Attema, Jelle, 1867-1937

ATTEMA, ALGERA, ALGRA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:34

From the Alton Democrat, April 16, 1937:

Aged O.C. Resident Passes Away

Jelle Attema, a resident here for many years, passed away at the home of his sister, Mrs. De Vries, early Friday morning after being ill for some time. Mr. Attema was born in the Netherlands and came to this country as a young man and lived in this vicinity all of his life.

Funeral services were held at the First Christian Reformed church Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock with Rev. Bronkema in charge of the rites. Burial was made at the local cemetery.

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From the Sioux County Capital, April 15, 1937 – Obituaries

Yelle Attema passed away at the home of his sister, Mrs. S. De Vries Friday, April 9 at 6 o’clock a.m. at the age of 69 years and 10 months. He had been an asthma sufferer for years, complications setting in about a week before his death. He formerly lived at Rock Valley where he worked a farm with his brother, Reindert Attema.

Several years ago he was obligated to give up his farm work on account of his health and spent several years in Grand Rapids, Mich. Later he tried to find relief in California. After the death of S. De Vries four years ago he came to live with his sister, Mrs. S. De Vries where he lived until his death. Survivors include one sister, Mrs. S. De Vries, and two brothers, Reindert and Pier both of Rock Valley. Also several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at 12:30 at the home and 1 o’clock at the First Christian Reformed church with Rev. R. Bronkema officiating. Interment was made in the family plot at Rock Valley.

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An obituary in De Volksvriend, in Dutch, add this information: He was born in Piaam, Friesland Province, Netherlands, and in March of this year it was 44 years ago that he came to America with his parents, brothers and sister, where he farmed first near Sioux Center and later near Rock Valley. His sister is Mrs. Sjoert De Vries.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Attema, Jelle, b. 1867, d. 1937, Brother, ss Akke, Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley, IA.

His death certificate also spells his forename Jelle; single; an invalid; born June 9, 1867 in the Netherlands; parents Gerrit Attema and Akke Algera; informant R. Attema; died in Orange City at 6:30 a.m. April 9, 1937; cause, cardiac insufficiency and bleeding from intestinal tract of undetermined origin; contributory cause, chronic asthmatic.

His FindaGrave.com page gives his parents as Gerrit Attema (1834-1902) and Akke Algra Attema (1838-1917). Three siblings listed: Japkine Attema De Vries (1866-1941), Rindert Attema (1869-1944), and Pier Attema (1871-1970).

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index entry for Jelle Attema, born 9 June 1867 in Friesland, parents Gerrit Jelles Attema and Akke Rinnerts Algra.

The 1900 U.S. census for Plato Township, Sioux County shows head of household and wife, Gerrit Attema (65) and Akke Algera Attema (62), married 34 years, immigrated in 1894; son Rindert (31), immigrated in 1892; and sons Jelle (32) and Pier (29), immigrated in 1893. The three sons are running the farm. Only Rindert is naturalized.