Huibregtse, Henry John, 1864-1926

HUIBREGTSE, VERVELDE, HARTMAN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:34

From the Sioux County Index (Hull), May 7, 1926:

H. J. HUIBREGTSE DIES

This community was shocked, last week Thursday morning, to hear of the death of Mr. H. J. Huibregtse, one of the early settlers and pioneer business men of the town of Hull, at his home in Sheldon. Sincere sympathy is extended by the many friends in Hull to the surviving wife and children.

OBITUARY

Henry J. Huibregtse was born in Oostburg, Sheboygan County, Wis., July 24, 1864, and died in Sheldon, Ia., April 29, 1926, having thus reached the age of sixty-one years and nine months. He was the oldest of thirteen children born to Henry and Gizina Huibregtse. When Henry was but seventeen years of age his father died, and indeed, all that large family have passed on except one sister, Mrs. Lena Meerdink, of Hull, Iowa, and two brothers, A. T. Huibregtse, of Hingham, Wisconsin and S. E. Huibregtse, of Ripon, Wisconsin.

On April 7, 1886, Mr. Huibregtse was married to Minnie Hartman. To this union eight children were born: Cynthia (Mrs. George Lensink), of Sheldon, Jennie (Mrs. J. H. Lammers), of Eagle Butte, S.D., Lena (Mrs. Jacob Moss) of Hull, Delia (Mrs. John DeGroot), of Hull, John A. Huibregste, of Matlock, and Minnie of Sheldon [yes, only six were listed in the obit]. Ten grandchildren are also in this succession. All these are living, and his widow mourn his loss.

As a young man, Mr. Huibregtse took up farming and for three years worked a farm in Wisconsin. Then in 1889 he came with his brother John, only recently deceased, to Iowa and settled on a farm at Sioux Center, where he remained a year. After this he moved to his own farm three and a half miles from Hull. After a short occupancy of this place he bought an interest in a farm implement and hardware business in Hull, the firm becoming known as Harrington & Huibregtse. In this business he continued until 1899, when he and his brother Joe built the Hull Roller Mill in which he continued until Joe’s health compelled him to cease work. Not wishing to continue this work alone, Mr. Huibregtse took the management of The Farmers’ Elevator Co. at Hull in 1908, where he continued for eleven years. Since then he has made his home in Sheldon, except for about a year during which he had charge of an elevator in Orange City.

Mr. Huibregtse early committed himself to the Christian religion, and has ever been a devout and consistent servant of his Lord. He united with the Reformed Church with her who later was to become his wife, and they became charter members of the first Christian Endeavor Society in this section, an organization meeting with considerable opposition at the time from the older people, who thought there was danger in the step of allowing the young people too much liberty in the church. Later, when the Presbyterian church was organized in Hull, they transferred their membership to the new organization, and when they removed to Sheldon placed their letters with the Congregational Church there. The deceased was also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and held membership in the Hull Camp until he was transferred to the Sheldon Camp.

Such is the story in brief of a life well lived in the humbler walks of life, a life honored by all who knew him and sincerely mourned by his loved ones and a wide acquaintance in this part of the country.

Funeral services were conducted by his pastor, Reverend H. O. Allen, at the late home in Sheldon on Saturday at 1:30, and at the church at 2:00 o’clock. Interment took place at Hull, where The Woodmen conducted the last rites. Hymns sung were Nearer My God to Thee, and Sleep Thy Last Sleep.

Relatives and friends from a distance attending the funeral were Mrs. Mary Huibregtse, daughter Henrietta and son Edward, and G. W. Meerdink, all of Oostburg, Wis., Mrs. John Huibregtse and family of Sanborn, Mr. Elmer Huibregtse of Sioux Falls, S.D., John DeGooyer of Hollandale, Minn., Mrs. A. A. Roos and Mrs. Hyink, of Alton, Mr. and Mrs. H. Fahlenkamp, of Hartley, Frank Collins and Mr. Walsh, of Sioux City, Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Hein of Sibley, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Snap and Miss Minnie Pereau, of Lakewood, Iowa.

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An abbreviated version of this obituary was published in the Boyden Reporter, May 13, 1926.

FindaGrave.com gives his full name as Henry John Huibregtse; spouse Wilhelmina Huibregtse; and adds the name of another child, Henry William Huibregtse. The entry for his mother, Geziena Engelina Huibregtse, gives her maiden name as Ver Velde.