Levering, Jan 'John' 1861-1950 & Johanna Vogel

LEVERING, VOGEL, VANOVERSCHOT, HOF

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 4/27/2023 at 22:12:29

Levering, Jan ‘John’ 1861-1950 & Johanna Vogel Family

The information for the biography of the John Levering family was gathered and presented in this narrative by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society (GSCGS). Sources of the information are as cited. Discrepancies are often found from one source to another and are presented as the source from which record was derived.

Brief family story found in the Maurice Centennial book 1891-1991 pages 419-420.
John Levering was born on March 2, 1861 in the Netherlands. His wife, Johanna Vogel Levering was born September 28, 1864, also in Holland. The had two children Mary and Abe. When Abe was 1 ½ years old they decided to come to America. They lived a few years in Middleburg, Iowa. Abe and Maggie were born there. Then they moved to Maurice where Cora and Jake were born. John became a citizen in 1897. He farmed near Maurice, a few years then worked in the Orton Brick Factory. Johanna was diabetic and she died in 1914. Mary married Ben C. Den Ouden. They had three sons; Chirs, John and Jake. Arie married Myrtle Johnston. They had no family. Maggie married Elmer Gillespie. They had three children: Robert, Donald, and Norma Jean. Cora married Roscoe Vore. They had three children Clarence, Erma, and Earl. Jake served in the army in World War I. He was killed overseas in France. John died May 23 1950, at the age of 89 years after a brief illness.
(authors Mr. and Mrs. Harold Levering and Mr. and Mrs. John Brouwer, includes a picture at the end of this biography.)
Submitter noticed that Abe was inadvertently omitted from the children list in the story in the centennial book, his story is given on page 419 of the centennial book and included in the children’s list below.

RESEARCH of the family history found in Netherlands records site www.wiewaswie.nl
Levering, Jan ‘John’ born 2 Mar 1861 Ridderkerk, Zuid Holland Netherlands and died 23 May 1950 Maurice IA. His parents were Arie Levering 1826-1892 and Maria van Oorschot 1827-1866. He married Johanna Vogel 9 July 1884 Barendrecht, Zuid Holland, Netherlands. Johanna Vogel was born 28 Sep 1864 Barendrecht, Zuid Holland, Netherlands and died 6 Feb 1914 Sherman Tsp. Maurice, Sioux Iowa. Johanna’s parents were Abraham Vogel 1839 Barendrecht, ZH. Neth. and Maaike Hof 1838, married 1862 Barendrecht Zuid Holland. Marriage record for Johanna Vogel age 20 married 9 Jul 1884 Barendrecht, ZH, Neth. daughter of Abraham Vogel and Maaike Hof, married Jan Levering.

CHILDREN : Information found in the Netherlands records and obituaries found on this site.
Jan Levering and Johanna Vogel were the parents of the following children.

1. Maria ‘Mary’ Hendricka Levering born 1 Dec 1886 Barendrecht ZH Netherlands, and died 3 Jun 1931 Maurice Iowa She married Barend ‘Ben’ Cornelis den Ouden 1885-1958. Their children named were – Christian Tunis Den Ouden 1909-1983; Rev. John Elmer Den Ouden 1911-1962; and Jacob Levering De Ouden 1918-1934, from Maurice Centennial Book.
Obituary - Sioux Center News June 11, 1931 Mrs. Ben Den Ouden passed away at her home Wednesday June 3 after an illness of four weeks at the age of 44 years. The funeral services were held Friday afternoon. She leaves to mourn her husband and three children; Christian, John and Jake. Her father Mr. John Levering two brothers Arie Levering of Ireton and Abe Levering of Orange City, Two sisters, Mrs. Elmer Gillspie of Laurel NE and Mrs. Rosene Vane (Vore) of Maurice (From the Sioux county cemetery index, Mary H. Den Ouden born 1887 died 1931 husband Berend, buried in the Sherman Township cemetery at Maurice IA. Other sources report her parents ad John Levering and Johanna Vogel, marriage record lists Berend Cornelius Den Ouden son of Christian Den Ouden and Teuntje Den Braanker married Maria Hendrika Levering daughter of John Levering and Johanna Vogel, married on 19 Feb 1908 at Maurice IA )

