Vogelaar, Peter 1873-1932 & Josie Jonker Family

VOGELAAR, JONKE, VANDEBERG, MIEDEMA

Posted By: Wilma J. VandeBerg -volunteer (email)
Date: 11/25/2024 at 06:43:57

Vogelaar, Peter 1873-1932 & Josie Jonker Family

This story was taken from pages 565-567 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.

Peter Vogelaar was born in June, 1873, in the Province of Maasdam, South Holland, Netherlands. His parents were Cornelius Vogelaar and Jannegtje Vanden Berg. He came to America, about 1894, and came alone. He was a day laborer and worked for Maas Van Peursem and Hein Rowenhorst.

Dieuwke (Josie) Hendriks Jonker was born November 4, 1878, in Sexbierum, Friesland, Netherlands. Her parents were Hendrik Jonker and Pieteije Miedema. Her two brothers, Nanna and Jacob, came to America first and settled south of Orange City, south of the railroad tracks which was called Klein Arm (Short arm of Orange City). Later the two boys sent for their parents and the rest of their siblings.

Hendrik and Pieteije and family left Holland, March 24, 1896, and arrived in Orange City, on April 11. Hendrik was born October 16, 1848, and died August 15, 1928. Pieteije was born October 29, 1849, and died December 1, 1929. Both are buried in Sherman Township Cemetery. Peter and Josie were married in 1897, and lived 4½ miles east of Maurice. In that same year their daughter Jennie was born.

In 1900, they moved to Hurley, South Dakota, and July 21, Henry was born. They lived there only one year and in 1901, they moved back to Sherman Township two miles east and one quarter mile south of Maurice, to the place now occupied by Lee Maassen. In 1905, their son Cornelius (Neal) was born and in 1907, they were blessed with another son Nanna (Nick).

It was in this time that Josie contracted spinal meningitis and was very ill. When Neal was small, he came down with scarlet fever. Josie had a wash boiler filled with boiling water and would put ear corn in the water. When they were hot, she would wrap them in flannel blankets and lay them next to Neal to break the fever. When they cooled off she would replace them with others in the hot water.

Soon after this the rent was raised from $4.00 to $5.00 an acre. Peter had bills to be paid and discussed these problems with his family. While he was in the process of making up his mind whether he could afford this increase or not, the farm was rented to someone else. When his plight was made known that he needed a farm, a gentleman came and offered him the opportunity of a farm at Twin Brooks, South Dakota, so in 1909, he rented two box cars on the railroad. The household goods and horses went in one and the cows, hogs, and machinery went in the other one and moved to Dakota.

It was at Twin Brooks they were saddened with the birth of a stillborn baby girl. Later their son William August (Billy) was born.

Peter helped build a church in Twin Brooks. The first years were difficult ones and were known as the Dust Bowl years. It was dry and windy. Prices were poor. To earn some money, Peter helped farmers with their threshing for $3.50 a day.

When World War I started, prices got better, and in 1918, the family decided to move back to Iowa, to a farm ½ mile north of Struble. The following year they moved 2½ miles east of Maurice. This was the time of the bad flu epidemic and the boys did chores all around the neighborhood. Prices were good during the war. Two years later, they moved across the section north. Again, prices were low.

It was January 22, 1922, that Jennie married Henry Brink. While living in the Maurice area, the family attended the First Reformed Church in Maurice. In 1923, they moved 1½ miles south of Carnes, to a 400 acre farm. The landlord wanted a renter with big boys.

February 3, 1927, Henry married Johanna Brink. A couple years later, the landlord built a new set of buildings on the farmstead. The year 1930, saw low prices again. It was also in this year that Neal married Katherine Scheeringa in June, and Nick married Elizabeth Sas in December.

Peter died May 6, 1932. Josie and son Billie continued to farm, but in 1935, she had farm sale. Prices were low as it was during the depression. She left the farm and moved in with her daughter Jennie and later moved to Orange City.

While living in the Carnes area, the family worshiped at the First Reformed Church of Orange City. Josie died October 26, 1938, and she and Peter are buried in Sherman Township Cemetery.
Billy married Lois Van Meeveren September 14, 1939.

Peter loved to write poetry and often wrote poems to his wife. Due to struggles and hardships, he was not a prosperous farmer, but he always remained optimistic. His main concern was always for his family. He taught them how to pray, both in bad times and good times. One example was when he gathered his family together to pray for Josie’s recovery when she was so ill with spinal meningitis. His son remembers how one time he gave thanks for a pair of shoes that one of the children had received. Both Peter and Josie had a strong faith in God.

IN MEMORY OF Peter and Josie Vogelaar by Henry Vogelaar (end of family story in the book)

RESEARCH Notes from various sources. Ancestry.com public member trees submitted by other than this submitter. Local obit archives from this web page; Find A Grave indexes and birth, marriages and deaths from records on ancestry.com; and from www.wiewaswie.nl .

