DeKraay, Hermanus 1827-1906 and Hendrika Dingemans Family

DEKRAAY, DEKRAAI, KRAAY, KRAAI, KRAAIJ, DINGEMANS, VANLOENEN, VANZOELEN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 1/17/2023 at 06:50:27

De Kraay, Hermanus 1827-1906 and Hendrika Dingemans Family

This biography was compiled by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society and taken from various identified sources. The purpose was to find as much about the Herman de Kraay family that was available from 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 in various family reports. The surname varied with many spellings as De Kraay, De Kraai, Kraaij, Kraai, Kraay. The information in this biography was stated as found in the source addressed.

A semblance of 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 which 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 Alton Centennial Book 1883-1983 has Alton town history. 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 pioneer's names that could lead to more items of interest in their daily life.

IMMIGRATION and CENSUS NOTES:

The Souvenir Book of Pella states the De Kraai family arrived on the ship Nagasaki April 11, 1847 in Baltimore Hermanus’s parents, Evert kraai, Mrs E., Hermanus, Gerrit and Grietje, along with three of their children.

The 1850 census of Lake Prairie Marion Co. Iowa lists Evert DeKraay 52 born abt 1798 Netherlands, wife Jannetje 40 years born 1822 (1802) Netherlands, Children Herman 23, born abt 1827 Netherlands, Gerrit 20, and Greitje 17.

They could not be found in the 1860 census, the 1870 census distinctly states that daughter, Johanna was born 1861 in Kentucky. Also mentioned in Hermanus’s obit, they spent some time in Kentucky.

1870 census of Pella Marion Co. Iowa Herman De Kraai was 43 born abt 1827 Netherlands, was a laborer, wife was Hendrika Kraai, children all born in Iowa except Johanna in KY, were Cornelia 15, Hermann12, Johanna 9, Gerrit 3 and Evert H. Kraai. In about 1871 they left for Sioux County Iowa.

1880 census of East Orange, Nassau Tsp Sioux County lists Herman Kraai age 53 hotel keeper, wife Hendricka 49, Children – Cornelia 15, Henry 10, Walter 7.

1900 census of Nassau Tsp Sioux County IA Hermanus De Kraai age 72, born Mar 1828 Holland, came to USA 1847, his wife was Hendrika De Kraai 70.

RESEARCH NOTES: A family report on ancestry.com (submtted by other family)
Hermanus De Kraai born 1 Mar 1827 Nijkerk, Gelderland, Netherlands died 3 November 1906 Sioux County IA. Parents were Evert Gerritsen Kraaij 23 Oct 1797 Putten Gelderland Netherlands and died 17 Apr 1876 at Orange City, IA and Jannetje Van Loenen 1802 Netherlands died 1868 stated at Orange City IA but that is not possible as Orange City did not exist in 1868. Jannetje most likely died at Pella, Iowa.

His wife was Hendrika Gerdina Dingemans born 13 Mar 1830 Rossum, Maasdrel, Gelderland, Netherlands died May 1902 Alton IA. Her parents were Wouter Johannes Dingemans born 23 Dec 1804 Hurwenen, Gelderland, Netherlands died 23 Dec 1880 Pella, IA, and Cornelia Van Zoelen born 18 Sep 1803 Tiel Netherlands and died 24 Jun 1838 Rossum Gelderland Nethelands..

CHILDREN: Information gathered from obits and accounts on ancestry.com.

1. Cornelia De Kraai Vander Aarde 1853-1936. Her marriage record lists Cornelis Kraay age 25, born about 1856 Pella Iowa married 15 Dec 1881 Sioux County Iowa dau of Hermanus Kraay and Hendrika Dingemans. Her husband was Klaus Van der Aarde. In a family report on ancestry.com (by others) Klaas ‘Charlie’ Vander Aarde was born 12 Jun 1856 Barsingerhorn, NH, Netherlands died 10 Jun 1938 Yakima Washington. His wife was Cornelia ‘Kate’ H. De Kraay born 2 Oct 1853 Pella IA and died 11 Mar 1936 Yakima WA. Their children were – Bastiaan Hermanus Vander Aarde 1882-1885, Hendrikus ‘Henry’ Dick Vander Aarde 1884-1945, Agnes Vander Aarde 1886-1964, Herman Bastiaan Vander Aarde 1889-1959, Doris ‘Dora Vander Aarde 1892-1965, and Cora Vander Aarde 1895-1958. They moved to Washington before 1910.

