Gorter, Lawrence “Laurens,” 1865-1950

GORTER, BROUWER, TOL, VREUGDENHIL, CANNEGIETER, VANDENHEUVEL, ZEGERS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

From the Rock Valley Bee, March 30, 1950:

Hold Last Rites On Wednesday for Lawrence Gorter

Last rites were held for Lawrence Gorter, 84, on Wednesday afternoon, March 29, with services at 1:00 o'clock at the home and 1:30 at the First Reformed church. Rev. H. C. Van Deelen officiated. Six grandsons served as pallbearers. Interment was made in the Doon cemetery.

Mr. Gorter was born on August 14, 1865, in Andyk, Holland. He married Anna Brouwer on February 24, 1888, in Holland. Soon after their marriage they came to the United States and settled in Iowa.

Two daughters and seven sons were born to this union: Mary, Mrs. Dick Bouma; Gertie, Mrs. Lane Van Duyn; Lawrence, John, Nick, Peter, Jake, William and Cornelius. His wife preceded him in death in 1918 and one daughter, Mrs. D. P. Bouma, and one son, Peter, also preceded him in death.

In the spring of 1921 Mr. Gorter retired from farming and moved to Rock Valley, where he made his home until death on March 25, 1950. His death came rather suddenly at the age of 84 years, 7 months and 11 days.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The obituary was also published in the Rock Valley Bee on March 30, the Alton Democrat, Rock Valley news (April 6), the Sioux County Capital, Rock Valley news (April 6), and the Sioux Center News (April 6).

A Notice in Probate published in the Rock Valley Bee on April 6 calls him “Lourens Gorter, also known as L. Gorter.” The Lyon County GenWeb index for Hillside Cemetery, Doon, lists him as L. Gorter Sr. (b. 8-14-1865, d. 3-25-1950).

His death certificate has him as Lawrence Gorter, born August 14, 1865 in Holland, parents Lawrence Gorter and Mary Tol; a U.S. citizen; retired farmer; resident of Rock Valley for 29 years; died in Rock Valley at 2:00 a.m. March 25, 1950; cause of death, general arteriosclerosis.

His FindaGrave.com page has him as Lawrence “Louwris” Gorter Sr.; born 13 Aug 1865 in Andijk, Medemblik Municipality, Noord-Holland, Netherlands; died 25 Mar 1950 at Doon, Lyon County; buried in Hillside Cemetery, Doon. Three spouses are listed: Antje Brouwer Gorter (1868-1918, married 1888), Maggie Vreugdenhil Cannegieter Gorter (1869-1933, married 1920), and Willempje Van Den Heuvel Zegers Gorter (1872-1938). Eight of his children are listed. There is a photo of the joint headstone of L. and Mrs. L. Gorter (him and first wife Antje). See the separately posted obits for his three wives for additional family information.

WiwWasWie.nl has an index record for his first marriage: Groom Louwris Gorter, age 22, a farmer, born in Andijk, parents Louwris Gorter, a farmer, and Marijtje Tol; bride Antje Brouwer, age 19, born in Andijk, parents Jan Brouwer, a farmer, and Grietje Kooijman; married in Andijk 24 Feb 1888.

The marriage certificate for his third marriage has groom Lourens Gorter, Rock Valley, age 71, retired farmer, born in Andijk, parents Lourens Gorter and Marytje Tol; bride Willempje Zegers, maiden name Willempje Van den Heuvel, Rock Valley, age 63, born in Barneveld, parents Willem Van den Heuvel and Gerdina Kampert; married at Orange City 21 Nov 1935.

The 1900 U.S. census shows him as Lawrence Gorter, age 34, born in Aug. 1865, immigrated in 1888, naturalized, farming in Westfork Township, Monona County, Iowa, with wife Annie and six children. The 1910 census shows him as Lawrence Gorter, age 44, farming with his family in Garfield Township, Lyon County, Iowa. The 1920 census has him as Lourens Gorter, age 54, widowed, immigrated in 1888, naturalized 1894, farming in Garfield Township.

Birth and marriage index entries on Ancestry.com for some of his children variously spell his name Lawrence, Laurence, Lourens, and Laurens.