Mars, Lutje 1821-1898 & Jannetje Vander Meer Family

MARS, VANDERMEER, DEVRIES, ELLERBOREK, WILMS, VANDENBOS

Posted By: Wilma J. VandeBerg -volunteer (email)
Date: 12/12/2024 at 20:33:21

Mars, Lutje 1821-1898 & Jannetje Van der Meer/ DeVries/ Ellerbroek Families

This piece by piece narrative of the life of Lutje Mars was constructed by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. He, with his segmented families had a very interesting unique life from the time he came to Pella Iowa until his death at Hornick Iowa. The submitter attempted to track the family children and step children in chronological order. It would be a definite fact that there are many descendants of those Oregon Trail pioneers throughout the country who know nothing of the plight that their ancestors experienced. See the BIOS of Peter Noteboom and others that are or will soon be published on this web page see BIOS at www.iagenweb.org/sioux

Disclaimer - As is usually the case, there are discrepancies in accounts regarding data such as dates, places, spellings and such. The submitter has listed data as it was found in the source.

The Story of Sioux County by Charles Dyke give accounting of the Oregon Trail in pages 402-412 and 429 - 431. please try to access and read those accounts. Also, see the obit of step son, John Ellerbroek’s obit herein for some details of the several months journey on the Oregon trail from about 1864, settlements lasting there into early 1870s. Most of the company returned to Iowa but a few stayed on, for one, the family of Geert ‘Gerrit’ Jot stayed in Oregon.

The passage on page 413-414 as cited here describes Lutje Mars. “Lutje Mars was one of the most peculiar and interesting characters that ever inhabited Sioux county. He was over six and a half feet tall, and slender, with shoulders sloping at an angle of about forty-five degrees. He had a small head and a sad and sorrowful look. He always had long hair that tufted over his ears, a ring beard under his jaw and a medium long beard under his chin.
He was born a rover and walked all over Sioux county, for like Asahel of holy writ, he was as light of foot a wild roe, and every Hollander in Sioux County knew Lutje Mars. He never stayed long in on place and after a few years in Sioux county he went to Harrison, South Dakota. His wanderings were not for the purpose of improving his financial condition, for making a living was a secondary consideration with him, and he left that mostly to his wife and children. But he loved the Christian Reformed Church and like to talk theology, and was an elder in the church no matter where he lived. A Christian Reformed Church without Lutje Mars as elder, if he lived in the community, was unthinkable.
He acted the role of a minister without a charge, and would often interfere with the work of the ministers of his church to the embarrassment of the man of the cloth. But no one doubted his sincerity and he cheered and comforted the sick and brought hope and peace to the dying. Once he married a couple, and after a few weeks of connubial bliss they discovered that they were not married at all and the job had to be done over again. As Mars was not an ordained minister nor an officer of the law, his marrying did not hold.
As stated above, Mars did not stay long in Sioux county, but with his stepsons, Peter and John Ellerbroek, Leendert Van Der Meer, Dirk Van Den Bos again answered the Call of the West and went to Douglas County, South Dakota. As in Sioux County, he would visit the several Holland colonies there on foot, and once walked from Harrison, South Dakota to Sioux county Iowa. He died in South Dakota. “ (He is actually believed to have died at Hornick Iowa.)
(end of article)

RESEARCH Notes: From Ancestry.com vital data and Netherlands records web sites.

Lutje Mars was born 18 April 1821 Opperdoes Noord Holland Netherland, died 14 Mar 1898 Hornick Woodbuty IA He was the son of Germent Luitjesz Mars and Lijsbeth Pieters Wilms. He married Jannetje ‘Jennie’ Van der Meer – DeVries - Ellerbroek on 26 Mar 1860 Mahaska County IA. Lutje was her third husband. Together they had three children Peter Mars 1861-1939, Adeline Mars Henry Kuipers 1863-1943 and Simon Mars 1865-1943. Lutje Mars immigrated 1855 details uncertain.

Jannetje Van der Meer was born 29 Sep 1825 Overschie She died 21 July 1907 Sioux County IA Her parents were Izaak van der Meer and Aaltje Alida Van Den Bos. Her first marriage was to Johannes Willeminus De Vries born 24 Apr 1844 at Overschie. They had children Isaac De Vries 1845 and Alida Christina De Vries 1847-1849,

Jannetje was married 16 July 1850 to Gerrit Ellerbroek at Mahaska County IA. They had children Peter Ellerbroek 1851-1931, John Henry Ellerbroek 1852-1932 and Mary Ellerbroek 1858-1944.

