DeVries, Siebe “Steve,” 1893-1933

DEVRIES, HEIMSTRA, WOUDSTRA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

From the Alton Democrat, July 28, 1933, Hospers news:

Siebe De Vries died at his home in Hospers on Tuesday July 18, at 3:30 p.m., aged 40 years, 3 months and 27 days. Mr. De Vries had been sick for the past year or more but last March his condition became more pronounced and serious. On May 4 he was taken to a hospital at Iowa City where he was operated upon and treated for cancer, but from the start they gave no hope for his recovery. After being in the hospital for 7 weeks he was brought home. The first week he felt fairly well but since then he suffered much pain and his condition was critical, resulting in his death on Tuesday.

Siebe De Vries was born at LeMars on March 22, 1893, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. De Vries. He spent his childhood in the vicinity of Le Mars, Newkirk and Orange City. On Jan. 23, 1915 he married Jennie Woudstra at Sheldon. Lived 2 years at Hatfield, Minn., 4 years at Sheldon, 3 years at Ocheyedan, 3 years at Ireton, 5 years at Hospers.

Mr. De Vries is survived by his widow and three children: Clara 16, Henry 15, and Clarence 6. Also his step-mother, Mrs. C. De Vries, brother Gerrit and a half-brother and 6 half sisters.

Funeral services were held in the Christian Ref. church on Friday afternoon at 1:30 and burial was made in the cemetery at Sheldon near the remains of his father.

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RESEARCH NOTES

FindaGrave.com shows him, as Siebe DeVries, buried in East Lawn Cemetery, Sheldon.

The Iowa Births and Christenings Index on Ancestry.com has Siebe Devries, born 22 Mar 1893 at LeMars, parents Klaas Devries and Klaaske Heimstra.

The O’Brien County marriage register for 1915/1916 has groom Siebe de Vries, age 23, born in LeMars, parents Klaas de Vries and Clara Keemstra, residence Sheldon, a farmer; bride Jennie Waudstra, age 21, born in Walveya, Netherlands, parents William Waudstra and Aaltje Hendrick de Boer, residence Archer; married in Sheldon January 22, 1916.

The 1930 U.S. census has him as Steve De Frece, age 37, born in Iowa, parents born in the Netherlands, a laborer for a dray line; wife Jennie, age 35, born in the Netherlands, immigrated 1910, naturalized; children Claras (13), Henery (12), and Clarance A. (3). (He is Siebe in the 1900 and 1910 censuses, and Stephen in 1920.) In 1910 (age 17) he is a laborer on the home farm in Sherman Township, Sioux County. In 1920 he is a farmer in Carroll Township, O’Brien County.

He signs his World War I draft registration card (June 1917) as Siebe De Vries, resident of Pipestone County, Minn., farming in Gray Township; medium height, slender build, dark blue eyes, dark brown hair; claims exemption on account of a dependent wife and child, and as a conscientious objector.