2. Hermann Kraai 1858 and died 12 Apr 1927 Orange City IA Sioux Center Nieuwsblad April 13, 1927 Translated from Dutch. Wednesday morning Herman De Kraay from Orange City died at 70 years of age. He was the father of our druggist De Kraay. The 1925 census of Iowa lists Herman De Kraay at born 1857 Iowa, his father Herman De Kraay his mother Henriette Dingeman. His wife was Sophia Vander Wilt. The 1900 census of Orange City lists Herman born Oct 1856. Wife (Fannie?) age 41, children Kittie 19, Harry 17, Henrietta 13 , Mary 12, Henry 11, and George 7. He was married 12 Dec 1879 at East Orange Sioux County IA to Sophia Vander Wilt

3. Johanna ‘Anna’ De Kraij Mrs. Henry Ollenbeck born 16 Mar 1861 KY Died 12 Aug 1933 Portland OR. From a family report on ancestry.com (submitted by others) Henry Ollenbeck was born 17 Nov 1858 Sheboygan Co. WI, died 12 oct 1909 Portland OR. Married 5 Jan 1878 at Le Mars Iowa to Johanna De Kraai . About 1890 they moved to Oregon. Children were – Hattie M. Ollenbeck 1879, Adriana Ollenbeck 1881-1905, Evira Ollenbeck 1883, Harvey 1885-1943, Walter Ollenbeck 1889-1950 and Emma Ollenbeck 1890-1927.

4. Gerret De Kraai born 22 Jul 1866 Iowa DeKraay, Gerrit born 1867 died 28 Dec 1876 age 10 yrs 5 mo 5 days son of H. (Herman) buried in West Lawn cemetery Orange City IA.
See the obit of his father Herman DeKraay 1826 -1906 and his mother Mrs. Hendrika Dingeman De Kraay 1830-1902 for more family details. Sioux County Herald of Thursday Jan 4th 1877
Little Garrett De Kraay aged ten years and six months son of Mr. and Mrs De Kraay of East Orange died last Thursday, and was buried last Saturday in the cemetery in this place. Little Garrett has been ailing for the past year, but was able to be about until a few days before he died. His disease was dropsy.

5. Evert Hendrik ‘Henry’ De Kraay born 2 Jun 1868 died 20 Nov 1950 Yakima WA Wife was Amelia A. Emilie Goldbeck 1867-1954. They had children – Myrtle Katherine De Kraay Mrs. Thomas Decker Wilson 1891-1963, Lida Eda De Kraay Mrs. Fredrick Daniel Rhode 1893-1946, and Floyd Edward De Kraay 1896-1937 wife Amy F. . Evert is referred to as Henry in most records.

6. Wouter ‘Walter’Johannes De Kraai born 23 Jan 1873 Iowa and died 7 Sep 1873 Iowa
A SAD ENDING….
Alton Democrat of Sep 28, 1895
Death of Walter DeKraay At the city park on Tuesday night at about 10 o'clock Walter DeKraay of this city deliberately blew his brains out with a 32-calibre revolver. The shot was heard by many citizens but little attention paid to it. Thursday morning early Tony Goebel discovered his corpse and Dr. DeBey, the coroner, was summoned from Orange City. An examination was at once made of his effects and the vicinity of the tragedy, a jury consisting of Mayor Meyer, Henry Giebink and Gerrit Rexwinkle, who summoned many witnesses. It was learned that he had been accompanied to the park by a highly esteemed young lady, with whom he had been keeping company. She requested that he cease paying her attentions. He declared that he would commit suicide, rather than live without her, but he had previously talked in the same strain and the young lady did not give the threat serious consideration. No blame is attached to her whatever. Shortly after she had left him, he deliberately put the pistol to the right side of his head slightly above the ear and put a bullet into his brain. Death came instantly and the ground did not show that he had struggled in the least. The body was stiff in the cold embrace of death when found. The pistol had dropped on his breast and his right hand which held the pistol had splashes of blood upon it. No letters were left to convey intelligence of the contemplated deed. He had been sick off and on all summer and complained of a headache constantly. For several days prior to his death he had eaten scarcely anything and on the day of his death he had been excused from labor and advised to go to bed and summon a doctor. However he drove to Orange City and spent the afternoon there. Walter DeKraay was born in this city on February 22, 1873, and has always made his home here. He was about 13 years of age when the writer first knew him. He applied at THE DEMOCRAT office for a position and was employed. For nearly ten years he worked at our side improving at his trade constantly. For five years past he has been foreman of this establishment and executed the trust honorably and credibly. There were few printers who knew their trade better or who applied themselves closer to the business than he. As a companion he was bright and original. No responsibility was ever shirked or betrayed. His habits were good, he was always reliable and steady. He took so much interest in the printing trade that steps had been taken to secure him a business for himself. He handled money constantly and not a cent was ever misappropriated. He was liberal to fault, enterprising and a manly man in every way. His aged parents and relatives will miss his cheery voice and pleasant presence, and no man can ever occupy the place he held in the affections of those who for ten long years worked by his side in this office. Poor misguided Walt. We loved him with a brother's love. Those who would harshly judge this last mad act of his, should remember those many virtues which he possessed and which made his life both honorable to his family and friends— a life both useful to the community in which he lived and worthy of the highest praise. The funeral services were held at the Reformed church Thursday afternoon, before a large congregation of friends.

