VanDronkelaar, Gysbert, died 1922

VANDRONKELAAR, DRONKLAAR, SCHUURMAN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/29/2017 at 18:54:50

[His fatal accident was covered briefly in most of the area newspapers. The news notes below each add bits of information not found in the others. He was not found in the Sioux County Cemetery Index.]

From the Rock Valley Bee, December 22, 1922, local news:

Guys Van Dronkelaar, who works part of the Schweppe farm southeast of Rock Valley, met with a fatal accident last week Wednesday [December 13] when he was coming home from Sioux Center. He was riding in a buggy with Tenus Van Essen. Their team became frightened at a chicken truck and threw both men from the buggy. Mr. Van Essen escaped injury, but Mr. VanDronkelaar struck the ground on his head fracturing his skull. Rev. Colenbrander of Rock Valley happened along in his car and took the men to Sioux Center and Mr. Van Dronkelaar was later taken to the hospital at Hull where he died soon afterwards. Funeral services were held at Hull Friday. The deceased was a single man with no near relatives around here. He was distantly related to the Schurmans at Hull.

* * * * * * * * * *

From the Sioux County Index (Hull), December 15, 1922:

A man by the name of Gysbert Dronklaar residing at Sioux Center, was killed in a runaway accident on the K. T. between Perkins and Sioux Center, Wednesday. He and another man were driving a team and wagon when they met an auto. The team became unmanageable and upset the wagon and the man's skull was fractured.

* * * * * * * * * *

From the Sioux County Index, December 22, 122:

The funeral of Mr. Dronklaar, who was killed last Thursday morning in a runaway accident, was held Friday afternoon from the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. Schuurman and burial was made in Hope Cemetery. Rev. J. H. Kregel of the First Reformed church conducted the services. Mr. Dronklaar was a cousin of Mrs. Schuurman.

[The administrator' notice for any claims against his estate to be presented gives his surname as Van Dronkelaar. Arnold Schuurman is administrator.]

* * * * * * * * * *

From the Alton Democrat, December 16, 1922, Sioux Center Times Department:

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WEDNESDAY
Guys Van Dronkelaar Injured Fatally When Thrown From Buggy

Gys Van Dronkelaar was thrown from the buggy in which he and Teunis Van Essen were returning home to Rock Valley from Sioux Center Wednesday and his skull was fractured at the base of the head. Rev. Colenbrander brought him to Sioux Center and he was rushed from there to the Hull hospital but died at 10 o'clock Wednesday night. The boys' team shied at a chicken truck and their buggy went over the embankment, tipping them out. Van Donkelaar landed on his head but Van Essen was unhurt.

The deceased was a young man with no close relatives in this country. He was distantly related to the Schurmans of Hull. He had been in Sioux Center making arrangements to rent a piece of land for the next year and had signed the lease shortly before the accident which caused his death.

* * * * * * * * * *

On Ancestry.com is a draft registration card for a man who is probably him: Gysbert Van Dronkelaar, home address Sioux Center; born February 2, 1988 in Ede, Gelderland, Netherlands; a farm laborer, working for Arie Bomgaards, Welcome Township; single, no dependents; tall, slender, brown eyes and hair.