Drenth, Klaas, 1857-1937

DRENTH, HARMS, STRENGELKAMP

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

From the Sioux Center News, December 30, 1937:

PROMINENT BOYDEN FARMER PASSED AWAY

Klaas Drenth, 80, resident in the Boyden community for the past 55 years, passed away at his home there Wednesday morning. He was one of the well-to-do farmers of Sioux County and active until the past few years when he retired to the town of Boyden. Mrs. Drenth passed away two years ago. Thirteen children survive, all of them living in this county. The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 at the home and 2 o’clock at the First Reformed church of Boyden with Rev. John Brink officiating.

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From the Boyden Reporter, January 6, 1938:

OBITUARY – KLAUS DRENTH

Klaus Drenth died at his home in Boyden on Dec. 29, 1937. He was born on May 2, 1857, at Gronigen, Netherlands. While still a young man he came to Hull where he located on a farm. He farmed until 1920 when he retired.

He was married on Feb. 29, 1888 at Eden, Dakota Territory, to Henrietta Harms. He helped build the first Reformed church. To their union was born eight daughters and six sons. They were preceded in death by a son in 1906. Besides 41 grandchildren, he leaves the following children to mourn his death:

Mrs. Frank Heemstra, Santa Ana, Calif.; Mrs. Paul Anderson, Worland, Wyoming; Mrs. Richard Reimers, Buena Park, Calif.; Mrs. Bert Wallinga, Sheldon; Mrs. Chris Schildauer, Montrose, S.D.; [Mrs.] Ernest Kammlade, Boyden; Mrs. Wm. Rehberg; Mary Drenth, at home; Alex Drenth, Adrian, Minn.; Klaus Drenth, Ellsworth, Minn.; Wiert Drenth, Ellsworth, Minn.; Wm. Drenth, Ellsworth, Minn.; Nick Drenth, George, Iowa; Jake Drenth, Boyden.

Rev. J. W. Brink was in charge of the services at the Boyden Reformed church. S. G. VandenBrink rendered a solo, “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere,” and a quartette, consisting of H. DeJong, H. VanHoute, S. G. VandenBrink, and Herman VandenBosch, sang “Going Down the Valley.” The pallbearers were Nick Drenth, Jake Drenth, Alex Drenth, Wm. Drenth, Wm. Rehberg, and Ernest Kammlade Jr.

Among those from out of town who attended the funeral were: Jake Harms and son Arthur of Clara City, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Wessels and Margaret, Mrs. Augusta Dokkenberg, and Mrs. John Tohlfe of Sheldon; Mr. and Mrs. Ben Zwelp and son Ernest of Corsico, S.D., and Rev. K. W. Schalk, Bert and Mraitn[Martin?] Brommer, Mr. and Mrs. Harm Lingbeck, Arie Francis and daughter Dorothy, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Busch, and Mr. and Mrs. John Bos, of Ellsworth, Minn.

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Mr. Klaus Drenth amassed one of the largest fortunes known to the people of Boyden and vicinity. He came to this territory a poor immigrant boy, but upon his death he was the possessor of sixteen quarter sections of land, sufficient to give each one of his sixteen children a quarter section of land, as well as an equity in a large number of bonds, monies and credits, including a large number of first mortgages. [A “Correction” note in the January 13 Boyden Reporter says that we have been informed that this is incorrect; it does not say what the correct information is.]

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A briefer obituary in the Sioux County Capital, January 6, 1938, adds that he passed away after a lingering illness. They lived a mile north of Boyden before moving into town.

Most other news notes about his death, family, and estate spell his forename Klaas.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Drenth, Klaas, b. 1857, d. 1937, Father, Sheridan Township Cemetery, Boyden IA.

His death certificate has Klaas Drenth, born May 2, 1857 in Holland, parents Wm. Drenth and Altje Strengelkamp; a retired farmer; died at 3 a.m. December 29, 1937; cause, cardio renal sclerosis, onset 1933?; contributory cause diabetes mield [mellitus?], onset 1933.

His FindaGrave.com page gives his full name as Klaas Wijndelts Drenth; born 2 May 1857 in Nieuwe Pekela, Pekela Municipality, Groningen, Netherlands; wife Henrietta Harms Drenth. Unascribed notes added to the page say that he came to America arriving New York on 13 April 1885 on the SS Zaandam, coming with two friends, Ben Zweep and another whose name has been lost; married Hanijete Harms on 29 Feb 1888; their 15 children were William, Flora, Klaas, Wiert, Alex, Ollie, Coba, Minnie, Nick, Jacob (d. almost 3 yrs.), Kate, Jacob, Jennie, Grace and Mary. There are two protrait photos of Mr. and Mrs. Drenth, one in what appears to be middle age, and one in later years.