Bajema, Frances (Feikje) (Mrs. Otto J.), 1859-1934

BAJEMA, WARTENA, DEWOLF

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

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

Mrs. Otto Bajema passed away at her home at Rock Valley early Thursday morning. She had one daughter, Tena, living at home with her. Her husband preceded her to the Great Beyond about a year ago and also a daughter, Agnes, several years ago. She leaves to mourn her passing five sons and three daughters, namely, John, Dick and Barney all of Rock Valley; Jake of Dubuque and Rev. Wm. Bajema of Sheldon; Tena of Rock Valley. [The other two daughters were not listed.]

Mrs. Bajema had lived in this vicinity for a number of years and made many friends as she was a kind neighbor to all. She had been ill with diabetes for a long time which finally claimed her life. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at the Christian Ref. church. Interment was at the Valley View cemetery.

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From the Rock Valley Bee, December 14, 1934:

Death of Mrs. O. J. Bajema

Mrs. O. J. Bajema passed away at her home in Rock Valley last Thursday morning, following a lingering illness.

Mrs. Bajema was born in the Province of Friesland, Netherlands, on November 11, 1859, where she grew to womanhood. She was united in marriage there in 1880 with O. J. Bajema. After their marriage, they resided in the Netherlands for about fourteen years, and then came to this country, in 1894, locating at LeMars. After two years residence in Le Mars, they moved to Sioux Center, and later to Brookings county, S.D., where they lived seven years. They also lived in Minnesota for a few years, and in 1912 moved to Rock Valley vicinity. Mr. Bajema passed away about a year ago.

Mrs. Bajema leaves to mourn, five sons and three daughters, Rev. Wm. Bajema of Sheldon; Prof. Jacob Bajema, Dubuque, Iowa; and John, Barney and Dick Bajema, Rock Valley; Mrs. J. C. De Bruyn, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Mrs. G. Vandrager, Sheldon; and Tena Bajema at home.

Funeral services were held in the Christian Reformed church in Rock Valley Saturday afternoon, and the remains were taken to the Valley View Cemetery.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Bajema, Frances, b. 1859, d. 6 April[??] 1934, Mother, ss Otto, Valley View Cem, Rock Valley IA.

Her death certificate gives her name as Mrs. Feikje Bajema; resident of Rock Valley where she had lived 19 years, 40 years in the U.S.; widowed, husband Otto Bajema; born March 11, 1859 in the Netherlands; father’s surname Wartena; a housekeeper, last worked at this occupation Dec. 1932; died at 6:30 a.m. December 6, 1934; causes, arteriosclerosis, date of onset unknown, diabetes melletus and hypertension, onset 1931, coronary thrombosis, onset December 5, 1934.

FindaGrave.com has her as Frances Wabes Wartena Bajema, born 11 March 1859 in Friesland, Netherlands; died 6 Apr 1934 in Rock Valley, buried in Valley View Cemetery. There is a photo of the joint headstone for her (as Frances) and her husband Otto, giving just the years of birth and death. It reproduces the Alton Democrat obituary, with an added note that she arrived in New York on 23 May 1894 sailing from Liverpool, England on the ship Teutonic.

WieWasWie.com has a birth index record for Feikje Wartena, born 11 March 1859 in Leeuwarden, Friesland; parents Wabe Ruurds Wartena and Eelkje Freerks de Wolf.

WieWasWie.nl also has a marriage index record for groom, Otto Bajema, age 26, born at Warns (Hemelumer Oldeferd), parents Jan Jacobs Bajema and Bauk Ruurds Visser; bride Feikje Wartena, age 21, born in Terzool, parents Wabe Ruurds Wartena and Eelkje Freerks de Wolf; married 13 May 1880 in Sneek, Leeuwarden, Friesland.

In the 1900 and 1910 U.S. censuses, her name is given as Fannie or Fannie W.; in 1920, and in the 1915 and 1925 Iowa state censuses it is Frances or Francis.