 OBITUARY of Hermanus ‘Herman’ De Kraay 1826-1906
Alton Democrat of Nov 10, 1906 Herman DeKraay died in his chair at Orange City Saturday at nine thirty in the morning aged nearly eighty one years. He had been troubled with asthma induced by heart trouble for several years. Deceased was born in Holland March 1, 1826 and came to this country when a boy. He lived at Pella and then in Kentucky and again at Pella for many years and was married here in 1851 to Miss Hendrika Dingemans who died five years ago. They were the first persons who settled in Alton to make it their home
They came here about 1874 when the station agent was the only living being here. They ran the old Pioneer House Alton's first hotel and were identified with all her earliest history. On July ninth 1901 in Alton they celebrated their golden wedding of which occasion they Democrat said: Fifty years ago last Tuesday at Pella Iowa Herman DeKraai led to the marriage altar Miss Hendrika Dingemans. For half a century they traveled life's pathway weathering the storms and enjoying the sunshine together. Sorrows and hardships came but they shared the burden. The husband answered his country's call and gave some of the best years of his life to help perpetuate the union - the wife and mother keeping the heart fires burning in his absences.
Children - ten of them came to bless their union and they rejoiced together. When death carried six of them away they shared the grief and walked in the vale of sorrow together. Thus they had lived for fifty years and it was fitting that they should celebrate their arrival at the fiftieth milestone on their matrimonial voyage. It was shortly after that that Mrs. De Kraay died and a little later the aged husband left for Washington state with his son Henry. He was there several years and then returned to live with his children at Orange City. To him there was no place like northwest Iowa.
Deceased was a man of genial nature and good cheer and had a wide circle of friends. His living children are Herman of Orange City, Mrs. Charles Vander Aarde of North Yakima Washington, Mrs. Ollenbeek of Portland OR and Henry of Alfalfa WA. the funeral was conducted by Revs Winter of Orange City ad Van Duine of Alton. Deceased belonged to the Alton congregation and was buried at Nassau township cemetery west of Alton Monday. The pallbearers were all from the ranks of the old settlers. They were Messrs Bolks, Lymes, Sipma, Vander Waa, Rhynsburger and Versteeg. The last named four are old soldiers. Friends from a distance were Mrs. Van Nimwegen of LeMars, Sam Mak of Inwood, Mesdames Hospers and Zwang of Sheldon, Herry De Kraay of Sioux City.

OBITUARY of Hendrika Mrs. Herman De Kraay 1849-1902

From the Alton Democrat of May 3, 1902
Mrs. H. De Kraay died at her home in this city Wednesday night at 10:30 at the age of seventy-two. She had been sick for several months with
Brights disease and kindred troubles and was a great though patient sufferer.
Deceased was born in the Netherlands and came to this country in 1849 settling with her parents at Pella. Her maiden name was Hendrika Dingeman, In 1851 she was married to Herman De Kraay and they have journeyed to gether along life's pathway for over half a century celebrating their golden wedding anniversary last July. There were born to them ten children of whom four live to mourn with the father.
They are Mrs. Ollenbeck of Portland Oregon, Mrs. K. Vander Aarde of Orange City and Herman and Henry two well known Sioux county business men. In 1871 Mr. and Mrs. De Kraay moved to Sioux county and were the first family to settle at Alton in 1873. Funeral services were held from the Reformed church yesterday at two o'clock. The funeral was preached by Rev. Scholten of Michigan who was here on the sad mission of attending his father's funeral.

OBITUARY of Evert De Kraai 1797- 1876 Father of Hermanus 1826-1906

Today, Wednesday, April 19, was the interment of our friend Evert Kraaij, who died two days ago at the age of 78 years. The old gentleman was one of the first settlers of Pella and earned the respect of all who knew him. He fell asleep in the full belief that he was going to his maker, Jesus Christ. A number of friends and acquaintances accompanied his remains to the cemetery.
De Volksvriend, dated April 20, 1876, p. 3, col 2.

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This picture was taken from the book ‘The Story of Sioux County’ by Charles Dyke Picture album in the back of the book page 12.

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