VanEldik, Dirk “Dick” Sr., 1868-1938

VANELDIK, VANDERVELDE, VISSER

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

From the Rock Valley Bee, June 10, 1938:

Dick Van Eldik, Sr. Called Saturday

Dick Van Eldik, Sr., passed away at his home in Rock Valley Saturday morning, June 4, following a lingering illness with cancer. Mr. Van Eldik was taken to a Sioux City hospital last fall for treatment. He received some help there which relieved him for a time, but during the past two months he continued to fail until the final summons came.

Mr. Van Eldik was born in Easindooren, Holland, February 8, 1868, where he grew to manhood. When he was twenty-one years old he came to this country and located near Rock Valley, and with the exception of a year in South Dakota, he had resided here since.

Mr. Van Eldik was united in marriage with Nellie Vander Velden [i.e., Vander Velde] at Rock Valley, March 2, 1893, who survives him. To this union nine children were born, all of whom are living except Mrs. S. Vander Wey, who died in 1935, at her home in Cleveland, Ohio. The children are, Mrs. Herman Vande Weerd, Mrs. Gerrit Harmelink, Dick Jr., Mrs. W. Vander Well Jr., Herman, Bertha, Will and Mrs. G. H. Harmelink, all living in Rock Valley and vicinity.

Mr. Van Eldik followed the occupation of farming near Rock Valley for several years until on account of his failing health he was forced to retire. He was a man who was well thought of and had many friends here.

Funeral services were held in the First Reformed church in Rock Valley Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. H. J. Aberson, and the remains were taken to Valley View cemetery.

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An obituary in the Sioux Center News (June 9) contains fewer biographical details but says he was the father of ten children, and gives his survivors as follows: Jennie (Mrs. Herman Vande Weerd), Minnie (Mrs. Gerrit Harmelink), Dick Jr., Cora (Mrs. Walter Vander Well Jr.), all of Rock Valley, Miss Bertha Van Eldik of Saginaw, Mich., Herman and William, Margaret (Mrs. Gerrit H. Harmelink) and Ardelle, all of Rock Valley. One daughter, Esther, Mrs. Sam Vander Wey, died in Cleveland, Ohio on October 18, 1935. He leaves three brothers and one sister who live in the Netherlands, his wife, thirteen grandchildren and one great grandchild.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index lists him as Dirk Van Eldik. His FindaGrave.com page has him as Dirk “Dick” Van Eldik, with a photo of his headstone (“Dirk 1868-1938 Father").

His death certificate has him as Dick Van Eldick Sr.; wife Nellie Vander Velde; parents Dirk John Van Eldick and Adriana Visser; died at 5:28 a.m. June 4, 1938; cause, carcinoma of stomach, developed from old duodenal ulcer.

WieWasWie.nl has an index entry for Dirk Van Eldik; parents Dirk van Eldik, age 32, a laborer, and Adriana Visscher; born 8 Feb 1868 in Ijzendoorn (Neder-Betuwe), Gelderland.

The 1925 Iowa state census gives his parents as Dirk Van Eldik and Jennie Visser.

The 1900 U.S. census gives his birth year as 1867 and his immigration year as 1890; he has taken out naturalization first papers. By 1910 he is fully naturalized; the census gives his immigration year as 1889; he lives on a farm but his occupation is given as stock buyer. The 1920 census gives his immigration year as 1890, naturalization year as 1895; occupation real estate agent. In 1930 his occupation is farmer.