Koster, Maartje Mrs. Jacob 1830-1924

KOSTER, DEMOTS

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/26/2011 at 09:35:02

Alton Democrat(12-Apr-1924)
FIRST WHITE WOMAN SETTLER PASSES
Mrs. Jacob Koster Born in 1830
First Child Died In Prairie Fire
(Sioux Center , Iowa –Special)

On Saturday at 10:30 o’clock April 5, the first Women settler in this vicinity passed to her eternal home. Mrs. Jacob Koster, who maiden name was Maasje DeMots had but once before in her lifetime and that last winter, had the attendance of a doctor, until two week ago when she took ill with a severe , which resulted in her death on Saturday evening. She was born in Putten , Gelderland , Netherland on March 29, 1830, nine years after the death of Napoleon Bonaparte. Mrs. Koster came to this country with her husband and six children in the early sixties. While crossing the country with her husband and children’s in a prairie schooner, men carrying fire arm with them. According to statement by the late Mrs. Koster told of Abe Lincoln death in 1865 just shortly after they came to this country. Mrs. Koster was fond of telling how they crossed the Lake Michigan in a small boat which had to stay near the shore in case anything happen that they could be towed to ashore, After spending a few years in Michigan and Minnesota they drove a prairie schooner from Greenleafton , Minnesota , In October 1871 to the spot now occupied our public school living in the prairies schooner wagon for six week after their arrival . Then they built a dugout and a little later built the first house in Sioux County, which is now occupied by Jerry Relsma.
The first child that died in Sioux Center was her daughter Johanna who died in a prairie fire at the age of seven years. Mrs. Koster experience the trying grasshopper time and all of the hardship of the early pioneers. She lost her husband 1890. She is survived by seven children as follows; Jan Koster of Sanborn, Mrs. John Mouw of Los Angeles, California , Mrs. Peter Mouw of Orange City, Mrs. Niemantsverdriet of Maurice , Mrs. Van Otterloo of Rock Valley, Mrs. Peerebolte of Muskegon Michigan and Mrs. H. Kiel of Sioux Center . All of the children with the exception Mrs. John Mouw or Los Angeles were here to attend the last rite. The funeral services were held last Wednesday afternoon from the First Reformed Church.at 2 o’clock. Rev. Deleeuw officiated . The beloved mother was laid to rest by here little daughter Johanna.

~Photo submitted by descendant, Mrs. Wilma VandeBerg.

Sioux Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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