Braskamp, Albertus 1854-1929

BRASKAMP, ROUWENHORST

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 8/10/2016 at 19:59:27

Source: Alton Democrat (5-17-1929)

Birth: May 29, 1854
Death: May 14, 1929

PIONEER OF ALTON CALLED TO BEYOND
Albertus M. Braskamp In Hardware Business Here Ever Since 1877

A pioneer business man of Alton - A.M. Braskamp, Sr., died Tuesday evening after an illness of only a few days. Although the end was expected the news of the pioneer hardware merchant's death came as a shock to his host of friends.

He was in his store last Wednesday and attended prayer meeting that evening. Thursday he was confined to bed and came down with double pneumonia and pleurisy and because of his age he failed rapidly.

His son, Reverend Bernard Braskamp, arrived Monday morning from Washington, D.C., and Miss Christina reached here Monday noon, having been notified at Los Angeles, California, Friday night. She made the first part of the trip by airplane from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. Dick L. Braskamp arrived early in the week from Aberdeen, South Dakota, Bert from Sheldon and Reverend Otto Braskamp was expected from New York City Wednesday.

Mr. Braskamp was born in Appeldoorn, Netherlands, May 28, 1854 and would therefore have been 75 years old the 28th of this month. He came to America when 21 years of age, first locating at Waupun. Wisconsin, coming to Sioux County two years later in 1877, and engaging in the hardware business at Alton immediately.

He married in April 1879, Miss Gertrude Rouwenhorst, the Reverend Betten, Sr., performing the ceremony at Orange City. Mr. and Mrs. Braskamp were married 50 years in April but were planning to celebrate the occasion the latter part of this month when all the children could be home, but death intervened and frustrated their plans.

The wedlock was blessed by six children, one having died at the age of five.

Mr. Braskamp was a pioneer member of the First Reformed Church of Alton, since February 1880. He was a member of the consistory for some twenty-five years, holding the office of deacon and later as elder. He taught in the Sunday school and Bible classes for a number of years. Having always taken an active part in the church activities for so many years the local congregation will feel the loss of the esteemed brother greatly.

Mr. and Mrs. Braskamp spent the past two winters in California with their daughter, Miss Christina, and had only recently returned to Alton when Mr. Braskamp contracted the fatal illness.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Gertrude Braskamp; his five children, Albert M. Jr., engaged in the hardware business at Sheldon; Miss Christina J., one of the faculty of the Los Angeles Bible Institute, Los Angeles, California; Reverend Otto, missionary for the Presbyterian Church in Shantung, China; Reverend Bernard, pastor of the Canton-Temple Memorial Presbyterian Church of Washington, D.C., and Dick L., manager of the Lincoln Hospital, Aberdeen, South Dakota. Two grandchildren, Howard, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Braskamp of Sheldon, and Anne Bernice, daughter of Reverend and Mrs. B. Braskamp, also survive the Pioneer Alton business man.

Mr. Braskamp was the oldest hardware man, in point of service, in the county - a service to the people of the community extending over a period of 52 years. Only lately had he discussed plans for selling his business, a course his children had advised some years ago, and last week authorized; the insertion of a small advertisement in the paper advertising his business for sale. If the business was sold Mr. and Mrs. Braskamp probably would have moved to California.

His business was always run on a high standard of integrity. Wholesale bills were invariably discounted and the business carried an A-l rating. For more than two score years and ten the store served the hardware needs of the community while other stores came and went. This in itself is testimony as to the high regard and confidence of the community for Mr. Braskamp and his business.

His children were educated in the greatest universities in the land and justified his confidence by going far in their field of endeavor, yet Mr. Braskamp remained the same and calm and dignified fellow-townsman. He laid down his life too soon to celebrate his golden wedding anniversary but when all the other hopes of his live had been fulfilled. His greatest delight was in the annual homecomings of the children who never failed, when possible, to be here for even a few days during each year, and the greatest regret now in his passing was that he missed the homecoming the first of June when the two missionary children, the pastor from Washington and Bert and Dick, would be here.

Funeral services will be held this Thursday afternoon, at 1:45 o'clock at the home and at two o'clock at the First Reformed Church. The pastor, Reverend J.R. Enwema, will be assisted in the services by Reverend H. Colenbrander, pastor of the First Reformed Church, Orange City. A number of relatives living in Michigan and Wisconsin have been notified but at this time it is not known how many will be able to come.

Stores and business places will be closed during the funeral of Mr. A. Braskamp this afternoon.