Muyskens, Grietje (Mrs. John “Jan”), 1842/43-1921

MUYSKENS, FENNEMA, FOKKEMA, WIERSMA, VANMAASSEN

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

From the Alton Democrat, February 12, 1921:

MRS. J. MUYSKENS PASSES BEYOND

Mrs. J. Muyskens passed away at; her home in Alton on Monday morning, February 7th, at the age of 77 years, four months and 20 days. She was born in the Netherlands on September 15, 1843, and when 24 years old came to the United States, living first at Pella. In the year I866 she was married to J. Fennema who preceded her to the Great Beyond in 1895 and on June 2. 1902, was married to J. Muyskens.

Rev. J. P. DeJong conducted the funeral service from the First Reformed church at Alton of which she had long been a member and a Sunday school teacher, on Thursday, February 10th. Mrs. Muyskens was ever a hard worker in and for the church. Interment took place at Nassau Township cemetery. Mr. Muyskens was unable to attend the funeral, the shock being a hard one to bear, but he is nicely recovering from the illness which has kept him to his bed for the past several weeks. Mrs. Muyskens’ only brother J. Wiersma, of Orange City, also was unable to come on account of illness.

She was the first Holland woman to come to Sioux County, having accompanied the men who surveyed the land here as cook in 1869, keeping up their courage with her splendid eatables. Not having children of her own, Mrs. Muyskens brought to manhood Henry J. Fennema who was a babe of eight weeks when she took charge of him, and also brought up Mr. Fennema’s sister, Mrs. M. Schilt of Doon. She came with her husband to settle in Sioux County in [1870 or 1876, year is blurred].

Mrs. Muyskens was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Wiersma who resided in Friesland, the Netherlands. Her sudden passing after an illness of only four and one-half days was a heavy blow to those who knew her fine personality and generous nature well. The husband and children have the sincerest sympathy of friends and the community in the loss of this splendid wife and mother, beloved by all who knew her.

Among those present from away were J. DeGroot, P. Brouwer, W. Brouwer, T. Hollander, J. Wiersma, A. Roggen, all of Hull, Mrs. J. Wiersma and children of Orange City and the M. Schut family of Doon, besides a host of others whose names it would be impossible to chronicle here, so great was the number who came to attend the services.

Pallbearers at the funeral were the six sons, the five Muyskens boys and Henry Fennema. The Rev. Arie Muyskens came from Harbor Beach, Mich., and Dr. William Muyskens from his home in Detroit. Miss Marie of Annville, Ky., and the Rev. John of Red Rock, N.J., were unable to [come].

[Final paragraph fuzzed out, but appears to be the names of Mr. Muyskens’ surviving children; see his obituary.]

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Muyskens, Grietje Fennema, b. 1843, d. 1921, Mother, Nassau Township Cemetery, Alton IA.

Her death certificate has Mrs. Griettze Muyskens, wife of P.[sic] Muyskens; born Sept. 15, 1842 in the Netherlands; parents Wm Wiersma and Griettze Wiesma [Wiersma]; died at 9 a.m. February 7, 1921; cause, uraemia, duration 2 days; contributory cause, acute nephritis, duration 5 days.

Her FindaGrave.com page has Grietjie Wiersma Muyskens, born 16 Sep 1842 in Friesland, Netherlands. Added notes give her mother’s name as Johanna Harmina Van Maassen Te Paske (1820-1893), and say that she was married first to Jan Fokkema/Fennema on 13 April 1867 in Friesland and second to John Muyskens on 2 June 1903. There is a photo of her headstone: Mother Grietjie Fennema Muyskens 1843-1921.

WieWasWie,nl has a birth index record for Grietje Wiersma, born 16 Sep 1842 in Kollumerland c.a., Friesland; parents Willem Lykeles Wiersma and Johanna Van Maassen. It also has a marriage index record for groom Jan Fokkema, age 38, parents Jouke Kornelis Fokkema and Dieuke Jans Hoekstra; bride Grietje Wiersma, age 24, parents Willem Lykeles Wiersma and Johanna van Maassen; married 13 April 1867 in Kollumerland.

The 1900 U.S. census for Nassau Township has Maggie Fennema, widowed, age 47, born September 1842 in Holland, immigrated 1867; and son Henry Fennema, age 15, born February 1885 in Iowa, at school. (They are living next door to farmer Marenus Schilt, his wife Margareth and family.)