Pieter Vogelaar was born 8 Jun 1873 Maasdam, Binnenmaas, Zuid Holland, Netherlands died 26 may 1932 Carnes, Sioux, IA. He was the son of Cornelis Vogelaar and Jannigje van den Berg He married Josephine Jonker 7 Oct 1898 Orange City IA.

Dieuwke ‘Josephine’ Jonker was born 4 Nov 1878 Sexbierum, Franekeradeel Friesland, Netherlands died 26 Oct 1938 Maurice IA. Her parents were Hendrik Jonker and Pietje Miedema. Peter and Josie had six children.

CHILDREN:
1. Jennie Vogelaar born 31 Oct 1898 Sioux County IA died 30 Jan 1981 Buena Park, Orange CA. She married Henry Brink Jr. Find A Grave lists Jennie Brink nee Vogelaar born 31 Oct 1898 Alton Sioux Ia died 30 Jan 1981 Buena Park CA Husband Henry Brink, One child listed Daryle Allen Brink.
2. Henry Vogelaar born 21 Jul 1900 Hurley Turner SD died 25 Feb 1994 Orange City IA. He married Johanna Brink at Maurice in 1927. They had one daughter Eileen Mrs. Allen Wichers of Maurice. See his obituary on this web page.
3. Cornelius ‘Neal’ P. Vogelaar born 6 May 1903 Nassau, Sioux IA died 23 Dec 1987 Riverside, CA. In 1950 His wife was Catherine Scheeringa born 9 Dec 1905 a died 23 Nov 2001. and children were Harold S. Vogelaar 13 and Robert L. Vogelaar 8, They were living in Orange City
4. Nanna ‘Nick’ Vogelaar born 3 Feb 1907 Maurice IA died 23 Nov 1954 Orange County CA. He married Elizabeth Sas 1908-2006. One child listed on Find A Grave as Muriel Goldean Kooiman.
5. Infant girl born Twin Brooks SD and died SD.
6. William August Vogelaar born 21 Sep 1914 Twin Brooks SD died 27 Nov 1982 Bellflower CA Billy married Lois Van Meeveren 1917-2001 on September 14, 1939. No further information found.

OBITUARY OF PETER VOGELAAR 1873-1932
Source: Alton Democrat (6-3-1932) Born: June 8, 1873 Died: May 26, 1932
Peter Vogelaar Dies at Carnes
Peter Vogelaar died May 26th at his home a mile and one half southwest of Carnes, after two months illness, at the age of 59 years.
He was born June 8, 1873 in the Netherlands and came to this country as a young man, locating in this vicinity.
He was married in 1898 to Miss Josie Jonker and since his marriage has engaged in farming in South Dakota and Iowa.
He is survived by his widow and five children: Mrs. Henry Brink Jr.; Maurice; Henry, Maurice; Neil and Nick, Orange City; William at home, and by two grandchildren, children of Mr. and Mrs. H. Brink Jr.
Mr. Vogelaar was a quiet, unassuming man, patient and uncomplaining in his last illness, and died as he lived, very peacefully. He was a loving husband and father, a kind neighbor, and a host of friends sympathize with the family in their loss.
Funeral services were held Monday, with Reverend Vander Lune in charge at the home, and Reverend H. Colenbrander and Reverend J.D. Dykstra at the First Reformed Church in Orange City. Burial was in the Maurice Cemetery.

OBITUARY OF JOSIE VOGELAAR 1878-1938
Source: Alton Democrat (11-4-1938) Born: 1878 Died: October 26, 1938
Funeral of Mother Is Held Saturday
Mrs. Peter Vogelaar, nee Josie "Djouwke" Jonker, was born in 1879 at Sexbierum, Friesland; The Netherlands, and passed away at a local hospital Wednesday, October 26, following an operation.
At the age of 16 years she came to America with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hendrik Jonker and in 1898 was united in marriage to Peter Vogelaar who died in 1933.
She lived on a farm in this vicinity until three years ago when she moved to town.
During the past 12 years she had been in ill health and submitted to two major operations previous to the third, which caused her death. But through all her suffering she remained content.
Five children survive, as follows: Jennie, Mrs. Henry Brink, Jr., of Maurice; Henry, Maurice; Neal, Orange City; Nick, Redlands, California; William, Orange City. She is also survived by three brothers - N. Jonker, Arie Jonker and John Jonker, and by one sister. Mrs. Henry G. Brink, Maurice.
Funeral services were conducted by Reverend H. Colenbrander in the First Reformed Church Saturday after noon, October 29. Interment was at the Maurice Cemetery.

Picture on page 566

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