DeSmet, Dominic (Domien), 1862-1934

DESMET, LENS

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

From the Alton Democrat, September 7, 1934, Rock Valley news:

Dominick De Smet passed away very suddenly at his home Friday night. Mr. De Smet was conversing with his wife and a friend when he suddenly collapsed in his chair and had passed from this life. Deceased would have been 72 years old in November. Funeral services were held from St. Mary’s Catholic Church Tuesday morning.

Mrs. Dick Groen of Santa Ana, Cal., arrived Sunday night, having been called here by the sudden death of her father, D. De Smet. Mrs. Groen will be remembered as Miss Clara DeSmet.

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From the Alton Democrat, September 14, 1934, Rock Valley news:

Funeral services were held Tuesday morning for Domien De Smet at St. Mary’s Catholic church, conducted by Rev. A. J. Foerster, pastor of the local parish.

Domien De Smet was born in November, 1862 at Buchante, Belgium, where he grew to manhood and where he was married. Forty years ago he and his family set sail for America, coming to Rock Valley where he made his home for ten years, the family then moving to Lester in Lyon county where they resided on a farm for nine years. In 1919 he moved back to Rock Valley where he resided until his death. He was the father of thirteen children, eleven of whom, besides the widow, survive.

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From De Volksvriend, September 13, 1934, Rock Valley news:

(Translation) Mr. Domien de Smet, who died suddenly last week, was buried Tuesday from the R. (Ch) church. The deceased was 71 years old and leaves behind his wife and the following children: Arthur, Ed., Irene and Alice here; Mrs. R. Groen, Santa Ana, Calif.; Mrs. J. Wiering, Al and Ted de Smet, Larchwood; Mrs. A. Tavierne, Ghent, Minn., Ch. de Smet, St. Louis, Mo., and Mrs. Elmer Remmerde, Alvord. A large number of family members from various places in Minnesota and here came for the funeral.

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(The Rock Valley Bee, which might have contained a more detailed obituary, is missing for this period.)

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has De Smet, Dominic, b. 1862, d. 1934, Father, St. Marys Cemetery, Rock Valley IA.

His death certificate has Dommick De Smet, married, wife Mrs. Sidney Lens, born Nov. 3, 1862 in Belgium; father Peter De Smet, mother’s name not known to the informant, Ed DeSmet; resident of the U.S. 43 years and of Rock Township 15 years; retired farmer, 54 years in this occupation, last worked in 1919; died at 9 p.m. August 31, 1934; cause, coronary thrombosis.

FindaGrave.com also has him as Dominic DeSmet, 1862-1934; spouse Sidonie Marie Lens DeSmet (1871-1957); 5 children listed: Lucy Agnes DeSmet Wiering (1887-1992), Arthur J. DeSmet (1893-1962), Alfonso John DeSmet (1899-1978), Emma Madeline DeSmet Taveirne (1901-1985), and Theodore DeSmet (1906-1972). The site includes a family photo, an enlargement of Dominic from that photo, and a photo of his headstone.

WieWasWie.nl has a marriage index record for groom Dominicus de Smet, age 28, born in Boekhoute/Belgium, a farm worker, parents Leo de Smet, a farmer, and Lucia Gijselman; bride Cidonie Maria Lens, age 19, born in Wilphaartsdijk, parents Charles Ludovicus Lens, a farmer, and Adelaide Felicita Meijvaart; married 26 November 1890 at Biervliet, Zeeland.

In 1920 he filled out a passport application for a proposed trip to Belgium to visit relatives. It says that he was born at Bouehaute, East Flanders Province, Assenede Canton, Belgium on November 3, 1862; his now-deceased father, Leo de Smet, was born in Bassevelde, Belgium; he emigrated to the United States, sailing from Antwerp, on May 19, 1893; he has resided uninterruptedly in the U.S., in Sioux and Lyon counties, for 27 years; he was naturalized at Orange City, Iowa, on January 20, 1908. He is described as 57 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, blue eyes, dark brown hair, ruddy complexion, round face, broad nose, round chin, scar on right jaw. He signs it Domien De Smet.

Researcher Wilma Vande Berg found an Ancestry.com report that included a list of 8 of his children: Lucy Agnes 1897, Al 1899, Emma 1901 Clara 1903, Edward 1905, Ted 1906, Martha 1909, Irene 1910.