los Angeles CA He married Frances Bailey. Otto was a Presbyterian minister. They had a son Otto.

5. Bernard B. Braskamp born 18 Feb 1887 Alton IA died 22 Feb 1966 Washington DC Wife Anna Cornelia Bull 1900-1961 Two children listed as born to them. (see a Tribute narrative on Ben posted below after son Dick’s information, it was in the Alton Democrat of Mar 3, 1966) Also his lengthy obituary was carried in the March 3, issue of the Alton Democrat front page in which it states the was survived by a son Bernard Jr. of Falls Church; a daugher Mrs. Noman E. McLean; a brother Otto and a sister Christina Braskamp of Pasadena CA.

6. Dick Laurence Braskamp born 30 Nov 1893 Alton IA died 18 Dec 1955 Alton Democrat of Dec 29, 1955 Los Angeles CA
Dick Braskamp Dies At Hospital In Alhambra, Calif. Los Ageles Times: Dick L Braskamp, 62, administrator of the Alhambra Community Hospital for the last 22 years, died there Dec. 18th of a heart ailment. He was past president of the Association of Western Hospital Administrators and of the Alhambra Rotary Club. Mr. Braskamp leaves his widow Wilma of 9221 Wedgewood Ave.. Temple City; a sister. Miss Chirstina J. Braskamp of Pasadena, and three brothers. Dr. O.A. Braskamp of Long Beach; Albert of Madison, S.D., and Dr. Bernard Braskamp of Washington, D.C. . Treated at Hospital Born in Alton, la., Mr. Braskamp came to California in 1931. He had been under treatment at his hospital since suffering a heart attack a month ago. The funeral was at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Turner, Stevens & Tunrner Mortuary, Alhambra, with burial in Rose Hills Memorial Park.

TRIBUTE to Dr. Bernard Braskamp in the Mar 3, 1966 Alton Democrat.
Every year about this time The Democrat receives a check for subscription from the Rev. Dr. Bernard Braskamp, Washington, D. C, an Alton boy who never lost his interest in the old home town where, as a boy, he went to Sunday school picnics, played baseball on the town team and took part in many other community activities.
Since those days long gone Dr. Braskamp had reached the pinnacle of his profession, the Presbyterian minister. For many years he was chaplain of the national House of Representatives, one of the highest honors that Congress can bestow on any man. Alton had the distinction of having a congressman on the floor of the House, a chaplain to open meetings of the House with prayer, and a shorthand reporter to transcribe the proceedings of the House—Congressman C. B. Hoeven, Dr. Bernard Braskamp, and Claude Scheckel, until a year or two ago.
With the passing of Mr. Scheckel a year ago and Dr. Braskamp last week only our former congressman, Mr. Hoeven, survives. The latter, we are happy to say, is in fine health and enjoying an active life of retirement in his old home town. When his parents were still alive "Ben" used to come home at least once a year to see them but of late years there has been little incentive for him to return since most of his friends here have long since departed and all the other members of the family had left this section of the state.
Chaplain of the House since 1950, following forty years of service as pastor of churches in the Washington area, Dr. Braskamp, since his retirement from a regular pastorate in 1952, was the first full-time chaplain in either House or Senate. The late Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the House, in ordering the publication of Dr. Braskamp's prayers in book form, said: There is no one who enjoys in such notable degree the respect and affection of the entire membership of the House as does Dr. Braskamp, To the membership of the House of Representatives, he is counselor, friend, and brother. Free from any suggestion of sectarian bias, his daily ministrations were helpful and inspiring, lifting all who heard him to a deeper realization of their need for divine guidance. The book of prayers was dedicated by Dr. Braskamp "To Christina J. Braskamp, my beloved and only sister, and Dr. 0. A. Braskamp, my devoted elder brother, who were for seventeen years faithful missionaries in the Shantung Province of China, under appointment of the Presbyterian Board of Missions, U. S. A." (continues with prayer)

