DeBruin, John and Marie (Mrs. John)

DEBRUIN, VANGENDEREN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/18/2013 at 08:52:12

Golden Wedding Anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. John DeBruin senior celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at Hospers Wednesday of this week--October tenth. They were married at Pella in 1856. To them seven children were born of whom five still live--all in Sioux county. They are John and Kryn and Will and Mrs. John Nieuwenhuis of Hospers and Mrs. Arie Bomgaars of Newkirk. A large company of friends and relatives were present to help this worthy couple and their children and grandchildren to celebrate this notable event in their lives. The guests were of the following families: Van Rooyen, Nieuwenhuis, Van Zyl, Roos, Brink, Hilbelink, Reinders, Klein, Tillma, Teeslink, Koolbeek, Ostenbrug, Alingh, Riepma, Zeldenthuis, Woertink, Landhuis, Hyink, Druger, Roetman, Leenhouts, De Boer, Wierks. The Hospers Cornet Band was present and rendered several airs and were presented with a liberal donation by the honored couple.

John De Bruin was born in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands in 1829. He came to the United States in 1853 and settled at Pella. Mrs. John de Bruin was born Marie Van Genderen in South Holland on the twentieth day of May 1832. She came to this country with her mother and brother in 1856 and located at Pella. There she met John De Bruin and there he led her to the altar on the tenth day of October 1856. After much wandering as detailed below they came to Sioux county in 1883 and have since resided in Hospers and vicinity.

Mr. and Mrs. De Bruin are well mated as their long and happy life together attests. They are of kindly and sunny disposition--just the kind of people who may age in years but never really grow old. John De Bruin is known to all his friends as a jovial companion--always appreciating a joke even though it be upon himself. The Democrat feels safe in saying that it voices the sentiments of all who know these excellent people when it wishes them many more years of happiness.

In looking through our files we find the following concerning the De Bruins in our issue of May third 1903. It is of interest at this time: "Fifty years ago this month John De Bruin senior came to this country from the Netherlands. His vessel was on the ocean fortytwo days and it was with great rejoicing he stepped ashore at New Orleans. He came up the Mississippi to Keokuk and rode behind an ox team to Pella. He labored until he had a small bank account and got married. With his wife he took a trip in 1860 to New York City and went by boat to Panama by way of Cuba. They crossed and embarked again--landing at San Francisco in the palmy days when the gold fever was still wild. They went from there to Oregon where he labored for some months to replenish his pocketbook and then returned overland to Pella. He has lived in Sioux county twenty years and owns three eighties near Hospers. He is seventythree years old and had a tussle with the grip the past winter but he doesn't look over sixty and from appearances ought to remain a resident of Sioux county for another twenty years."

Source: Alton Democrat, October 13, 1906.
The article includes photographs of Mr. and Mrs. De Bruin.