Ellerbroek John 1852-1932

ELLERBROEK, VANDERSTOEP, MARKUS

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 5/22/2012 at 13:14:50

Sioux Center News, (September 29, 1932)

Mr. John Ellerbroek, formerly of Sioux Center, died at the Holland Home in Sheldon, Wednesday; Mr. Ellerbroek was born in Marion County, Iowa in 1852. In 1862 he moved with parents and others by ox caravan to Oregon. They were on the trail for months, suffering all the hardships of pioneers. Indians were troublesome and stole, all but three of their horses. He lived in Oregon until he was 19 years old when he came to Sioux County. Too young to take a land claim, he started a store in Orange City.
When the Dakota country opened up he moved to Douglas County, and for some years was in business in Grand View and Armour.

In 1890 he entered business in Sioux Center with Andrew Vander Stoep. This partnership was dissolved in 1897, after which Mr. Ellerbroek continued in business here alone until eight years ago.

Mr. Ellerbroek's first wife died in 1922. She was Mary Vander Stoep, a sister of Mrs. P. L. Schoep and of Andrew Vander Stoep. Four years ago he moved to the Holland home in Sheldon. Here he was married to Jennie Markus.
He had been ill all summer, and when he suffered a stroke last Wednesday he died in a few hours. He is survived by Mrs. Ellerbroek, five sons, Garret, Frank, Andrew, Pete, John and one daughter, Mrs. Johanna Olson, Fairmont, Minnesota. The funeral will be held from the Central Reformed Church Saturday at 2 P.M. Rev. Vis of Sheldon will preach the funeral sermon.

Alton Democrat, Friday, (October 7, 1932)
BELOVED MERCHANT JOHN ELLERBROEK PASSES ON - John Ellerbroek was born near Pella, Iowa on February 29, 1852. Died at Sheldon, Iowa, September 28, 1932.

John Ellerbroek was one of the few surviving pioneer residents of the State of Iowa. With exception of a few years spent elsewhere he witnessed the remarkable growth of Iowa for the past eighty years. He was born shortly after his parents located in the then newly organized Holland colony in and near Pella, Iowa, his parents making the trip to Pella from Amsterdam under many difficulties. They embarked on a sailing vessel and after 65 days arrived in New York. They encountered many storms and were tossed about by the waves and many times it seemed as through their ship would not survived. To add to their hardships a daughter was taken sick and died and was buried at sea. After arriving in New York the long trip to Iowa was begun, partly by river boats and partly by ox teams. After suffering many hardships they finally arrived in Iowa, and homesteaded there, being the very first to settle in that part of Iowa. Crude log cabins were built and homes were established. It was here that John Ellerbroek was born and spent his early boyhood days. At the age of twelve the spirit of adventuring and pioneering again appealed to the parents of Mr. Ellerbroek and they joined a wagon train and left Iowa for Oregon. Their wagon train was a mixed train consisting of horses, mules and oxen drawn wagons. All wagons were heavily loaded and all wagons were inspected before leaving Council Bluffs. The wagon containing the worldly belonging of the Ellerbroeks was declared unfit and a new wagon was substituted and the trip was finally under way. Five yoke of oxen carried their wagon and they were ready to venture into the unknown West.
They left Pella on May 1st and arrived in Portland, Oregon on October 28th. The Indians were on the war path during this time and the wagon train was constantly guarded. Their train was a large one and no attempt was made by the Indians to destroy it, although they were constantly harassed by roving bands of Indians and at one time all their stock and horses were stolen by the Indians, and a part of which was recovered and several of the Indians killed. In addition to the constant fear of being attacked by the Indians their exceedingly slow journey was beset with many other dangers and hardships. They experienced shortage of water and at times found too much water, when they were forced to cross rivers where there were no bridges. Bridges were unknown on that trip and rivers could only be crossed by fording at given points. Great difficulty was experienced in descending mountainsides. Many times it would take days to travel but very short distances, when every wagon be lowered with all wheels locked. This tedious and dangerous process was the only way to continue on the trail and as there was no turning back it was necessary to proceed, however, great the difficulties might be. Their great adventure finally came to an end and they arrived in Portland, with very little of their live stock left and but few of their oxen. Again the pioneers established homes and again went through the hardships they had endured in Iowa, but under more pleasant surroundings as the Oregon country was a veritable garden spot.

At the age of fifteen John Ellerbroek was found at work in a woolen mill at Oregon City, Oregon, and at this young age mastered the art of making cloth and within a short time was made foreman. He later was employed in a brick making establishment, and at the age of about 19 left Portland for San Francisco. From there he and his brother Peter returned to Iowa by rail as the railroad had been completed in the meantime. Again, the call of the pioneer was strong and he and his brother Peter located in the then new Holland colony at Orange City.
The colony was being established at that time and for a few years he was employed on farms near Orange City. Carefully saving his money he at the age of about 23 entered business at Orange City, establishing a combination business of boots and shoes and jewelry and in a short time employing both a jeweler and shoemaker as his assistants. His business prospered and in 1880 he was united in marriage to Mary Vander Stoep.

In 1884 the call of the pioneer again made itself felt and again he left for the unknown. In company with his brother Peter they located in what was then Dakota Territory (now South Dakota) and helped establish the town of Grand View. They entered the drug business there. At that time Grand View was about 45 miles from any railroad. When a railroad was finally built into that country the end of the road was a new town named Armour and was about seven miles from Grand View. Practically the entire town was moved to Armour and John Ellerbroek continued in business in Armour until 1890 when he returned to Sioux County, Iowa and located in Sioux Center. Here he entered business in this newly established town with Andrew Vander Stoep, which partnership continued until 1897, when it was dissolved and Mr. Ellerbroek continued alone until about 1926 having been continuously in the merchandise business for over 50 years. In 1902 the lure of the Pioneer again appealed to Mr. Ellerbroek and he in company with others from Sioux Center homesteaded in Lyman County, South Dakota, at that time about 50 miles from the nearest railroad. He and his family spent about 18 months on those lonely prairies when he again returned to Sioux County.