2. ABE LEVERING was born in Amsterdam, Holland on November 23, 1889. When he was just 1 ½ years old his parents decided to come to America. His parents, sister Mary and he came to Middleburg, Iowa. They stayed there a few years. Arie and Maggie were born there. They then moved on to Maurice where Cora and Jake were born. Abe worked in the Orton Brick Factory as a young boy. His wife, Winnie Van Olst, was born in Orange city on Oct 15, 1891, the daughter of Lambert Van Olst and Cocia Vande Waa. She was the oldest of seven children. She was the grand daughter of H. J. Vande Waa, one of the men who came to Orange City in a covered wagon to fine a place to settle. Winnie graduated from high school then taught in Hull and Ireton. Abe and Winnie married Oct 15, 1914 Orange City. Abe managed an elevator, had a garage and repair shop, trucking business and farming. They were the parents of two children Harold John born Dec 21, 1919 and Vera Leona, born Apr 15, 1922. Abe died May 25, 1961 at 72. and Winnie passed away Apr 8, 1980. (place of birth of Abe believed to be Barendrecht Zuid Holland Netherlands). Obituary - Sioux County Capital June 1, 1961 Rites at Maurice for Abe Levering Funeral services for Abe Levering, 72, of Maurice were held Monday at the First Reformed church in Maurice with the Rev. Donald Blom officiating. Mr. Levering died at his home Thursday after suffering a heart attack. Born in The Netherlands, Mr. Levering came to this country with his parents at the age of 18 months. He had lived in the Maurice community since. His marriage to Winnie Van Olst took place in 1914. Survivors include the widow; a son, Harold of White Plains, N. Y0; a daughter, Mrs. Vera Brouwer of Maurice; four grandchildren; a brother, Arie of Le Mars and a sister, Mrs, Elmer Gillespie of Eureka, Cal. Burial was in the Sherman township cemetery under the direction of the Van Etten Funeral Home.

3. ARIE ‘IRA’ LEVERING born 27 Aug 1893 Middleburg Iowa died 3 Dec 1963 married 14 Feb 1917 at Ireton to Myrtle Irene Johnston. They had no children. Obituary – Hawarden Independent of Dec 12, 1963 Ira Levering Of Ireton Dies Ira Levering, a resident of Ireton the past years and former steward of the Plymouth county home at Le Mars, died at the Sacred Heart hospital in Le Mars on Tuesday of last week. Mr. Levering was born August 27, 1893. at Middleburg. la. As a small child . he moved, with, his parents to Maurice where he received his education. On February 14. 1917, he married Miss Myrtle Johnston at Ireton. They farmed for several years and then he became affiliated with the Midwest Hosiery Co.. serving as district manager in Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Utah. From 1942 to 1953 Mr. and Mrs. Levering were employed at the state hospital at Hastings, Neb. When the new Plymouth county home opened in 1953, Mr. and Mrs. Levering became the steward and matron. Due to Mr. Levering's health they retired and in 1962 they purchased a home in Ireton. His condition became serious in September of this year. Funeral services were held Friday at the Methodist church in Ireton with Rev. James Ransom, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Le Mars, officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Hill cemetery. Casket bearers were Ed Johnson, Eldo Degen, Alfred Hemmingson, John Vlotho, Gerrit Juffer and Richard Herwynen. Survivors besides the widow include a sister, Mrs. Margaret Gillespie of Eureka, Calif., and several nieces and nephews. His parents, two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death. Relatives who came from a distance to attend the services included..(long list)

4. MARGARET LEVERING born 3 Nov 1894 Middleburg Iowa died 3 Jan 1966 NE buried Eureka CA. married Elmer Gillespie. They had three children: Robert, Donald, and Norma Jean. Find A Grave lists Margaret Levering Gillespie born 3 Nov 1894 Middleburg, Iowa died 3 Jan 1966 at St Paul, Howard Co. NE. buried Eureka, California. Husband Elmer Harlan Gillespie. Child listed Norma Jean Smits. From a family report on Ancestry.com submitted by other family members. Elmer Harlan Gillespie was born Aug 10, 1898 Deloit, NE and died Nov 7, 1960 Humboldt Co. CA. Maggie and Elmer were married Jul 14, 1920 at Sioux Falls, SD. Their children were Robert John Gillespie 1921-2008, Donald Wayne Gillespie 1922-2001 and Norma Jean Gillespie Smits 1927.

5. CORA LEVERING Born: January 22, 1900 Died: September 14, 1958
Cora married Roscoe Vore. They had three children Clarence, Erma, and Earl.
Obituary - Source: Sioux County Capital (9-23-1958) Last rites for Mrs. Roscoe Vore held Thursday at Maurice Church. Mrs. Roscoe Vore, nee Cora Levering, daughter of John and Johanna (Vogel) Levering, passed away on September 14 after a short illness at the Le Mars Hospital, at the age of 58 years. Memorial services were held Thursday, September 18, at the First Reformed Church of Maurice, the Reverend D. Blom officiating. Burial was in Sherman Township Cemetery. Mrs. Vore was born at Middleburg, Iowa, January 22, 1900 and soon after this the family moved to Maurice where she spent the remainder of her life except for a short time in Indiana. On December 7, 1916, she was married to Roscoe Vore and to this union three children were born---Clarence Orville, Erma Elizabeth and Earl Kenton. Surviving are the widower and two children, Erma (Mrs. LeRoy) Besett of Derby, Colorado and Earl of Maurice, besides three grandchildren, Janet and Linda Vore of Cuero, Texas and Jeffery Vore of Maurice. Clarence Vore was killed in a plane crash in France in 1946 and his widow, now Mrs. Fred Sager, lives in Texas. Two brothers, Abe of Maurice and Arie of Le Mars and the sister, Mrs. Elmer Gillespie of Eureka, California, also survive. Her parents and a sister, Mary, and brother, Jake, preceded her in death. Special music was furnished by a men’s quartet including James Vlieger, Robert Vander Broek, Edwin Brink, and Rodney Kluis. Pallbearers were Charles Boyd, Kenneth De Pree, William De Koter, Wayne Reinking, De Cose and Stan Campagne.

