Wisse, Peter 1828-1913 and Jennie Ver Duin

WISSE, VERDUIN, VANLAAR, DENBESTE, DEWOLF, VANDENBOOGAARD

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 12/4/2022 at 18:50:06

Wisse, Peter 1828- 1913 and Jennie ‘Jane’ Ver Duin

This biography was compiled by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society and taken from various identified sources. Purpose was to find as much about Peter and Jane Wisse as was available in local sources. When family information is taken from various sources it is often found that the information varies from one source to another. Often birth places and dates are listed differently by various family reports. The information in this biography was stated as found in the source addressed.

The life and times of Sioux County pioneers can be read about in several Sioux County books. “The Story of Sioux County” by Charles Dyk gives a very colorful account of pioneer life with its joys and hardships. The book “Siouxland A History of Sioux County” by Nelson Nieuwenhuis gives great historical accounts of the area. The “1908 Sioux County Atlas” has historical accounts of the various townships of Sioux County.. Also, the ‘Sioux County Iowa digital archives’ newspapers can be googled as such, and can be searched for your ancestors names that could lead to more items of interest in their daily life.

From a family report on Ancestry.com public member trees submitted by others…

Pieter Wisse was born 14 jun 1837 Zuidzande, Oostburg, Zeeland, Netherlands and died 14 Sep 1913 Alton Iowa. He was the son of Marinus Wisse 1794-1857 and Elizabeth De Wolf 1807. He married Jannetja ‘Jennie ‘Jane’ Ver Duin 1831-1910.

Jannetje ‘Jennie’ ‘Jane’ Ver Duin was born 23 Dec 1831 Netherlands and died 30 Oct 1910 Alton IA. Passenger lists has Jannetje Verduin age 22 born about 1832 came in 1854 to New York, however her obit states she came to New York in 1861 and that on Oct 28, 1861 she married Pieter Wisse at East Palmyra New York. Searching for Jannetje/Jennie/Jane’s birth in the Netherlands , could not come up with exact date on www.wiewaswie.nl records. Closest birth date was Jannetje Verduin, parents Huibregt Verduin and Sijtje van den Boogaard born 17 Dec 1833 at Sommelsdijk Zuid Holland Netherlands. This entry could be correct as Hubrecht Verduin died at Sommelsdijk 27 Jun 1849, her mother remarried in 1853 to Johannis Vroegindewij. The death of her father and acquisition of a step father may have led to Jannetje’s decision to come to America.

In 1865 census of Rochester Monroe, New York Peter Wesse was born 1837 age 28, his wife Jane age 37​ and they had a servant John Blackman age 14.

In 1875 census Peter Wesse age 38 born about 1837 wife Jenniette Wesse age 43 were living in Rochester Monroe New York.

1880 of Nassau Sioux Iowa Peter Wisse/Wesse was 49 a carpenter, wife Adriana 49. This entry has to be them as no other Wisse name living in the area, their ages and Adriana as wife same age as Peter??

In 1885 census of Alton, Nassau, Sioux County Iowa Peter Wisse was 48 born Holland, wife Jane 51, dau Susana 12 born abt 1873 in Marion County IA (foster or adopted daughter).

CHILD ‘Foster or Adopted’ by Peter and Jane Wisse
Susan ‘Susie’ Den Beste Wisse born 9 Nov 1872 Pella Marion Iowa and died 4 Mar 1940 Alton IA. Her husband was Gerrit Jan Van Laar 1869-1952. They had three children – Jennie Van Laar 1894-1981, Fred Jan Van Laar 1896-1940, and Peter Van Laar 1899-1941. Susan’s natural parents were Jacobus Jan Hendrik Den Beste 1846-1935 in Yakima WA and Katrientje ‘Katrina’ Dieleman who died 1882 at Pella Iowa leaving Susan motherless. According to the family report on ancestry.com (by others) Susan’s Den Beste’s brothers and sisters were Josiena 1872-1947, Susan 1872-1940, John 1874-1945, William 1876-1956, Ella 1878-1851, and Daniel 1882-1951 See her obituary at the end of this narrative.

OBITUARY of Peter Wisse 1837-1913 Alton Public Servant Dies
Peter Wisse, Alton's public servant, passed away at the Gerrit Van Laar home on Sunday September 14th at the age of 76 years. Deceased was born in the province of Zeeland, Netherlands. He came to America in 1863, locating in New Jersey, and later in New York state, where he was employed on truck farms and learned truck raising thoroughly. Shortly after his arrival in America he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Ver Duin. This ceremony was performed at Rochester, N.Y. In 1876 Mr. and Mrs. Wisse came to Sioux county, locating in Alton. Mr. and Mrs. Wisse adopted a little girl, now Mrs. G. Van Laar. After the death of Mrs. Wisse, Mr. Wisse made his home with his adopted daughter.
Mr. Wisse was one of Alton's well known characters. Almost a quarter of a century ago he was elected assessor for Alton and he held that position continuously until his death. He had a cozy home in South Alton and for many years he made a comfortable living raising fruit and garden stuff and strawberries.
Mr. Wisse had been ailing since winter. He was attacked by dropsy and death came as a relief on Sunday last. The funeral services were held on Tuesday from the Reformed church, Rev. De Jong officiating. The funeral was largely attended. Out of respect for the departed all business houses were closed during the hour of services. Interment was made in Nassau Township cemetery.
Source: Alton Democrat, September 20, 1913.