OBITUARY of Albertus Braskamp 1854-1929
Source: Alton Democrat (5-17-1929) Birth: May 29, 1854 Death: May 14, 1929
PIONEER OF ALTON CALLED TO BEYOND
Albertus M. Braskamp In Hardware Business Here Ever Since 1877
A pioneer business man of Alton - A.M. Braskamp, Sr., died Tuesday evening after an illness of only a few days. Although the end was expected the news of the pioneer hardware merchant's death came as a shock to his host of friends.
He was in his store last Wednesday and attended prayer meeting that evening. Thursday he was confined to bed and came down with double pneumonia and pleurisy and because of his age he failed rapidly.
His son, Reverend Bernard Braskamp, arrived Monday morning from Washington, D.C., and Miss Christina reached here Monday noon, having been notified at Los Angeles, California, Friday night. She made the first part of the trip by airplane from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. Dick L. Braskamp arrived early in the week from Aberdeen, South Dakota, Bert from Sheldon and Reverend Otto Braskamp was expected from New York City Wednesday.
Mr. Braskamp was born in Appeldoorn, Netherlands, May 28, 1854 and would therefore have been 75 years old the 28th of this month. He came to America when 21 years of age, first locating at Waupun. Wisconsin, coming to Sioux County two years later in 1877, and engaging in the hardware business at Alton immediately.
He married in April 1879, Miss Gertrude Rouwenhorst, the Reverend Betten, Sr., performing the ceremony at Orange City. Mr. and Mrs. Braskamp were married 50 years in April but were planning to celebrate the occasion the latter part of this month when all the children could be home, but death intervened and frustrated their plans.
The wedlock was blessed by six children, one having died at the age of five.
Mr. Braskamp was a pioneer member of the First Reformed Church of Alton, since February 1880. He was a member of the consistory for some twenty-five years, holding the office of deacon and later as elder. He taught in the Sunday school and Bible classes for a number of years. Having always taken an active part in the church activities for so many years the local congregation will feel the loss of the esteemed brother greatly.
Mr. and Mrs. Braskamp spent the past two winters in California with their daughter, Miss Christina, and had only recently returned to Alton when Mr. Braskamp contracted the fatal illness.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Gertrude Braskamp; his five children, Albert M. Jr., engaged in the hardware business at Sheldon; Miss Christina J., one of the faculty of the Los Angeles Bible Institute, Los Angeles, California; Reverend Otto, missionary for the Presbyterian Church in Shantung, China; Reverend Bernard, pastor of the Canton-Temple Memorial Presbyterian Church of Washington, D.C., and Dick L., manager of the Lincoln Hospital, Aberdeen, South Dakota. Two grandchildren, Howard, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Braskamp of Sheldon, and Anne Bernice, daughter of Reverend and Mrs. B. Braskamp, also survive the Pioneer Alton business man.
Mr. Braskamp was the oldest hardware man, in point of service, in the county - a service to the people of the community extending over a period of 52 years. Only lately had he discussed plans for selling his business, a course his children had advised some years ago, and last week authorized; the insertion of a small advertisement in the paper advertising his business for sale. If the business was sold Mr. and Mrs. Braskamp probably would have moved to California.
His business was always run on a high standard of integrity. Wholesale bills were invariably discounted and the business carried an A-l rating. For more than two score years and ten the store served the hardware needs of the community while other stores came and went. This in itself is testimony as to the high regard and confidence of the community for Mr. Braskamp and his business.
His children were educated in the greatest universities in the land and justified his confidence by going far in their field of endeavor, yet Mr. Braskamp remained the same and calm and dignified fellow-townsman. He laid down his life too soon to celebrate his golden wedding anniversary but when all the other hopes of his live had been fulfilled. His greatest delight was in the annual homecomings of the children who never failed, when possible, to be here for even a few days during each year, and the greatest regret now in his passing was that he missed the homecoming the first of June when the two missionary children, the pastor from Washington and Bert and Dick, would be here.
Funeral services will be held this Thursday afternoon, at 1:45 o'clock at the home and at two o'clock at the First Reformed Church. The pastor, Reverend J.R. Enwema, will be assisted in the services by Reverend H. Colenbrander, pastor of the First Reformed Church, Orange City. A number of relatives living in Michigan and Wisconsin have been notified but at this time it is not known how many will be able to come.
Stores and business places will be closed during the funeral of Mr. A. Braskamp this afternoon.

OBITUARY of Gertrude Mrs. Albertus Braskamp 1854-1941
Source: Alton Democrat (1-24-1941) Birth: December 30, 1854 Death: January 18, 1941 FUNERAL OF FORMER ALTON LADY HERE
Mrs. Albertus M. Braskamp Dies At Pasadena, California Mrs. Albertus M. Braskamp, 80 years, for many years a resident of Alton, died Saturday, January I8, in Pasedena at the home of her daughter, Miss Christina J. Braskamp. Mrs. Braskamp, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Rouwenhorst, was born in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, December 30th, 1854. She came to the United States in 1872.
In the year 1880 she was married to Mr. Albertus M. Braskamp. The couple first lived in Orange City but later moved to Alton where Mr. Braskamp became a pioneer hardware merchant and influential member of the local church.
Six children were born to the union, of whom five are living: Albert M. Braskamp of Sheldon; Christina J. Braskamp of Pasadena, California, member of the faculty of Los Angeles Bible Institute; Reverend Otto A. Braskamp, D.D. pastor of San Pablo Park Presbyterian Church, Berkely, California, Bernard Braskamp D.D. pastor of Canton Temple Memorial Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C.; Dick L. Braskamp, superintendent of the Alhambra Hospital, Alhambra, California. She is also survived by four grandchildren and one brother, Mr. Henry Rouwenhorst of Orange City.
After the death of her husband twelve years ago, in 1920, Mrs. Braskamp went to California to make her home with her daughter. Until a few weeks before her death she continued well and happy and she passed on without suffering after an illness of several weeks. She was a life-long member of the Alton Reformed Church, consecrated to her church and family, a tireless and energetic worker and a kind neighbor.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday at 1:30 at the local Reformed Church, conducted by the Reverend Henry Colenbrander D. D. pastor of the First Reformed Church, Orange City. The sermon was in the English language. Several numbers were sung by the church choir. Interment was in Nassau township cemetery beside the body of her husband. Pallbearers were six nephews: Otto H. Rouwenhorst, Otto A. Rouwenhorst, Otto G. Van Roekel, Otto H. Mouw, John H. Monw, Will K. Rouwenhorst.
Reverend Otto Braskamp arrived Monday evening and Reverend Bernard Braskamp Tuesday morning while Miss Christina and Dick Braskamp came early Wednesday morning with the body of their mother. They were guests at the home of their cousin, Miss Marie Braskamp, where they were joined on Wednesday morning by Mr. and Mrs. Bert Braskamp and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Braskamp (grandchildren of Mrs. Braskamp) of Madison, South Dakota, Mr. Henry Rouwenhorst of Orange City, Mrs. Henry De Kraay and her mother, Mrs. M. Rouwenhorst of Sioux Center and other close relatives joined the family at dinner in the home of Miss Braskamp Wednesday afternoon.
After the services ladies of the church served coffee and lunch in the basement of the church to relatives and friends of Mrs. Braskamp, who was so long a faithful member of church organizations.

Picture of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Braskamp from page 20 of the Alton Centennial Book will follow:

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