6. JAKE LEVERING born Nov 22, 1896 Middleburg Iowa. Jake served in the army in World War I. He was killed overseas in France.
From the Maurice Times, May 23, 1918: OBITUARY
Jake Levering Gives Life For His Country The people of this community were awakened with a rude shock last Saturday when L. F. Woodard delivered a telegram to the father announcing the death of Jake Levering who has been in the trenches for the past nine months fighting for the welfare of this Democracy of ours. The telegram was as follows: Washington, May 18, 1918. John Levering, Maurice, Ia.
Deeply regret to inform you that it is officially reported that Private Jake Levering, infantry, died May 12th, from wounds received in action. McCain, Adj. Gen.
Jake Levering is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Levering, but the mother died about four years ago. He was born November 22, 1896 and would have been 22 years of age next November. He was born in the village of Middleburg, Ia., and passed over the bar from "somewhere in France" May 12, 1918, his death being due to wounds received in action. While an infant the family removed to the vicinity of Maurice where Jake grew up and where he went to school and attended Church services. He was a member of the Christian Endeavor Society of the American Reformed Church who remembered him at Christmas time with gifts a soldier boy holds dear and several letters to the young people reveal in some measure his pleasure in receiving these presents.
For about two years prior to enlisting under the colors he worked on a farm near Ireton. In the month of December 1916 he went to Chicago, Ill., and enlisted in the infantry and was first stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., near St. Louis. He was later transferred to Yuma, Arizona, next to Nogales and to New Mexico. June 9, 1917 he sailed for France with "Black Jack" Pershing's troops. For the past nine months he has known trench warfare. It is difficult for us to know what those months meant to the deceased. It was a time to try a man's soul. In his letters he speaks of a longing for home and the homeland, he writes of coming back from the trenches where the shells have been singing shrieking over him and around him, and that he is still alive for which he is thankful, but the iron sometimes enters his soul as he writes, "No German will ever take me alive." Apparently Jake lived up to his creed.
The expressions in his letters softened during the nine months he was in France. Facing God and death and the enemy seems to have sobered him and made him a man. Fighting the Huns is a man's work and he measured up to his work. He adjusted his financial affairs with the family and fought on until death released him: he waited for death or life to win out and May 12 death won. His blood still speaks from the ground and a future and more glorious Democracy will be built upon the blood of these martyrs to our just cause.
He leaves to mourn his departure his father, John Levering, Abe and Arie his brothers, and three sisters, Mrs. Ben Den Ouden, Miss Margaret Levering and Mrs. Cora Vore. A memorial service was held at the American Reformed church Sunday night addressed by G. A. Tyler, publisher of the Times and who is acting as minister of the church until a pastor can be secured. The choir furnished appropriate music. The minister paid tribute to Mr. Levering as our hero and that the American flag would mean more to us than ever before. It brings the war home to us. He gave his all for his county and the least we can do is to take him to our heart and do our bit as faithfully as he did his. No word has been received at this time of the particulars of his death but all hope the relatives and friends will receive word soon. (The article includes a photograph.)

OBITUARY of father John Levering 1861-1950

Source: Sioux County Capital (6-1-1950) Born: March 2, 1861 Died: 1950
John Levering was the son of Arie and Mary (VanOverschot) Levering was born in The Netherlands March 2, 1861 and came to this country in 1890, first residing at Middleburg. In 1885 he was married to Johanna Vogel who passed away in 1914 at Maurice where they had lived since 1900.To this union nine children were born three passed away in infancy, and Jake who died in World War I, and Mary, Mrs. Ben Den Ouden who passed away in 1931.
Those surviving are Abe of Maurice, Arie of Ingleside, Nebraska, Maggie, Mrs. Elmer Gillispie of Winside, Nebraska and Cora, Mrs. Roscoe Vore of Maurice. Two grandchildren preceded him in death, Jake Den Ouden and Clarence Vore. Nine grandchildren survive besides three great- grandchildren.
He died at his home in Maurice on May 23 at the age of 89 years. Burial was at the Maurice Cemetery. Reverend John Roggen and Reverend John Den Ouden of Zeeland, Michigan taking part in the service.

OBITUARY of mother - Johanna Mrs. John Levering

Sioux County Herald of Jan 8, 1914
Mrs. John Levering died at her home three miles southeast of town Thursday of diabetes at the age of fifty. The funeral was held Saturday at the First Church of Maurice.

DeVolksvriend of Jan 8, 1914
Translated: Thursday Jan 1, Mrs. J. Levering died at the age of 50 years. The funeral was Saturday at the First Reformed Church where she was a member.

This family picture was on page 420 of the Maurice Centennial Book 1891-1991. (Picture not of good clear copying quality).

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