TeVeltrup, Melchior “Mike,” 1870-1950

TEVELTRUP

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

From the Sioux Center News, January 12, 1950

Received Word of Brother’s Death

Mr. Joe Te Veltrup received a telegram Monday morning informing him of the death of his 82 year old brother Mike Te Veltrup who had passed away at Twin Falls, Idaho. He was formerly employed at the Peter Grooters hardware store at Rock Valley but had been living in Idaho for many years. He had been ailing for some time.

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From the Twin Falls, Idaho, Times-News, January 9, 1950:

Resident Passes At Home Sunday

Melchior “Mike” TeVeltrup, 79, died at 5:55 p.m. Sunday at the home of Mrs. P. D. Grootes, 455 Fifth avenue north, where he lived. Born June 4, 1870, in Holland, Mr. TeVeltrup came to the United States at the age of 17, settling in Sioux county, Ia. Later he was employed by P. D. Grootes at Rock Valley, Ia. He came to Kimberly in 1919, engaging in farming for several years and later was employed by the McVey Hardware company, Kimberly. One brother, Joe TeVeltrup, Sioux Center, Ia., survives him. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by the Twin Falls mortuary.

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From the Twin Falls Times-News, January 10, 1950:

Funeral services for Melchior “Mike” TeVeltrup will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Twin Falls mortuary with the Rev. Albert B. Parrett officiating. Burial will be made in the Sunset Memorial park.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate has Melchior TeVeltrup; born July 6, 1869 in Holland; died January 8, 1950 at the State Hospital South, Blackfoot, Bingham County, Idaho, where he had been a resident 32 days; cause, congestive heart failure, duration 3 days; antecedent cause, coronary arteriosclerosis, duration unknown; other significant condition, bronchiopneumonia, duration 3 days; buried in Twin Falls cemetery.

His FindaGrave.com page gives his birth date as 4 Jun 1870; died 8 Jan 1950 in Twin Falls; buried in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, Twin Falls. No family information.

The 1910 U.S. census for Sioux Center, Iowa, shows Melchior Te Veltrup, age 41, single, born in Holland, immigrated in 1882, naturalized, a creamery laborer, living with his brother, Johan M. Te Veltrup, a creamery manager, and Johan’s family. The 1915 Iowa state census shows him as M. T. Veltrup, age 45, born in Holland, a farmer in Rock Valley, Iowa.

The 1940 U.S. census for Kimberly, Twin Falls County, Idaho shows Mike M te Veltrup, age 60, single, born in Holland, as a dairy farm attendant, lodging with Peter D. and Geziena Grootes. See Peter Dirk Grootes’ obituary (posted separately) for a little additional information.

He appears a number of times in news notes in the Sioux County newspapers in the early 1900s, including references to his service in the Boer War. (Alton Democrat, April 7, 1900: Mike De Veltrup of Alton, who has lived in Sioux County for 14 years, has left with two other men for South Africa to join the Boer sympathizers; en route, they will stop at Antwerp, Belgium, and Mike will visit his mother and sister at Zaandam, Netherlands. Alton Democrat, Oct. 3, 1903: He formerly worked for the livery barn here, then went to the front when the Boer War broke out, fought through the war, ended up a penniless prisoner of war, and now is living at Nylstroom, Transvaal, South Africa.) He was back in Sioux County by 1908, and moved to Kimberly, Idaho in late 1918 or early 1919.