Colsman, Jacob Conrad, 1863-1913

COLSMAN, BRANDS, HELDRING

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

From De Volksvriend, November 20, 1913, Prairie View, Kansas news:

Woensdagavond 5 Nov overleed C. Colsman. De omgeving was geschokt. Na Zondag 26 Oct. wel te hed te zijn gegaan, werd Colsman in den vroegen Maandag morgen door een beroerte geslagen. Negen dagen lag hij zonder kennin en stierf. Hij was nog geen 50 jaar.

Per telegram werden al de kinderen ontboden, die kwamen, doch zich moesten troosten met hun vader bewusteloos te zien lijden en sterven. Ook kwam zijn zwager R. Brands uit Sioux Center. Vrijdags werd zijn stof te Luctor bijgezet in tegenwoordigheld van een zeldzaam groote schare. Dss. Mansen en v. d. Werp spraken een waarschuwendwoord tot de levenden. Colsman laat een moeder in Duitschland, ‘n vrouw en acht kinderen na.

TRANSLATION

On Wednesday evening, Nov. 5, C. Colsman died. The community was shocked. After seeming well on Sunday Oct. 26, Colsman was seized by a stroke early Monday morning. He was unconscious for nine days and died. He was not yet 50 years old.

All the children were summoned by telegram, who came, but could only comfort themselves to see their father unconscious while suffering and dying. His brother-in-law R. Brands also came from Sioux Center. On Friday, his body was buried at Luctor in the presence of a large crowd. Revs. Mansen and v. d. Werp spoke a cautionary word to the living. Colsman leaves behind a mother in Germany, a wife and eight children.

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His FindaGrave.com page gives his full name as Jacob Conrad Colsman, born 30 Dec 1863 in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany; died 5 Nov 1913 in Norton County, Kansas; buried in Luctor Cemetery, Prairie View, Phillips County, Kansas. Wife Berendje Brands Colsman (1859-1939, married 1884). Four children listed: Henrietta Lucy Colsman Prins (1888-1960), Richard C. Colsman (1896-1953), Fannie Colsman Gesink (1898-1978), and Elizabeth Colsman Gesink (1900-1979).

The page also includes the following obituary from the Logan (Kansas) Republican, November 13, 1913:

Conrad Colsman was a German by birth. He was born in Langenberg in the Rheinprovinz, Germany, and more particularly the aristocratic family home called “Brink.”

At the age of 19 he came to America, where he had an uncle at Chicago, and with whom he made his home temporarily. Two years later he married Miss Berendja Brands, and they settled on a farm near Sioux Center, Iowa. In the spring of ’86 they moved to Kansas on their farm home near Long Island, where they lived until the spring of ’94, when they sold out and bought their present Norton county home.

To their “matrimonial” union was born nine children; one of whom died in infancy, and eight survive their father, four sons and four daughters; John and Conrad live at Sully, Ia., Otto who is employed near the same place, Richard who is at home, Mrs. Prins who resides at Sioux Center, Ia., Annie, Fannie, and Lizzie.

On Sunday, Oct. 25th, Colsman retired as usual only somewhat earlier. The next day early, he was stricken by apoplexy, never regaining consciousness. He suffered about ten days, and the best of love and medical aid could not save him. On Wednesday, the 5th of Nov. he succumbed, leaving a wife, eight children and a host of friends to mourn his departure. His sickness and death was a shock to the community as it came so sudden. Certainly, a warning to the living to be prepared.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Vanderwerp, assisted by Rev. Mansen and interment made in the Luctor cemetery. A large concourse of friends gathered to pay the last respects to the departed neighbor and friend. There were over fifty teams that followed the remains to its last resting place. The family have the sympathy of the entire community. His age was 49 years, 10 months and 6 days.

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Germany Select Births and Baptisms on Ancestry.com has an entry (text only, no image or link) for Jacob Conrad Colsman; born 31 Dec 1863; residence Langenberg, Rheinland, Prussia, Germany; parents Johann Conrad Colsman and Luise Henriette Heldring.

The 1885 Iowa state census (text only, no image) has Jacob C. Colsman, age 21, born in Germany, alien with first papers, living in Orange City, Sioux County.

A list of Sioux County marriages in the year 1885, published in De Volksvriend, January 14, 1886, shows Jacob Conrad Colsman and Barendina Brands, 13 February 1885.

The 1900 U.S. census shows the family farming in Long Island Township, Phillips County, Kansas: J. C. Colsman (36), born Dec. 1863 in Germany, father born in Germany, mother in Holland, immigrated 1884, naturalized, married 15 years; wife B. Colsman (41), born Jan 1853 in Holland, immigrated 1881, mother of 8 children, 8 living; son John (14), born in Iowa; other children all born in Kansas: son C. (13), daughter H. L. (11), son O. G. (8), Anna (7), Richard (4), Fannie (2), and Eliza (4/12). (They are living next door to his apparent brother-in-law John Brands and his family.)

The Missouri, Western District Naturalization Index shows Jacob Conrad Colsman, naturalized 3 Sep 1890 at Phillips County, Kansas, district court.