Balster, John M., 1844-1927

BALSTER, BOLSTER, OORLOG, VOS, VANDERKAMP, ODENGA

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

From the Alton Democrat, April 15, 1927, Boyden news:

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon for J. M. Bolster who died at his home Thursday after an illness of some duration. He was 83 years of age and had been a resident of Boyden for several years past. He leaves a wife, three sons and one daughter to mourn his passing, who have the sympathy of many friends. Those relatives from out of town present at the funeral were H. Bolster, Maple Lake, Minn.; John and Bert Bolster of Sheldon and Mrs. Vander Kamp of Archer. The body was taken to Hospers for interment.

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From the Boyden Reporter, April 7, 1927:

J. M. BALSTER CALLED BY DEATH

J. M. Balster, for many years a resident of Boyden, died at his home in the southwest part of town, on Wednesday afternoon at about 3:00 o’clock P.M. Funeral service will be held Saturday at the First Reformed church and interment will be made at Hospers.

Deceased was born in Germany, on April 8, 1844 and had he lived until tomorrow, he would have reached the age of 83 years. In the year of 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Oorlog, and in the year of 1890, they came to America, where they lived for two years at Hospers. To this union four sons and one daughter were born, one son dying at the age of 25 years. The children who are living are Haro, of Maple Lake, Minn.; John and Bert of Sheldon and Mrs. M. Vander Kamp of Archer. Mrs. Balster died in the year of 1905 and in 1911 the deceased was married to Mrs. Mary Vos. They have resided at Boyden since their marriage. The Reporter extends sympathy to the bereaved family.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Sources are inconsistent as to the correct spelling of the surname. He does not appear in the Sioux County Cemetery Index, but there is an entry for Bolster, John Mrs., died 20 June 1905 and buried in the Hospers cemetery. There are also two other Bolsters, but no Balsters.

Iowa Deaths and Burials on Ancestry.com has him as John Martin Bolster.

His death certificate has John Martin Bolster or Balster (handwriting unclear); died at Boyden where he had been a resident 13 years; wife Mary Balster; born April 8, 1844 in the Netherlands; parents not known to the informant, Bert Balster; occupation, retired farmer; died at 3:30 p.m. April 6, 1927, cause “infirmity of old age – heart failure”; buried at Hospers.

The 1900 U.S. census for Summit Township, O’Brien County has John M. Balster, age 56, born in Holland Nov. 1843, married 28 years, a farmer; wife Annie, age 56, born in Holland April 1843, mother of 5 children, all living; son Bert (26), born in Holland March 1874; and son Jacob (16), born in Holland December 1883; all immigrated in 1892; John and Bert are naturalized

He was not found in a review of the 1920 U.S. census for Boyden; however, there is an Edd Balster listed. He does appear in the 1925 Iowa state census for Boyden, as John M. Balster, age 80, born in Holland, U.S. resident 32 years, naturalized; father’s name looks like Hero Balster; mother’s name too blurred to read. Living with wife Mary (59), who owns their $2000 home, and Jack (28), Tony (24), Mary (21), and Minart? (19) Vos.

The Iowa marriage index on Ancestry.com has him as John M. Bolster. The 1911 marriage register for Osceola County has John M. Bolster or Balster (handwriting unclear but looks more like Bolster), age 65, retired farmer, resident of Sheldon, born in Holland, parents Hero Balster and T. Odenga, 2nd marriage; bride Mary Voss, age 47, maiden name Mary Vanderkamp, resident of Boyden, born in Holland, parents Walter Vanderkamp and Teotoze[???] Brummer, 2nd marriage; married at Sibley, Iowa, February 23, 1911.