List of CHILDREN and STEP CHILDREN The submitter of this narrative tried to track down the children of the three marriages of Jannetje Van der Meer. Their births in chronological order.

(1) Isaac De Vries born 24 Jan 1845 Overschie, Zuid Holland Netherlands. Died ? Did he stay ans die in Oregon. No further information was found on Isaac De Vries. He was known to have played an active role in the Oregon Trail experience of the Pella pioneers.

(2) Alida Christina de Vries 1847-1849 died as a young child.

(3) Peter Ellerbroek Obituary of Peter Ellerbroek 1851-1931 Alton Democrat, March 20, 1931: TRAVELED TO PORTLAND BY OX TEAM - Early Sioux County Business Man, Peter Ellerbroek, Died March 17: Peter Ellerbroek, who was one of Orange City's first business men, passed away at his home in Sioux City, Tuesday night, March 17, following a long illness. He traveled with his family from Pella, where he was born, to Portland, Oregon, by ox team. Mr. Ellerbroek was 13 years old at the time of the cross country trip. He returned to Iowa in 1870, settling in Sioux County. He taught school while studying pharmacy. His drug store at Orange City was the first in Sioux county. In 1874, Mr. Ellerbroek married Miss Carrie Slyster of Orange City. She died in 1926, two years after they had celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. After operating the drug store ten years the Ellerbroeks moved to Grandview, S.D. They retired in 1916 after remaining there eight years and came to Sioux City in 1891. Mr. Ellerbroek traveled for the International Harvester Co. He is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Ethel O'Leary, Mrs. Anna Kesner and Mrs. Jeanette Perry, all of Sioux City; Mrs. Leone Erich of New York City, and Mrs. Mabel Schlaifer of Dundee, Ill. A brother, John Ellerbroek of Sheldon, IA, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Wynia of Springfield, S.D. also survive.

