Schut, Sander 1839-1921 Fennetje Ten Houten 1840-1899

SCHUT, TENHOUTEN, HEETHAAR, DEZWAAN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg (email)
Date: 5/20/2019 at 15:00:42

Family history taken from the Sioux Center Centennial book of 1991, author Fannie and Edna Schut.

Schut, Sander and Fennitje Ten Houten.

Sander Schut was born January 26, 1839 at Uddel Netherlands. His parents were Peter Schut and Hendrika Heethaar. Peter Schut’s wife Hendrika was born June 25, 1808 and she died Dec 15, 1859 at Apeldoorn Netherlands. In April of 1866 Sander came to America with his father Peter and his brother Dirk. They came to the United States landing in New York. From there they traveled to Wisconsin by train. They settled on a farm in Wisconsin near Waupon. Fennitje Ten Houten,
Sander Schut’s wife and son Gerrit Jan came to America from Harderwijk, Netherlands in 1867. Fennitje’s parents were Gerrit Jan Ten Houten and Jannetje De Zwaan. Sander Schut worked for a man named Spencer while living in Wisconsin.

Brothers Gerrit and Peter Schut also came from the Netherlands in 1867. Two sisters remained in the Netherlands at Uddel, Gerrit Schut left from Wisconsin and moved to Norton KS. He was known there as George Scott.

Father Peter and brother Dirk Schut both died at Waupon and are buried there. In 1872, Sander and his wife, and sons Gerrit Jan and Dirk born in WI left for Sioux County, Iowa by covered wagon. They settled on a homestead two and one fourth miles east of Sioux Center. Their first home was a sod house. The West Branch farm is a Century Farm now (1991) occupied by a great great Grandson of Sander Schut. Elson Schut and his wife Debra, the parents of daughters Amber and Katelyn, are the fifth generation Schuts living on the farm.

After living in a sod house for a few years their frame home was built it was there that sons Peter, Teunis, Sander and Frank were born. They also had two daughters, Hendrika (Mrs. Adam Punt) and Johanna (Mrs. Peter Westra)

The first few years that they lived in West b=Branch Township, the family attended church at the First Reformed Church of Orange City. When the weather was good, they would walk so the horses could rest on Sunday. Since there were no bridges and no roads, they removed their shoes and stockings to ford the West Branch of the Floyd River. Lunch was carried so they could attend morning and afternoon services.

These settlers were firm believers in Christ so after the township and area became more settled a new church was organized. The organization took place on the farm of Sander’ brother, Peter, where the school house was located two miles east of Sioux Center. This became the First Reformed church of Sioux Center. Mr. and Mrs. Sander Schut became charter members and Sander was elected the first elder when it was founded May 17, 1877. He held that position until 1914, when he retired due to old age. He was made an honorary elder until his death on May 1, 1920/1921. (Newspaper says died in 1921)

Fennitje Schut died on September 6, 1899, due to inflammation of the intestines. (probably appendicitis)

On January 1, 1901 Sander married Anna Feenstra. She was born in Wartena, Friesland on Feb 1, 1863. She came to America in 1900 to be Sander’s housekeeper since the death of his wife left him with two young boys to raise. They later had a daughter Sandrene Anna Born on April 11, 1903.
After Sanders’ death, Anna married George De Witt of Holland Michigan. Later when a widow she made her home with Sandrene in Gran Haven Michigan.

She passed away Feb 17, 1949 and is buried in the Schut family plot in the Sioux Center Cemetery.

These early pioneers suffered great privation but in spite of their trials, they contributed much to the spiritual and material good of Sioux Center.

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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