Zwart, Cornelius “Case,” 1875?-1936

ZWART, DIRKS, STECK

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

From the Rock Valley Bee, July 24, 1936:

Mr. and Mrs. Dick Steck and Anna Bauman were called to Madison, S.D., last week Thursday, by the death of their brother-in-law, Case Zwaart, who was killed by a tractor which backed over him as he was working on the roads. The accident happened Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. Steck had just been visiting there and returned to Rock Valley when they received a telephone message advising them of the accident. Mr. Zwaart was a former resident of Rock Valley and will be remembered here by many of our residents.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His FindaGrave.com page has Cornelius Zwart, 1877-1936, buried in Graceland Cemetery, Madison, Lake County, S.D. There is a photo of the joint headstone of him and Minnie Zwart (1879-1960). One child is listed, Frank H. Zwart (1921-2017), and an added note says he was married 16 August 1897.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1896/1897 has groom Cornelius J. Zwart, age 22, resident of Rock Valley, a laborer, born in the Netherlands, parents Jan Zwart and Barbadina Dirks; bride Minnie Steck, age 19, resident of Rock Valley, born in the Netherlands, parents Jan Steck and Aunke[?] de Boze[?]’ married in Orange City August 16, 1897.

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index entry for Kornelis Zwart, born in Reiderwolderpolder gem. Finsterwolde, Groningen, Netherlands, parents Jan Zwart, age 25, a day-laborer, and Barberdina Dirks; no birth date given, but registered on 12 Sept 1876.

The 1900 U.S. census for Sioux Township, Sioux County, Iowa Cornelius Zwart, age 24, born Nov. 1875 in Holland, immigrated 1893, naturalized, a farm laborer, married 3 years; wife Minnie, age 22, born Nov. 1877 in Holland, mother of 2 children, 2 living, immigrated 1893; children John, age 1, born June 1898, and Minnie, age 5/12, born Dec. 1899, both born in Iowa.

In 1910 Cornelius J. and family are renting a farm in Garfield Township, Sioux County, with children Minnie (10), Dina (8), John (4), Ben (2), and Jurina (6/12), all born in Iowa.

The 1920 census shows the Zwart family renting a farm in Chugwater, Platte County, Wyoming: Cornelius J. (44), born in Holland; wife Minnie (42), born in Holland; children Denna (18), Jennie (14), Ben (12), Renna (10), Cora (8), Annie (4), all born in Iowa, and Henry (3), born in South Dakota.

The 1930 census finds the family farming in Winfred Township, Lake County, South Dakota, with children Rena (20), Cora (18), Cornelius Jr. (17), and Anna (14), all born in Iowa, Henry (12), born in South Dakota, Frank (10) and Louise (7), born in Wyoming, and James (2), born in South Dakota.

His World War I draft registration card( Sept. 1918) shows him as Cornelius John Zwart, age 43, resident of Chugwater, born September 11, 1875, a farmer, nearest relative Minnie Zwart, medium height and build, blue eyes, brown hair.