(4) John Ellerbroek Obituary of John Ellerbroek 1852-1932 (account of the Oregon Trail) Sioux Center News, (September 29, 1932) Mr. John Ellerbroek, formerly of Sioux Center, died at the Holland Home in Sheldon, Wednesday; Mr. Ellerbroek was born in Marion County, Iowa in 1852. In 1862 he moved with parents and others by ox caravan to Oregon. They were on the trail for months, suffering all the hardships of pioneers. Indians were troublesome and stole, all but three of their horses. He lived in Oregon until he was 19 years old when he came to Sioux County. Too young to take a land claim, he started a store in Orange City.
When the Dakota country opened up he moved to Douglas County, and for some years was in business in Grand View and Armour. In 1890 he entered business in Sioux Center with Andrew Vander Stoep. This partnership was dissolved in 1897, after which Mr. Ellerbroek continued in business here alone until eight years ago. Mr. Ellerbroek's first wife died in 1922. She was Mary Vander Stoep, a sister of Mrs. P. L. Schoep and of Andrew Vander Stoep. Four years ago he moved to the Holland home in Sheldon. Here he was married to Jennie Markus.
He had been ill all summer, and when he suffered a stroke last Wednesday he died in a few hours. He is survived by Mrs. Ellerbroek, five sons, Garret, Frank, Andrew, Pete, John and one daughter, Mrs. Johanna Olson, Fairmont, Minnesota. The funeral will be held from the Central Reformed Church Saturday at 2 P.M. Rev. Vis of Sheldon will preach the funeral sermon. Alton Democrat, Friday, (October 7, 1932)
BELOVED MERCHANT JOHN ELLERBROEK PASSES ON - John Ellerbroek was born near Pella, Iowa on February 29, 1852. Died at Sheldon, Iowa, September 28, 1932.John Ellerbroek was one of the few surviving pioneer residents of the State of Iowa. With exception of a few years spent elsewhere he witnessed the remarkable growth of Iowa for the past eighty years. He was born shortly after his parents located in the then newly organized Holland colony in and near Pella, Iowa, his parents making the trip to Pella from Amsterdam under many difficulties. They embarked on a sailing vessel and after 65 days arrived in New York. They encountered many storms and were tossed about by the waves and many times it seemed as through their ship would not survive. To add to their hardships a daughter was taken sick and died and was buried at sea. After arriving in New York the long trip to Iowa was begun, partly by river boats and partly by ox teams. After suffering many hardships they finally arrived in Iowa, and homesteaded there, being the very first to settle in that part of Iowa. Crude log cabins were built and homes were established. It was here that John Ellerbroek was born and spent his early boyhood days. At the age of twelve the spirit of adventuring and pioneering again appealed to the parents of Mr. Ellerbroek and they joined a wagon train and left Iowa for Oregon. Their wagon train was a mixed train consisting of horses, mules and oxen drawn wagons. All wagons were heavily loaded and all wagons were inspected before leaving Council Bluffs. The wagon containing the worldly belonging of the Ellerbroeks was declared unfit and a new wagon was substituted and the trip was finally under way. Five yoke of oxen carried their wagon and they were ready to venture into the unknown West.
They left Pella on May 1st and arrived in Portland, Oregon on October 28th. The Indians were on the war path during this time and the wagon train was constantly guarded. Their train was a large one and no attempt was made by the Indians to destroy it, although they were constantly harassed by roving bands of Indians and at one time all their stock and horses were stolen by the Indians, and a part of which was recovered and several of the Indians killed. In addition to the constant fear of being attacked by the Indians their exceedingly slow journey was beset with many other dangers and hardships. They experienced shortage of water and at times found too much water, when they were forced to cross rivers where there were no bridges. Bridges were unknown on that trip and rivers could only be crossed by fording at given points. Great difficulty was experienced in descending mountainsides. Many times it would take days to travel but very short distances, when every wagon be lowered with all wheels locked. This tedious and dangerous process was the only way to continue on the trail and as there was no turning back it was necessary to proceed, however, great the difficulties might be. Their great adventure finally came to an end and they arrived in Portland, with very little of their live stock left and but few of their oxen. Again the pioneers established homes and again went through the hardships they had endured in Iowa, but under more pleasant surroundings as the Oregon country was a veritable garden spot. At the age of fifteen John Ellerbroek was found at work in a woolen mill at Oregon City, Oregon, and at this young age mastered the art of making cloth and within a short time was made foreman. He later was employed in a brick making establishment, and at the age of about 19 left Portland for San Francisco. From there he and his brother Peter returned to Iowa by rail as the railroad had been completed in the meantime. Again, the call of the pioneer was strong and he and his brother Peter located in the then new Holland colony at Orange City.
The colony was being established at that time and for a few years he was employed on farms near Orange City. Carefully saving his money he at the age of about 23 entered business at Orange City, establishing a combination business of boots and shoes and jewelry and in a short time employing both a jeweler and shoemaker as his assistants. His business prospered and in 1880 he was united in marriage to Mary Vander Stoep. In 1884 the call of the pioneer again made itself felt and again he left for the unknown. In company with his brother Peter they located in what was then Dakota Territory (now South Dakota) and helped establish the town of Grand View. They entered the drug business there. At that time Grand View was about 45 miles from any railroad. When a railroad was finally built into that country the end of the road was a new town named Armour and was about seven miles from Grand View. Practically the entire town was moved to Armour and John Ellerbroek continued in business in Armour until 1890 when he returned to Sioux County, Iowa and located in Sioux Center. Here he entered business in this newly established town with Andrew Vander Stoep, which partnership continued until 1897, when it was dissolved and Mr. Ellerbroek continued alone until about 1926 having been continuously in the merchandise business for over 50 years. In 1902 the lure of the Pioneer again appealed to Mr. Ellerbroek and he in company with others from Sioux Center homesteaded in Lyman County, South Dakota, at that time about 50 miles from the nearest railroad. He and his family spent about 18 months on those lonely prairies when he again returned to Sioux County.

(5) Mary Ellerbroek 1858 – 1944 Mrs. Mary Cornelius Hornstra / Theo Wynia of Springfield SD in 1931. No local obituary found. Ancestry.com public member trees and Find A Grave lists Mary Hornstra Wynia born 2 Jun 1858 Pella IA died 27 Oct 1944 Springfield Bon Homme County SD. She married Cornelis Jans Hornstra born 1848 Neth died 24 Feb 1923 Hancock Bon Homme SD. The Hornstra children were John C. Hornstra 1875-1924, Gerrit C. Hornstra 1877-1949, Adeline Hornstra 1879, Jeanette Hornstra 1880-1882, George Hornstra 1882-1957 , Peter C. Hornstra 1885-1952, Edgar 1887-1971, Ernest Hornstra 1890-1966 and Mabel Hornstra 1895-1968.