OBITUARY of Jane (Mrs. Peter Wisse) 1831- 1910
After a lingering illness of several weeks Mrs. Peter Wisse died at her home in Alton in the early morning of October thirtieth 1910. She had been suffering with dropsy. Mrs. Wisse--nee Jane Ver Duin--was born in the province of Zeeland Netherlands December twenty third 1831, and had therefore reached the age of seventyeight years. She came to the United States in 1861 and made her home in New York state. In that same year on October twenty eighth she was married to Peter Wisse at East Palmyra New York. Mr. and Mrs. Wisse came to Sioux county in 1878, making their home on a truck farm in Alton. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wisse but they adopted a daughter--now Mrs. Gerrit Van Laar--who with the husband mourns the loss of a loved one.
The funeral took place Tuesday from the home and from the Reformed church of which the deceased was a member. Rev. J. P. Jong of the Reformed church preached the funeral sermon and was assisted in the services by Rev. Wm. Bray of the Congregational church. Interment was made in Nassau township cemetery. The sympathy of the entire community is with the bereaved family.
Source: Alton Democrat, November 5, 1910.
Her husband's obituary (Alton Democrat, Sept. 20, 1913) gives her name as Jennie Ver Duin.

OBITUARY of Susan Den Beste – Wisse- Mrs. Gerrit Van Laar 1882-1940.
From the Alton Democrat, March 8, 1940: MRS. VAN LAAR PASSES ON AT ALTON MON.
Lived Here Since 1882—Funeral Thursday
The passing of Mrs. Gerrit Van Laar Monday afternoon was a sad shock to the Alton community, where she had lived since 1882. She had been a semi-invalid for some years and few, save her family, were aware of her critical condition. For the past four or five years she has been ill much of the time and her constitution was weakened by much suffering. She passed away peacefully, convinced that her task on earth was finished.
Funeral services will be held this Thursday afternoon at one o’clock in her home and at 1:30 o’clock in the Presbyterian church, the Rev. Dr. Munneke officiating.
Susan Den Beste was born at Pella, Iowa, on Nov. 9, 1872, and at the time of her death was 67 years, 3 months and 25 days of age. She came to Sioux county at the age of ten years, in 1882, and was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wisse of Alton. In the year 1893 she was married to Gerrit Van Laar. Three children were born to the union: Mrs. Nick Marra, Peter Van Laar and Fred Van Laar, all of Alton, all of whom survive Mrs. Van Laar, together with her husband.
She is also survived by six brothers and sisters, namely Mrs. James Den Hartog, Sr., of Orange City, who is her twin; Mrs. John Van Wyk, Hull; John Den Beste, Orange City; Will Den Beste, Crawford, Colorado; Dan Den Beste, Oskaloosa, Ia.; Fred Den Beste, Sioux Center. There are four half brothers and a half sister residing at Yakima, Washington; twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Mrs. Van Laar was a devoted wife and mother and a kind neighbor, and will be missed by many friends. Losing her mother at an early age, she had a difficult childhood and suffered many hardships. The trials of life did not embitter her and were borne with Christian courage and fortitude. She was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian church and one of the first members of the Ladies Aid society.
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RESEARCH NOTES for Susan Den Beste – Wisse – Mrs Gerrit Van Laar
Her death certificate (informant Peter Van Laar) has Susan Van Laar, wife of Garrett Van Laar; born Nov. 9, 1872 in Pella; father James Den Besta, born in the Netherlands, mother’s name not known; resident of Alton 58 years; died in Alton at 2:30 p.m. March 4, 1940; cause, myocardial insufficiency, duration 1 month; other conditions, chronic bronchitis, duration 3 years; buried in Nassau Cemetery, Alton.
Her FindaGrave.com page gives her father as Peter Wisse (1837-1913). Husband Gerrit Van Laar (1869-1952). Children Jennie Van Laar Marra (1894-1981), Fred Van Laar (1896-1940), and Peter Van Laar (1899-1941).

The 1925 Iowa state census gives her father as John Den Beste and mother as “don’t know.”
No marriage record for Susan and Gerrit Van Laar was readily located online. The Alton Democrat (March 4, 1893) has this news note: Gerrit Van Laar and Miss Susan Wisse both of this city, were united in marriage by Rev. Lepeltak, last Wednesday afternoon. [March 2? or February 23?]