Kots, John W. Rev. 1863-1935 & Mary Duven Family

KOTS, DUVEN, HANE, KLEINHESSELINK

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/9/2024 at 04:56:39

Kots John W. Rev. 1863-1935 & Mary Duven Family

This story was taken from pages 402-403 of the Maurice Centennial Book (1891-1991). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg.

John Kots was born on November 24, 1863, in Aalten, Gelderland, The Netherlands, to Gerrit John Kots and Hendrika (Hahne) Kots.

In 1882, he accompanied two of his brothers to the United States. The rest of his family came one year later. They were his parents and five sisters: Dora, who passed away shortly after their arrival (diphtheria), Dena (Mrs. Gerrit Te Grotenhuis); Antonia (Mrs. Gerrit Fikse); Minnie (Mrs. Arie Punt); and Johanna (Mrs. Dick Schuller). The Kots family resided on the farm one mile south and 1½ miles east of Maurice, where Leo Siege now lives.

The story has been told that he worked on the Northwestern railroad when it came to Maurice. On one particular day it was raining so he was at home with his mother in town. They were making ditches around the house to keep the water from going into the cellar, when he told her they had better go into the house because the sky looked bad. It was a tornado that moved through the northwest part of town. It did a great deal of damage. Their house was not damaged but one man in town was killed.

He graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, in 1896, and from Western Theological Seminary in 1899. He was licensed and ordained in the Classis of Iowa, in 1899.

He married Mary Duven from Alto, Wisconsin, and together they pastored the following churches: at Friesland, Minnesota (1899-1905), at Sandstone, Minnesota (1903-1905), at Carmel, Iowa (1905-1911).

He served as missionary to the Classis of Iowa from 1911-1920. As a classical missionary he served the church at Steen, Minnesota, where he was instrumental in erecting a church building. He was a member of a committee from the Classis of Iowa, which organized the church at Rock Rapids, Iowa, on July 23, 1914. Rev. Kots then served the church at Rock Rapids, as its first missionary pastor from July 23, 1914. Rev. Kots then served the church at Rock Rapids, as its first missionary pastor from July, 1914, to December, 1915.

Rev. Kots also served as pastor of the church at Matlock, Iowa, from 1920-1922, at Clymer, New York, from 1922-1926, and at Ustick, Illinois, from 1926-1929. He died at Maurice , Iowa, August 22, 1935.

George T. Kots, a son of Rev. John Kots, was also in the ministry. Upon his ordination he was a missionary to China, from 1923-1926. Rev. George Kots also served churches in Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. He died in Orange City, Iowa, September 5, 1975.

(end of the story in the Maurice Book)

RESEARCH Notes: from Find A Grave, and a family report on ancestry.com public member trees done by others.

John William Kots was born 24 Nov 1863 Aalten Gelderland, Netherlands and died 22 Aug 1935 at Maurice IA. His parents were Gerrit Jan Kots 1826-1896 and Hendrika Hane 1836-1921. He married 27 Mar 1901 Alto, WI to Mary Duven.

Mary Duven born 3 Dec 1875 Alto WI died 2 Jul 1961 Orange City IA. Her parents were William Duven 1842-1923 and Aaltjens Kleinhesselink 1843-1912. John and Mary were the parents of three children.

2nd Marriage record of Mary Duven Kots age 65 born 1876 Alto WI, married 1 Mar 1940 at Maurice IA , second marriage to Albert Popma.

CHILDREN: Three children’s obits on web page www.iagenweb.org/sioux

1. George Theodore Kots Rev. , born 18 Feb 1902 Friesland, Pine County MN, he died 5 Sep 1975 Orange City IA. He was as missionary at Greyhawk, Kentucky, He married Deane Klooster 1906-1994, Two children David Kots of Edina MN and Leona Mrs. David Trowbridge of Anoka MN. See George’s obit on this web page.

2. Wilbert Kots born 24 Jan 1904 Sandstone, Pine County MN died 25 Jul 1975 Orange City IA, employed at Morrison, Illinois, his wife was Helene De Jong 1905-1999. Two children Mary Mrs. LaVern Plagge of Ft. Dodge, and Mrs. Nelda J. Claypool of Ft. Orchard WA. See Wilbert’s obit on this web page.

3. Henrietta Kots born 20 Apr 1906 Carmel IA died 25 May 1991 Orange City IA . She married Harold Kraai 1902-1999 of Orange City. Taken from Henrietta’s obit children were - son, Dayton Jerome and his wife Luella of Newell, and their children, Randall Dean, Scott Allen and Jodi Lynn; son, John Willard of Tallahassee, Florida, and his children, Julie Diane Barret and her daughter Ashley Diane, Tern Lee and Shellie Marie, and her daughter, Samantha; son, Harold LeRoy and his wife Karen of Cherokee, and their children, Kristi Kay and Joel Lee; and son, The Reverend Dr. Mark Allen and his wife Linda of Sumnerville, New Jersey. See Henrietta’s obit on this web page.