(6) Peter Mars Obituary of Peter Mars 1861-1939 Source: Sioux County Capital (6-1-1939) Born: 1861 Died: May 24, 1939. Peter Mars, 78, died at the home of his son, Lige Mars near Seney on Wednesday, May 24. He was suffering with old age complications, but seemed to be as well as usual when he retired Tuesday evening. When the family got up Wednesday morning they found him dead in his bed. He was born at Pella. In early youth he went with his parents, Luitje and Jennie (Vander Meer) Mars, to Oregon making the trip across the country with an ox team. In 1873 they came back and settled in South Dakota where he was married to Sarah Dykstra in 1884. He is survived by three children, Lige at Seney, Mrs. Neal Brouwer, Orange City, Mrs. Kate Zuiderhof, Colton, South Dakota. Other survivors are a brother Simon Mars of Hornick, and a sister Mrs. Henry Kuipers, Platte,Hor South Dakota and also 19 grandchildren. Funeral services were held Friday at the home and at the Christian Reformed Church at Hospers with the Reverend Mr. J.H. Geerlings officiating.

(7) Adeline Mars Mrs Henry Kuipers 1863-1963– no obit found. From a family report on ancestry.com publis member trees, Aleida ‘Adeline’ Mars was born 26 Jul 1863 Pella IA, died 3 Sep 1943 Platte Charles Mix S. D. She was married in 1883 to Hendrik Albert ‘Henry’ Kuipers 1856-1936. They were the parents of Luitje Kupers 1887-1950, Albert Kupers 1899-1977, Jennie Kuipers 1892-1953, Conrad Kupers 1896-1955, Mary Kuipers 1899-1940 and Peter Kuipers 1902-1958.

(8) Simon Mars - Obituary - Simon Mars 1865-1943 From the Sioux County Capital, September 16, 1943: Simon Mars Dies Simon Mars, 80, of Hornick, Iowa, died in Sioux City Monday. He was an uncle of Lige Mars of Seney. Services were held in the Van Etten Funeral Home here with Rev. Mr. Lake of Hornick officiating. Burial was in Hospers cemetery Wednesday. RESEARCH NOTES His FindaGrave.com page has Simon Mars, born 7 ??? 1865 in Pella, Iowa, died 13 Sep 1943 in Sioux City, buried in Hospers Cemetery, Sioux County, Iowa. Parents Lurje Mars (1821-1898) and Jannetje Vander Meer Mars (1823-1907). Siblings Peter Ellerbroek (1851-1931), John Ellerbroek (1852-1932), Mary Ellerbroek Hornstra (1858-1944), Peter Mars (1860 or 1861-1939), Adeline Mars Kuipers (1863-1943). The 1870 U.S. census shows Luije and Jannie Marse (born in Holland) and children Isaac (16), Mary (12), Peter (9), Simon (6), and Adiline (6), all born in Iowa, living in Oregon City, Clackamas County, Oregon, where Luije and Isaac are factory workers. In 1880 Luitje and Jannetje Mars are farming in West Branch Township, Sioux County with children Peter (19) Alida (17) and Simon (17) or 15 . In the 1895 Iowa state census Luily (73), Jeneta (69), and Simon (30) Mars are in Willow Township [Hornick?], Iowa, where Luily’s occupation is “hardware”; Simon is noted as born in Marion [County], Iowa, with no occupation given. In 1900 Simon (34) is living in Hornick with his widowed mother Jeanetta (immigrated from Holland in 1860), where he is a tinsmith. In 1910 Simon is living alone in Hornick, where he is a tinner with his own shop. In 1920 he is a tinner in a hardware store in Hornick; his surname is spelled Mears. In 1930 (age 65) he is an odd jobs laborer in Hornick, and in 1940 (age 77) he is again a tinner in a hardware store there.

Here ends a brief collection of articles gathered on the unique life of Lutje Mars. More could be found but imperative to move on to others pioneers biographies.

The picture of Luje Mars and his wife Jannetje Van der Meer is from the book Story of Sioux County, family album section in the back of the book, page thirty two.

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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