VanKerkhoff, Albert “Bert,” 1864/1865-1935

VANKERKHOFF, VANKERKOFF, VANDERBRAKE, MOOYEN

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

From the Sioux Center News, July 25, 1935:

Pioneer Sioux Center Hardware Merchant Dies in Calif.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Aue received word of the death of Mrs. Aue’s uncle, Mr. Bert Van Kerkhoff, of Los Angeles, Calif. He was 71 years of age and is survived by his widow, two daughters and one son.

Mr. Van Kerkhoff was the first hardware man in Sioux Center. He first ran a small store in the Old Town and in 1890 when the railroad was plotted through here and the new town sprang up at its present location he moved his store to the new town. At this time he took Jake De Ruyter in as a partner. In 1905 he sold out to Mr. De Ruyter and moved to California with his family. For a number of years he engaged in the plumbing business there before retiring.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The California Death Index 1905-1939 has Albert Vankerkhoff, age 71, died 11 July 1935 iin Los Angeles.

Family tree information on Ancestry.com shows him as Albert Van Kerkhoff; born July 1865 in Holland; came to the U.S. in 1884 or 1885, per U.S. census records; married Petronella (Nellie) Moojen in Sioux County on 15 April 1889; resident of West Branch Township, Sioux County in 1900 and of Los Angeles in 1906 (per city directory); four children: Harry (1890-1966), Anna (1892-1968), Jeannette W. (1895-1992) and William (1900-1930).

The Sioux County marriage register for 1888/1889 shows groom Albertus van Kerkoff, age 25, resident of Sioux Center, a merchant, born in Holland, parents Hendrik van Kerkoff and Johanna VanderBrake; bride Petronella Mooyen, age 24, resident of Hull, born in Holland, parents Willem Mooijen and Antje Dallurijer[?]; married in Hull April 15, 1889.