Heemstra, Albert 1863-1940

HEEMSTRA, SPAAN

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 4/2/2017 at 21:59:45

Source : Sioux County Capital (3-28-1940)

Born: 1863
Died: 1940

The loss of one of Sioux County’s pioneer families, Albert Heemstra, 76, died Thursday noon at a local hospital. He had been ill for a month with a kidney infection.

Mr. Heemstra was born in Vriesland, Michigan and came to Sioux County with his parents when he was 6 years old. His father homesteaded the place one mile south of Orange City and Mr. Heemstra lived there until past middle age. On this farm was the first store in this county.

Mr. Heemstra recalled vividly the days of the grasshopper plague, the terrors of the early day prairie fires and the severe blizzards of those early winters. He remembered the coming to Alton and Orange City, of the first trains with whistles blowing, and flags flying. He saw the establishment of the first church and school and was a “first pupil” in the latter. He remembered the bringing of the records from Calliope which made Orange City the county seat.

He was a charter member of the Trinity Church Board of Trustees in 1920.

Surviving are his wife, Anna (Spaan) Heemstra, 6 sons and 1 daughter: Theodore, Albert, Jr., Cyrus and Cornelia, Mrs. John Vande Steeg all of Orange City, Henry of Hospers, George of Lake City, Florida, Dr. Louis of Beltsville, Maryland. There are 11 grndchildren.

Funeral services were held in the home at 1 P.M. and in the Trinity Church at 1:30 with Reverend Mr. J.G. Brouwer officiating. Burial was made in Orange City Cemetery.