OBITUARY OF JOHN KOTS 1863-1935
Source: Ireton Ledger (8-29-1935) Born: November 24, 1863 Died: August 22, 1935
Reverend Jan Willem "William" Kots Dies at Home In Maurice
Reverend Jan Willem "William" Kots, 72, retired minister of the Reformed Church, died last Thursday evening at his home in Maurice, where he had lived for the last five years.
Funeral services were held at the First Reformed Church in Maurice Monday afternoon. Officiating ministers included Reverend Straks, who delivered the sermon in English; Reverend J. G. Brouwer of Orange City, who delivered the Holland sermon; Reverend R. Duiker and Reverend Henry Fiske. A mixed double quartet sang.
Pall bearers were Reverend Henry Colenbrander of Orange City, Reverend Al Brunstiing of Sioux Center, Reverend Z. Roetman of Newkirk, Reverend M. Webinga of Ireton, Reverend George Dowstra of Hull and Reverend W. Rottschaffer of Carmel. Ministers from other towns were honorary pall bearers.
Born in Aalten Gelderland, November 24, 1863, to Gerrit and Hendrika (Hane) Kots. Reverend Kots received his elementary education in the Netherlands, but came to Sioux County in 1882 and attended the Orange City Academy, Hope College, for 3 years.
Michigan Seminary -
He finished at the Western Theological Seminary at Holland, Michigan, when serving two parishes, one at Friesland. Minnesota, and the other at Sandstone, he was ordained minister on August 13, 1899. On March 27, 1901 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Duven and to this union two sons, George and Wilbur, and one daughter, Henrietta, were born.
Served at Carmel -
He served as minister at Carmel in 1905 to 1911 and thereafter was appointed classical missionary and took charge of churches at Chandler, Minnesota, Steen, Minnesota, Rock Rapids, Lester and Matlock successively during the nine years of his missionary work. In 1920 he was called to Matlock where he remained two years before moving to Clymer Hill where he served 4 years till he served his last parish at Ustick, Illinois. In 1930 he came to Maurice as a retired minister.
Health failed -
Reverend Kots has been failing for a long time but became seriously ill from cancer four weeks ago. As he was well aware of his condition at the time it is felt that he was well prepared for the next.
Surviving him are his widow and 3 children, Reverend George Theodore Kots, missionary at Greyhawk, Kentucky, Wilbur Kots, employed at Morrison, Illinois, and Henrietta, Mrs. Harold Kraai of Orange City; 3 grand-children; 2 brothers, Henry Kots of Long Beach, California, Ben Kots of Maurice; and 4 sisters, Mrs. Arie Punt, Mrs. Gerrit Grootenhuis, and Mrs. Gerrit Fikse all of Orange City and Mrs. Dick Schuller of Maurice.
Those from a distance attending the funeral included the two sons, George, who arrived early Saturday and Wilbur, who came Friday morning, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Duven of Marion, North Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. Jake Redeker and son, Harvey; Tom Boom, and Reverend And Mrs. Matthew Duven, all of Alto, Wisconsin. Henry Duven of Pella, Nebraska; Reverend And Mrs. Will Duven of Corsica, South Dakota, and Mr. and Mrs. Martin and Lou Halbersma of Edgerton, Minesota.

OBITUARY OF MARY DUVEN KOTS – POPMA 1876-1961

Source: Sioux Center News (2-23-1961) Born: 1876 Died: February 16, 1961
Funeral services were held at the Trinity Reformed Church, Monday afternoon for Mrs. Mary Popma of Orange City, who passed away Thursday, February 16. Officiating ministers at the funeral were Reverend N. Reck and Reverend J. Roggen. Burial was made at Maurice under the direction of the Van Etten Funeral Service.
Born in 1876 at Alto, Wisconsin, Mrs. Popma, nee Mary Duven, grew up at Alto and was married there to Reverend (John) William Kots. They were the parents of three children, Reverend George T. Kots of Roseland, Minnesota; Wilbert Kots of Buena Park, California, and Mrs. Harold Kraai of Orange City. There are eight grandchildren. Surviving in one brother, Reverend William Duven at Alto, Wisconsin. Reverend Kots passed away in 1935.
Mrs. Kots remarried in 1940 to Albert Popma of Maurice. He passed away in 1954. The step-children are Viola (Mrs. Chas. Koopman) of Maurice; Edna (Mrs. C.A. Cooper) of Baldwin Park, California; Alma (Mrs. Robert Vander Broek) of Ireton; Elsie (Mrs. Ray De Jager) of Maurice; and Russell Popma in Minnesota.

Picture on page 402 of the couple in the Maurice book and a family picture from a member tree on ancestry.com.

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