Hoeven, Evert and Aaaltje

HOEVEN, MULDER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/17/2013 at 20:52:42

A GOLDEN WEDDING

Mr. and Mrs. Evert Hoeven of Alton are today celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary amidst a patriarchal family of children and a host of friends. For fifty years they have toiled together through fair weather and foul--through joyful days and sorrowful ones. Today with a competence laid aside for their closing years and with a family gathered about their table of which they may well feel proud they are celebrating in one of the most elegant homes of Alton their golden jubilee.

Seventy-five years ago last Wednesday in the little village of Hardwick Nederlands Evert Hoeven was born. Sixty-eight years ago on the twentysixth day of last March in the same village was born Aaltje Mulder. On the first day of June 1857 Evert Hoeven led Aaltje Mulder to the altar and they were united for life. For eight years they lived in the Nederlands and then came to America. They lived at Pella from 1865 to 1871. That was the year they came to the county of Sioux and homesteaded a quarter section three and a half miles northwest of Hospers where they lived till four years ago. They have since lived in Alton where they are and ever have been among the most respected people of the town.

Fourteen children were born to them and twelve are with them today. Henry Hoeven died in 1894 and John Hoeven in 1896. The living in order of age are Ben of George, Mrs. John Oolbekkink of Newkirk, George of Alton, Mrs. John De Bruin of Hospers, Andrew of Orange City, Joe of Hull, Mrs. Conrad De Jong of Hospers, Mesdames Bert Braskamp and Neil Idema of Alton who are twins, Jacob of Sioux Center, Isaac of Rock Valley, Abe of Alton. All are married except Isaac and Abe and there are today at the Hoeven home thirtyone grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The grandchildren are distributed as follows: the Oolbekkinks six, the De Bruins four, George and Andrew each four, John and Joe each three, the De Jongs and the Idemas each two, Jake and Ben and the Braskamps each one. The three great-grandchildren are the children of Mr. and Mrs. John Teeslink junior of Hospers. Mrs. Teeslink was an Oolbekkink. It certainly is as happy a throng as one could wish to look in upon. It is a scene of rest after toil--of joy after sorrow. It is the beautiful sunset toward the close of the clouded day.

Not by any means were the days all clouded for those worthy people who today celebrate the close of fifty years together--but the cloudy days came. They saw pioneer life in the county of Sioux and some of it was strenuous. They lived through the grasshopper times when others fled and left their claims. The first winter they were here Mr. Hoeven shoveled snow on the Omaha road for forty days between Hospers and St. James Minnesota. He was glad of the work. On March fourth at the close of that winter there were places where you could walk over the telegraph wires on the drifts. They traded in LeMars in those days and hauled their wood from the Rock and Sioux river bottoms fifteen to twenty-five miles. Thus they struggled on and raised their children and became one of the substantial families of the county of Sioux.

About sixteen years ago the Hoevens retired on the farm and let the boys manage things. They had acquired 800 acres of Sioux county land and it was enough. They have since taken their ease. No driving horses were nicer than theirs and rubber tired rigs were none too good. Today they ride in one of the finest automobiles in the northwest and Mr. Hoeven despite his years cuts the corners with it like a boy. Long may these estimable people live to enjoy their beautiful home and its accessories and their family and friends.

Source: Alton Democrat, June 1, 1907.
The article includes photographs of Mr. and Mrs. Hoeven.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Hoeven, Evert Sr., born 28 May 1832, died 13 March 1921, buried Newkirk Cemetery; and Hoeven, Evert Mrs., born 26 March 1839, died 10 Feb 1919, buried Newkirk Cemetery.