Meerbeek, Alexander, 1871-1936

MEERBEEK, VANDIJK

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

From the Rock Valley Bee, July 3, 1936:

Death of Former Resident

Word was received here that Alexander Meerbeek passed away at his home in Artesia, Calif., Thursday, June 19. The cause of his sudden demise is not known at this date. Mr. Meerbeek formerly was a resident of Rock Valley and vicinity having farmed in this neighborhood and later moved into town. He is survived by his widow; three daughters, Mrs. F. Vander Kieft and Mrs. Wm. Vander Kieft, both of Artesia, Calif., and Mrs. Meis Van Beek of Rock Valley; and two sons, John of Rock Valley, -and the other residing in the Netherlands.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The California Death Index has Alexander Meerbeek, died 21 June 1936, age 64, in Los Angeles County, California.

His FindaGrave.com page gives his birth date as 23 Sep 1871, death 21 Jun 1936, buried in Artesia Cemetery, Cerritos, Los Angeles County, California, with a photo of his headstone. No family information.

The 1930 U.S. census has Alexander Meerbeek, age 58, living in Sioux Township, Sioux County, renting a farm; wife Gertie (58); children John (21), Cora (18), Gertie (17); all born in Holland, immigrated 1927.

News notes in area newspapers indicate that he lived 2 miles west and 1 mile south of Rock Valley, and sold his livestock, farm machinery, and household goods and moved to California in September 1933 (De Volksvriend, Sept. 14, 1933). He had also quit farming and sold out on 1931, living at that time 3½ miles south of Inwood ((Rock Valley Bee, Dec. 18, 1931). His daughter Grace married Mease Van Beek on January 5, 1928 (Rock Valley Bee, Jan. 13, 1928); his daughter Geraldine married Frank Vander Kieft in August 1932 (Rock Valley Bee, Sept. 2, 1932); and his daughter Cora married William Vander Kieft on October 20, 1932 (Rock Valley Bee, Jan. 6, 1933). Cora’s marriage record (Ancestry.com) shows her birthplace as Province of Uitrecht, Netherlands, and her parents as Alexander Meerbeek and Gerdina Sophia Van Dijk.