Hulst, Tryntje “Tracy” (Mrs. Hendrik), 1839-1933

HULST, GROENHEIDE, WILDEBOER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Sioux Center News, September 14, 1933:

Aged Hospers Resident Passes Away

Mrs. Tracy Hulst (nee Tracy Groenheide) was born at Stophorst Netherlands October 19, 1839 and died at Hospers, Ia., Sept. 7, 1933, attaining the ripe old age of 93 years, 10 months and 12 days. She was united in marriage to Hendrik Hulst, Feb 5, 1864 in the Netherlands.

To this union were born: Margaret (Mrs. J. Vlieger) [of] Alton, Dirk of Ingster, N.D., Herman of Alton; Nick; Mary (Mrs. Henry Romberg); John; Grace (Mrs. Klas Dykstra) all of Hospers, Ia. One child died at the age of 4 in the Netherlands. She is also survived by 73 grandchildren and 93 great grandchildren.

In the year 1884 the family came to the U.S. and settled on a farm five miles southwest of Hospers. She has been a resident of Sioux County for almost 50 years. The deceased was one of the first members of the old Dutch Presbyterian church of Hospers and remained faithful to the Lord to the end.

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From the Alton Democrat, September 15, 1933:

Mrs. Hulst, 93, Succumbs To Short Illness

Mrs. Tracy Hulst died at her home on Thursday, Sept. 7, 1933, having taken sick with the flu just a few days prior to her death. Tracy Groenheide was born in the Netherlands on Oct. 11, 1839 and was 93 years, 11 months and 3 days of age at the time of her passing.

In February 1863 she was married to Hendrik Hulst in the Netherlands and to this children eight children were born. One died at the age of four in the Netherlands. The seven surviving children are namely, Mrs. Jacob Vlieger (Margaret) of Alton; Dick Hulst of Inkster, N.D.; Herman Hulst of Alton; Nick Hulst of Hospers; Mrs. Henry Romberg (Mary) of Hospers; John Hulst of Hospers; Mrs. Klaas Dykstra (Grace) of Hospers. She is also survived by 71 grandchildren and 90 great grandchildren.

She was a member of the Presbyterian church since they came to live in the Hospers community which dates back a half century. Her husband died exactly 17 years ago on Sept. 7, 1916.

Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church at 2:00 o’clock Saturday afternoon with Rev. Budd and Rev. Voss officiating. A special quartette rendered a few selections, namely, When the Mists Have Rolled Away, Some Day This Silver Cord Will Break, In the Sweet Bye and Bye. Rev. Voss gave a sermon in the Holland language and Rev. Budd in the English language. Six grandsons acted as pallbearers, namely, Ben K. Dykstra, Charley D. Hulst, Bernard H. Romberg, Ralph J. Hulst, Henry H. Hulst, Nick N. Hulst.

Relatives who came from a distance to attend the sad rites were Mr. and Mrs. Simon Wynia and children of Hadley, Minn., Mrs. Perry Salmon of Sioux City, Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kamminga and children of Maurice, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Hulst and children Rose and Charley of Inkster, N.D., Mr. and Mrs. John Dolphin and children of Pringhar, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph N. Hulst of Wilmar, Minn.

Burial took place at the Presbyterian cemetery east of Hospers.

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An obituary in De Volksvriend (September 21, 1933), in Dutch, adds or confirms a few more details. It gives her birth name as Trintje Groenheide, born in Staphorst, Overijsel, Netherlands; nine children were born to them, of whom two died young; 68 grandchildren and 90 great-grandchildren; lived on their farm five miles southwest of Hospers until 1913. It includes a photo of her in her garden.

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The Alton Democrat published another obituary for her on September 29, 1933, this time calling her Mrs. Tryntje Hulst, born October 19, 1839 in Staphorst. It adds that she loved to work in her garden, and took care of her garden plot up until just a few days before her death. It shows the same photo as in De Volksvriend, but fuzzier.

“She was one of those citizens whose influence and example were of great benefit in the development of this county. She is missed by hundreds of old time friends, as well as by her devoted family.”

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has her as Tryntje Hulst, b. 1839, d. 1933, Mother, Presbyterian Cemetery, Hopers IA.

Her death certificate also has her as Tryntje Hulst, widow of Hendrik, born Oct. 19, 1839 in Staphorst, Netherlands; parents Dirk Groenheide and Margie Wildeboer, both born in Staphorst; died in Hospers at 3:25 p.m. September 7, 1933; cause, “senile complications”; the certifying doctor had treated her only that day, and did not know when she became ill.

WieWasWie.nl has a death index entry for one child who died in the Netherlands: Margie Hulst, age 4, daughter of Hendrik Hulst and Trijntje Groenheide, died in Staphorst 15 June 1876.

WieWasWie.nl also has a marriage index record for Trijntje and Hendrik: groom Hendrik Hulst, age 22, residence Staphorst, a farmer, parents Harm Harms Hulst and Grietje de Boer; bride Trijntje Groenheide, age 24, residence Staphorst, parents Derk Groenheide, a farmer, and Margie Wildeboer; married in Staphorst 5 February 1864.

The Ancestry.com “New York Passenger and Crew Lists” shows Tryntje Groenheide, wife, age 45, arriving in New York on 27 March 1884, having departed Amsterdam on the ship Zaandam.
She and Hendrik, a laborer, are listed (not very legibly) with children Grietje (19), Dirk (16, a carpenter), Herman (14), Jan (8?), Margie (3?), Giselle[?] (6), and Klaas (3/12). Robert Swierenga’s Dutch Immigrants in New York Passenger Lists shows the family traveling in steerage, purpose “permanent sojourn.”