Mulert, Frederik Willem Johan, 1856-1923

MULERT, BECK, JANSSEN

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

From De Volksvriend, October 18, 1923, p. 7 (in Dutch):

Frederick Wilhelm Johan Mulet [i.e., Mulert] died Wednesday afternoon, October 10, at the age of over 68 years. The deceased saw the light of day in Den Haag, Netherlands, on 6 June 6 1855, married 10 July 1881, and came to America with his wife, who survives him, more than 36 years ago. They soon settled at Orange City and have lived here ever since. Mr. Mulert suffered a lot for some time as a result of the nerves and later his heart also weakened. He suffered no pain and was aware of his condition until the last. The funeral service took place Friday at the house of death under the direction of Rev. Engelsman, who gave a striking speech on this occasion. The body was carried to the grave by 6 people, 3 of whom held positions in the North Western State Bank, where the deceased worked diligently for many years and also did the minister’s work. In addition to his wife he leaves a brother in the Netherlands.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Mulert, FWJ Baron, b. 1856, d. 1923, ss Maria C., West Lawn Cem, Orange City IA. The Iowa Gravestone Photo Project has a photo of the joint headstone of him and his wife.

His FindaGrave page has Frederik Willem Johan Mulert baron tot de Leemcule; born 6 June 1856 in The Hague, Den Haag Municipality, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands; died 10 Oct. 1923 in Orange City. Spouse, Marie C. Janssen Mulert baron tot de Leemcule (1866-1936). Her birth year on the stone appears to be inaccurate; see her obituary, posted separately.

The 1920 U.S. census shows him (age 64) as having immigrated in 1888, naturalized in 1894. He is a house painter, as he is in the 1910 census. (Miscellaneous news notes in De Volksvriend indicate that the “minister’s work” referred to in his obituary was painting and periodic work as sexton.) A list in the Alton Democrat (Sept. 22, 1906) of persons naturalized in the current term of court includes F. W. J. Mulert.

Researcher Wilma J. Vande Berg found the following information (compiled by others) on Ancestry.com:
Frederik Johan Willem Mulert was born 6 June 1856 in ‘s-Gravenhage, Zuid Holland, Netherlands, the son of Boldewijn Jacob Mulert tot de Leemcule and Johanna Hermina Antonette Mansvelt Beck. He died 10 October 1923 in Orange City, Sioux County, Iowa, USA. He married Maria Janssen on Jun 9, 1886 in Overasselt, Gelderland Netherlands.
Spouse: Maria Janssen born October 16, 1859 in Overasselt G. Neth. Daughter of Hendrikus Janssen and Willemina Van Hees. She died July 9, 1936 in Cherokee IA and buried in Orange City, IA. They had no children.

Wie Was Wie.nl has a marriage index entry for groom Frederik Willem Johan baron Mulert tot de Leemcule, age 30, a farmer, parents Boldewijn Jacob baron Mulert tot de Leemcule, a military man, and Johanna Hermina Antonette Mansvelt Beck; bride Maria Janssen, age 26, parents Hendrikus Janssen and Willemina van Hees; married 9 June 1886 in Overasselt. No birth record for him was readily located on WieWasWie.

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News notes following the 1936 death of his wife address the disposition of his estate:

From the Sioux County Capital, September 3, 1936, p. 8 (Court news):
G. J. Slobe, executor of Mrs. Mulert’s estate, applied to the court for permission to investigate the west 20 acres of Lot 66, Theo. F. Koch subdivision of the F. Valmore League, Jefferson County, Texas, which is the property of F. W. J. Mulert and which was never administered although he died more than 10 years ago. Mulert had leased it for oil prospects, and the executor believes it to be valuable.

The Sioux County Capital, October 14, 1937, p. 4 reported that Gerrit Klay, Dutch counsel in Orange City, received an affidavit from a Utrecht banker stating that he was personally acquainted with F. W. J. Baron Mulert Tot De Leemkule, and that his only heir at law is his brother, M. A. N. Baron Mulert Tot De Leemkule, living in Wiesbaden, Germany.

From the Alton Democrat, February 4, 1938 – Dutch Baron Heir to Texas Oil Land
“A Dutch baron, who lives at Wiesbaden, Germany, may find himself enriched by some of America’s ‘black gold’ because of a ‘flier’ taken by his late brother who lived in Orange City where he died several years ago. The latter’s wife, Maria Christina Mulert, who recently died, left a will bequeathing her home in Orange City and 20 acres in Valmour League, Jefferson county, Texas, to her brothers and sisters.” G. J. Slobe, executor of her will, found that the land was still in her husband’s name and therefore reverts to his relatives. If any relatives of Mrs. Mulert exist, they live in the Netherlands.

From the Hawarden Independent, February 10, 1938, p. 4 – German Baron Inherits Property
M. A. N. Baron Mulert Tot De Leemcule, Wiesbaden, Germany, is the sole heir of his late brother who resided in Orange City, according to the findings of the court. The latter’s wife, Maria Christine Mulert, who died recently, left a will bequeathing her home in Orange City and 20 acres in a Texas oil region to her brothers and sisters. An investigation revealed “that her brothers and sisters do not exist and as the property had not been transferred from Mr. Mulert’s name it goes to his heirs.”

The Sioux County Capital, March 3, 1938, p. 1 contains an article on the status of 20 acres of oil land near Beaumont, Texas owned by F. W. J. Mulert, now to go to his heir, Marinus Arnoldus Norelius Mulert, Baron Tot De Leemkule. Although there is “plenty of oil” not far away, no well was ever sunk on these premises.