Dykstra, John L., 1885-1930

DYKSTRA, PLUIM, NORBRUIS, DEKRUIF

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:32

From the Alton Democrat, October 17, 1930, Orange City news:

John Lin Dykstra, for many years the well known Singer sewing machine man, died Tuesday last in the state hospital at Cherokee. Funeral services were held at Orange City, Rev. Colenbrander officiating. Mr. Dykstra was 45 years and 7 months of age, and leaves a wife and four children.

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From the Ireton Ledger, October 16, 1930:

Word has been received here of the death of John Glenn Dykstra, formerly of Orange City, at the state hospital at Cherokee. Mr. Dykstra passed away Wednesday and funeral services were held in Orange City last Friday afternoon. Deceased was well known here as for a number of years he covered this community for the Singer Sewing Machine Co. He had been a patient at Cherokee for the past two years. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.

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From De Volksvriend, October 9, 1930:

Dinsdag morgen, 7 October, werd hier bericht ontvangen dat Mr. John Linn Dykstra dien morgen ten 7 ure in het hospitaal te Cherokee overleden was. Gedurende de laatste 17 jaren was hij steeds ziekelijk, en ongeveer twee jaar geleden werd zijn overbrenging naar gezegd hospitaal noodig geacht. Hij had den leeftijd van 45 jaar en ruim 7 maanden bereikt.

In 1908 trad hij in het huwelijk met Miss Maggie Pluim, te Alton, die hem vier kinderen schonk, Gertrude Lena, Hendrine, Emma Anna en Gysbert Egbert John. Benevens deze wordt hij overleefd door 2 broeders, Mike te Castlewood, S.D., Teunis te East Saugatuck, Mich., Mrs. D. Jurriaans, te Orange City, Ia., Mrs. H. Bartels te Sioux Center, Mrs. W. Westra, en de Misses Emma en Dora te Orange City. Twee zusters stierven op jeugdigen leeftijd, zijn moeder stierf toen hij nog jong was, en zijn vader ongeveer 14 jaar geleden.

De begrafnis is bepaald op Vrijdag. Om 1 uur dienst aan huis, en om half 2 in de le Ger. kerk alhier.

TRANSLATION

Tuesday morning, 7 October, a message was received that Mr. John Linn Dykstra had died at the hospital in Cherokee at 7 o'clock that morning. During the last 17 years he was always sickly, and about two years ago he was transferred to the hospital. He had reached the age of 45 years and more than 7 months.

In 1908 he married Miss Maggie Pluim, of Alton, who gave him four children, Gertrude Lena, Hendrine, Emma Anna and Gysbert Egbert John. Besides these he is survived by two brothers, Mike in Castlewood, S.D., Teunis in East Saugatuck, Mich., Mrs. D. Jurriaans, in Orange City, Ia., Mrs. H. Bartels at Sioux Center, Mrs. W. Westra, and the Misses Emma and Dora at Orange City. Two sisters died at a young age, his mother died when he was still young, and his father about 14 years ago.

The funeral is set for Friday, a 1 o'clock service at home, and at half 2 [i.e., one-thirty?] in the Reformed church here.

(The Card of Thanks in the October 16 Volksvriend is signed Mrs. John Lynn Dykstra and children.)

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RESEARCH NOTES

FindaGrave.com has him as John Lynn Dykstra (the photo of his headstone just says John L. Dykstra); born 15 Feb 1885 in the Netherlands; died 6 Oct. 1930 at Cherokee; buried in West Lawn Cemetery, Orange City. Parents Leendert Meinte Dykstra (1841-1916) and Grietje Theunis Norbruis Dijkstra (1853-1891). Several siblings listed. Wife Maggie Pluim DeKruif (1886-1970, married 1908); children Gertrude Lena Dykstra Frye (1909-1994), Hendrina Dykstra (1911-1996), Guy Everett John Dykstra (1916-2005).

His death certificate has him as John Dykstra, born 15 Feb 1885 in the Netherlands, married but wife’s name not given, parents names unknown, usual residence Orange City but a resident of the Cherokee State Hospital 2 years, 3 months, 25 days; died at 7:00 a.m. October 7, 1930; cause, pulmonary tuberculosis; contributory cause, epileptic psychosis.

The 1920 U.S. census for Holland Township, Sioux County, has John L. Dykstra, age 34, born in Holland, immigrated 1897, naturalized 1903, a salesman, Singer Sewing Company; wife Maartje (33), born in Holland, immigrated 1893, naturalized 1899; children Gertrude Lena (10), Henderine (8), and Emma Anna (6), all born in Iowa, and Gysbertus (3), born in Minnesota; and niece Tracy Mabel Pluim (3), born in Minnesota.

The 1925 Iowa state census also shows the family in Holland Township, and gives John L’s parents as L. M. Dystra [i.e., Dykstra] and Gre[?] Naberhuis.

Dutch Reformed Church membership records on Ancestry.com show a household record for his parents Leendert and Hendrika Dykstra and their children (including Jan, born 15 Feb 1885) living in Matlock, Sioux County.

A birth record on WieWasWie.nl shows Jan Dijkstra, born 15 Feb 1885 in Barradeel, Friesland, parents Leendert Dijkstra and Grietje Norbruis.

His World War I draft registration card describes him as tall, slender, blue eyes, black hair, and gives his occupation as laborer.

His widow married Roelf DeKruis in 1935 and died in 1970. See her obituary, posted separately.