Van Rooyen, Walter, 1834-1903

VANROOYEN, MUILENBURG

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/14/2011 at 21:02:30

PIONEER GONE

Walter Van Rooyen died at his home in Newkirk last Thursday morning April second at seven oclock. Sixty-eight years ago last October he was born in the historic town of Utrecht Holland where he lived till seventeen years old. When he dropped his spade in the midst of tilling the soil of his native land and announced his determination of setting out for America his relatives had him examined for insanity. But he left them at that early age and crossed the ocean alone. He landed at New Orleans and came to Pella. Shortly before the rebellion he was married and was soon after drafted. Rather than leave his young wife and babes he hired a substitute for $1700 as many did in those strenuous days.

Four children were born to him of that union of whom two are living today. They are Cornelius and Mrs. John W. Muilenburg at Orange City. His wife dying he married Miss Jennie Muilenburg of Pella and to them there were born at Pella, Hubert now at Hosper and Mrs. Nic Balkema of Sioux Center.

With his family he came to Sioux county thirty-three years ago with the Hospers colony and helped found Orange City. He settled on a fine piece of land northeast of the new town and just south of where he later helped to found Newkirk. Here there were born to him six children. They are John, Jake, Mrs. James Hyink, Henry, Mrs. Ben Hyink, Joseph and one dead. He was one of the first deacons of the first church in Orange City and later an elder continuously till the founding of the church at Newkirk of which he was a charter member and an elder till death.

He was an upright man and the community was the better for his life. Three years ago he and his wife left the farm and established a home in Newkirk. He had been ailing for a year or more and confined to the house several weeks. His funeral Saturday was one of the largest ever seen in Sioux county. He was buried at Newkirk.

Source: Alton Democrat, April 11, 1903.
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NOTES:
(Additional information includes Wouter Van Rooyen was married to Hendrika Beyers 11 Jan 1860 in , Marion County IA, from the Marion County marriage records. From the Cemetery index Wouter Van Rooyen was born 26 Oct 1834 died 2 Apr 1903.)