DeJong, Koenrad, 1848-1921

DEJONG, VANZEE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/28/2012 at 13:50:48

KOENRAD DE JONG, PIONEER, PASSES ON

Koenrad DeJong, one of the earliest settlers in Sioux county, passed away Wednesday evening at nine o'clock at his home in Orange City. The funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. from the home and at 2:00 p.m. from the Dutch Reformed church at Orange City this Saturday afternoon.

Last July the pioneer went to Battle Creek, Michigan, for the advice of doctors and they told him that he had cholitis. Later he went to Chicago on the advice of his son, Dr. C. De Jong, of Grand Rapids, and for some time took treatment there and believed that he was improving. A slight stroke of paralysis set in, however, and his son, S. De Jong of Orange City, went to Chicago and returned home with him. For some time he had been irrational and could eat nothing but the juice of an orange and milk, growing weaker and suffering much until the end came to relieve all pain and suffering.

The pioneer was born on December 9, 1848 at Pella, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Koenrad De Jong. He came to Sioux county in 1869 and settled a mile north of Alton where he lived for many years, finally moving to Orange City 17 years ago where he has lived since.

Mr. De Jong was a great worker, a man of marvelous energy, and accomplished wonders on his large farm. He was married in Pella on March 8, 1871, to Miss Pietertje Van Zee, and his wife and mother survive him. Eight of the children are living, one son being accidentally scalded in 1892 when he fell into a tub of hot water, dying soon after. This was Anthonie Arie.

The oldest of the children is Dr. C. DeJong, a physician at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Next comes S. DeJong, a prominent farmer and livestock breeder north of Orange City; Mrs. Hubert Mullenburg, Orange City; Mrs. John Nieuwendorp, Newkirk; Henry DeJong, Orange City; Gerrit, Ethan, S. Dak.; Joe, Sheldon; Mrs. C. Sterrenburg, Lyons, S. Dak.

Two brothers and one sister also survive: Wm. DeJong of Maurice; P. H. DeJong of Newkirk and Mrs. C. Sterrenburg of Los Angeles, Calif.

Proobably the most interesting event in Mr. DeJong's life was his trip through the Orient in 1913. Since then he has given many lectures in South Dakota and Minnesota, as well as nearer home, upon his trip and conditions in the East as he found them. He was a great worker in the church as shown by the fact that he has belonged to the consistory of the Reformed church almost longer than can be remembered and has taught a Sunday school class for 49 years.

Mr. DeJong had the reputation of being a splendid farmer. He believed in hard work and the results on his farm showed the effects of it. The county is better off for having had for a period of over fifty years a resident like Mr. DeJong and the bereaved wife and mother and children have the sympathy of all in their hour of sorrow.

Source: Alton Democrat, January 8, 1921.