Wegter, Joe 1893-1941

WEGTER, VANDERKAMP, BRAAKSMA, TEIEMENS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/15/2022 at 07:58:34

From the Sioux Center News, February 27, 1941:

Boyden Farmer Commits Suicide

Joe Wegter, farmer living between Boyden and Sheldon, committed suicide last Friday night on his farm. He was found Saturday morning in a straw shed about a block from the house. A shot gun with both barrels discharged lay next to him. One shot gored a ragged nole in his chest, the other shot lodged in a beam behind where he was standing. Mr. Wegter formerly lived near Hull. He had been worried lately about finances. He is survived by his wife and four children.

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From the Boyden Reporter, February 27, 1941:

Joe Wegter, 47 years old, farmer living four miles east of Boyden, took his life last Saturday morning, shooting himself over the heart with a shot gun. His body was found by his son in one of the barns. No motive is assigned for the act.

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RESEARCH NOTES

A note on his death in the Sioux County Index (Hull), February 28, says that he has served many years as school director and patron in School District No. 7.

His death certificate (informant Frances M. Wegter, Sheldon) has Joe. Bert Wegter, resident of rural Grant Township, Sioux County, near Sheldon, where he had lived 15 years; wife Tillie Wegter; born October 21, 1893 in Hospers, Iowa; father Egbert Wegter, born in the Netherlands, mother’s name not known; a farmer; died about 10:00 p.m. February 21, 1941; cause, self-inflicted gunshot wound below the heart; buried in East Lawn Cemetery, Sheldon.

His FindaGrave.com page has his parents as Egbert Wegter (1852-1935) and Fennie Wegter (1849-1930); sibling, Henry Wegter (1884-1955); wife Tillie Vanderkamp Braaksma (1894-1987, married 1917). There is a photo of his headstone. (According to her FindaGrave.com page, his widow subsequently married August Braaksma.)

The Lyon County, Iowa marriage register for 1916/1917 has groom Joe Wegter, age 24, resident of Sheldon, a farmer, born in Hospers, parents Egbert Wegter and Fannie Teiemens; bride Tillie Vander Kamp, age 23, resident of Sheldon, born in Hospers, parents Melle Vander Kamp and Famachina Balster; married near Sheldon on February 14, 1917.

His World War I draft registration card (June 1917) describes him as medium heioght, slender build, blue eyes, brown hair.

The 1930 U.S. census shows the family farming in Grant Township: Joe (36), Tillie (35), daughter Frances (12), and sons George (10), Egbert (8), and Kenneth (3-1/12). No additional children are listed in 1940.