Kleinhesselink, Johanna Theodore, Mrs. Arend John, 1848-1932

KLEINHESSELINK, SMITS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/19/2011 at 20:37:34

Came to America When 18--To Sioux County in Year 1871

Mrs. A. J. Kleinhesselink, one of the few surviving pioneers who settled in this county when it was a waving sea of prairie grass back in 1871, died at her home in Orange City Friday [Oct. 7] at the age of 84 years, eight months and three days. The funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the First Reformed church there, Rev. H. Colenbrander officiating.

The story of her life is the romantic tale of the pioneer. Her maiden name was Johanna Theodora Smith and she was born in the Netherlands on February 4, 1848. She came to the United States just after the Civil War, when she was 18 years of age, with her parents, brothers and sisters, the family settling at Alto, Wisconsin, and two years later--on June 1, 1868, she was united in marriage to Arend John Kleinhesselink. Three years later they came by prairie schooner to Sioux county, among the very earliest settlers in this part of the county, with LeMars, then a crude settlement, the nearest trading point.

Her life was that of every early settler who stayed through the grasshopper scourges of the '70s. They stayed because they could not get the money necessary to move away. With the passing of the years, however, the prairie sod became scarcer and scarcer and the fields of corn larger and ever larger. Those who had stuck out the grasshopper years began to prosper. The young couple had settled and homesteaded on the farm just south of Orange City where they lived and prospered until the death of Mr. Kleinhesselink in 1903, and where their eight children were born. After her husband's death October 29, 1903, Mrs. Kleinhesselink moved to a home on south main street in Orange City which had ever since remained her home.

The six children surviving their parents are John and William Kleinhesselink, both of Maurice; Minnie (Mrs. William Van Meveren) of Orange City; Annie (Mrs. John A. Roelofs) of Orange City; Johanna and Arie, at home. Mina, another daughter, died in infancy, and a fifth daughter, Dora (Mrs. Henry Boone) passed away on December 7, 1931. She is also survived by 24 grandchildren and 43 great grandchildren. Also by one sister, Mrs. E. Langerack, and one brother, Mr. John Smits, both of Maurice. About two weeks ago a girlhood friend, Mrs. H. W. Beerbink, passed away.

Among those from other towns who attended the funeral here Monday were the following: From Hospers: Mrs. Draayom, Arie Boone, Mrs. Herman Rozeboom, Mrs. W. Rouwenhorst. From Sheldon: Andrew Boone. From Sioux Center: Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Beernink, Mrs. Ella De Mots, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Roelofs, Frank Kaiken, William Boone, Jim Brommer and their wives. From Alton: Mr. and Mrs. Will and Fred Kooreman, Miss Jennie Kooreman. From Maurice: The John and Ted Smits families, Jane Veldboom, Dick Hansma, Will De Jager, Mrs. E. Langerack and son Arnold; also A. De Raad and Mr. and Mrs. Jake Hop of Ireton; as well as a host of other friends.

Source: Alton Democrat, October 14, 1932.