Roghair, John (Johan) J., 1866-1934

ROGHAIR, KETEL, ALBERS, HENDRIKSE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

From the Alton Democrat, June 1, 1934, Orange City news:

Funeral services for John J. Roghair, prominent pioneer and business man of Sioux county, were held Monday afternoon at 1:30 at the home in Orange City, and at 2 o’clock at the First Christian Reformed church, Rev. R. Bronkema, the pastor, officiating. Mr. Roghair died at his home last Friday, May 25, after an extended illness with angina pectoris. He was 67 years of age.

One of the best known farmers and business men in the county for more than thirty years, Mr. Roghair began his life in the Netherlands. He was born at Barneveld, on June 25, 1866. In 1892, on March 18, he married Miss Gertie Ketel, who survives him. Four children also survive—Mrs. John Bylsum of Orange City; Mrs. Steve De Vries, Orange City; Nick J. Roghair of Kearney, Neb.; and John Roghair, Jr., of Orange City.

Until the boom years of ’18 and ’19 Mr. Roghair owned the big farm just east of the county seat on the half mile road. It was famous for years because of the high paddock fence around the grove in front of the house where a number of tame deer were perfectly at home. During the boom days Mr. Roghair sold the farm at the contract price of $1,000 per acre, the highest price that Sioux county land has ever brought. If not mistaken, however, he had to take the farm back later.

Mr. Roghair, in later years, was interested in a number of business enterprises at Orange City and until the time of its reorganization was a director of the Orange City National bank. No matter how fat and prosperous waxed the republican party in Sioux county, Mr. Roghair ever remained staunch in his faith in the principles of Democracy and was many times a delegate to state democratic conventions. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Pioneer Memorial home.

Honest and upright in his dealings with his fellow men, Mr. Roghair was highly respected by all who knew him and his death is a matter of regret to hundreds of people, who sympathize with the bereaved family.

(The obituary includes a photograph.)

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From De Volksvriend, May 31, 1934:

JOHN J. ROGHAIR SR.

Vrijdag, 25 Mei, om 2 uur’s mor¬gens, heeft John J. Roghair Sr het tijdelijke met het eeuwige verwisseld, in den ouderdom van 67 jaar en 11 maanden. Hij leed ongeveer zes weken aan "angina pectoris”, een hartaandoening, en het ging op en neer met hem, zoodat slechts een paar dagen voor het verscheiden het niet onmogelijk geacht werd dat hij weer op de been zou komen.

Geboren 28 Juni, 1866, te Barneveld Nederl., kwam hij in 1869 met zijn ouders te Pella, Ia., en in 1873 vestigde het gezin zich hier. De vader N. Roghair, legde zich toe op de veeteelt en later kreeg John, door zijn Duroc Jersey varkens en Shorthorn vee, een goeden naam in vele Staten. Den 17n Maart, 1892, trad Mr. Roghair in het huwelijk met Miss Gertie Ketel, die hem thans overleeft met vier van de vijf kinderen waarmede hun echt gezegend werd, nl. Christina (Mrs. John Bylsma), te Orange City, Cynthia (Mrs. Steve de Vries), Orange City, Nick L., te Kearney, Nebr., en John Roghair Jr., nog in huis.

Het gezin vestigde zich in 1912 in de stad en woont daar nog, geacht door allen. Dit bleek bij de begrafenis, Dinsdag namiddag het groote gebouw van de 1e Chr Ger gem., waar overledene lid was, was gevuld. De Board van de Cemetery Ass’n, de Board van het Pioneer Memorial Home, en ook het bestuur van de Orange City National Bank waarvan overledene tot kort geleden lid was, waren alle drie opgekomon om den overledene de laatste eer te bewijzen.

Van Bigelow, Minn,, waren voor dat doel hier Lou, John, Henry en Nick Ketel met hunne wederhelften en Mr. en Mrs. N. L. Roghair van Kearney, Nebr. Dr. R. Bronkema leidde den dienst, en sprak over Ps. 23, terwijl ouderling H. De Vries de talrijke schare op het kerkho nog een laatste woord van troost toesprak.

TRANSLATION:

Friday, May 25, at 2:00 a.m., John J. Roghair Sr. exchanged the temporary for the eternal, at the age of 67 years and 11 months. He suffered for about six weeks from “angina pectoris,” a heart condition, and went up and down with it, so that only a few days before it seemed not impossible for him to recover.

Born June 28, 1866, at Barneveld, Netherlands, he came with his parents to Pella, Ia., in 1869, and in 1873 the family settled here. The father, N. Roghair, devoted himself to animal husbandry and later, thanks to his Duroc Jersey pigs and Shorthorn cattle, John got a good name in many states. On March 17, 1892, Mr. Roghair married Miss Gertie Ketel, who now survives him along with four of the five children with whom they were truly blessed, namely, Christina (Mrs. John Bylsma), at Orange City, Cynthia (Mrs. Steve de Vries), Orange City, Nick L., in Kearney, Nebr., and John Roghair Jr., still at home.

The family settled in the city in 1912 and still live there, respected by all. This was apparent at the funeral, which was held Tuesday afternoon in the large building of the First Christian Reformed church, where the deceased was a member. The Board of the Cemetery Association, the Board of the Pioneer Memorial Home, and also the board of the Orange City National Bank of which the deceased was a member until recently, all came to pay last respects to the deceased.

From Bigelow, Minn., Lou, John, Henry and Nick Ketel with their other halves came here for that purpose, and Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Roghair of Kearney, Nebr. Dr. R. Bronkema led the service and spoke from Psalms 23, while Elder H. De Vries spoke a final word of comfort to the multitude of people in the church.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate gives his birth date as June 25, 1866; parents Nicklas Roghair and Christina Albers; wife Gertje Roghair; retired farmer, last worked at this occupation March 1914; died in Orange City at 2:30 a.m. May 25, 1934; cause, coronary thrombosis, onset 4/15/34, and congestive heart failure; contributory cause, diabetes melletis, onset 1925.

WieWasWie.nl has a birth record for Johan Jakob Roghair, parents Nikolaas Roghair, age 31, a farmer, and Christina Hendrikse, age 36; born 25 June 1866 in Kallenbroek (Barneveld), Gelderland.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1891/1892 shows groom Johan Roghair, age 26, resident of Orange City, a farmer, born in Holland, parents Nicklaae Roghair and Christina Hendrikse; bride Gertie Ketel, age 18, resident of Alton, Iowa, born in Alton, parents Laurence Ketel and Julia Roghair; married in Alton March 17, 1892.