DeVries, Herman E. 1884-1934

DEVRIES, DUISTERMARS, DE VRIES

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg (email)
Date: 6/27/2014 at 19:42:16

All northwest Iowa was shocked by the sudden death early Friday of Col. H.E. De Vries. Mr. De Vries was killed when his car ran into the guard rail on Highway No. 10, a short distance east of the Million Dollar corner. It is believed that he fell asleep at the wheel. The auto ran into the guard on one side of the road and then evidentially rebounded to the other side and back again into the fence. The bar across the top of the guard crashed through the windshield, striking Col. De Vries in the head, killing him instantly. Another two by four was driven through the door joint and out of the rear window of his coupe. Mr. De Vries was found at about one o'clock by Faber, an Orange City trucker. According to Coroner Dr. A. D. Jongewaard the auctioneer had been dead about an hour before he was found.

Col. De Vries had cried the sale of the Peter Nye Estate, near Sheldon the afternoon previous to his death. In the evening he went to Granville where he visited at the home of Nye's parents and consoled them over the untimely and unfortunate death of their son. Less than twenty-four hours after Mr. De Vries had comforted them the same family was offering condolences to the De Vries family.

In the passing of Mr. De Vries thousands of people in this vicinity lost a friend. During the fifteen years of his auctioneering Col. De Vries won friends in the three states of Iowa, S.D. and MN. Col. De Vries was straight forward and honest in his dealings. When he worked a sale farmers placed absolute confidence in his word.

Mr. De Vries was born in the Netherlands, April 20, 1884. He came to America when but four years old and lived at Maurice. His father died just half a year after their arrival in American and as a consequence Mr. De Vries was forced to work ever since a lad. His education was limited to three years in Public school. However, although he attended school for so short a time he always kept on learning.He admired the ability in others, and was always grateful for the help given him by friends by which he improved himself.

In 1906 Mr. De Vries was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Duistermars. Previous to his marriage he had served for several years as a rural mail carrier, beginning when but 20 years old. For two years he engaged in the implement business. In 1908 he went to the farm. He continued at his occupation until 1919 when he moved to Sioux Center and attended the Jones Auctioneering School in Chicago. Immediately after finishing his course he became a partner in the auctioneering team of Ramaker and De Vries. During the fifteen years of association the two men cried sales in the three northwest states. Their total number of sales approximated 2000.

Col. De Vries played an active part in the life of the Sioux Center community. For many years before he moved to Sioux Center he served as Welcome Twp. trustee. He was also chairman of the Northwest Iowa Breeders Assn. before he was an auctioneer. For ten years he was a member of the board of directors of the local Cooperative Gas and Oil Company, serving as secretary and was just recently elected president of that organization. He was also honored by the election to the presidency of the local Volunteer Fire Dept. this year and appointed to the County Corn-Hog committee. Mr. De Vries helped organize the Sioux Center Livestock Sales Co. and was a member at the time of his death. For a number of years he headed the hardware firm of De Vries and Van Aller, before he sold out; not having enough time to attend to both his auctioneering and merchandise business.

Col. De Vries is survived by his widow, three daughters, Arte who is an instructor in the local public school; Mrs. Dan Voordeman and Clarine, who is a rural school teacher; a son Lorance, a senior in high school a brother County Supervisor P.E. De Vries; and two sisters, Mrs. Arie Reekers and Mrs. Gerrit Te Horst, both of Orange City. A daughter preceded him in death in 1919.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the home and 1:30 at the First Reformed Church with Rev. J. H. Keuning officiating, assisted by Rev. L.A. Brunsting. Mr. De Vries was a member of the Central Reformed Church but the services were held at the other church to accomodate the enormous concourse that attended the last rites. Approximately 1500 people attended the services and paid silent homage at his coffin. Other hundreds had comforted the family previous to the funeral. Interment was in the local cemetery. Pall bearers were Henry Ramaker, Dr. N. R. Jongewaard, Lane Kosters, Ben Poll, J. P. Schutt, and Peter Hanson of Alton who clerked his last sale.

Source: Sioux Center News March 3, 1934
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NOTE:
“The Sioux County Cemetery Index has De Vries, Herman E., b. 1884, d. 1934, Father, Memory Gardens, Sioux Center IA.”