VanLaar, William 1860-1941

VANLAAR, SLOTBOON, ZOMERHUIS, PRICE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/15/2022 at 07:54:08

From the Alton Democrat, April 11, 1941:

Former Resident Answers Call

Wm. Van Laar, brother of Gt. Van Laar and Fred Van Laar Sr. of Alton, passed on at the home of his daughter in Quincy, Calif., on March 28th, according to news received by relatives here, and funeral services were held Sunday at Quincy.

Mr. Van Laar was born in Holland and came to the United States at the age of eight years. The family settled in Chicago where they lived for 10 years before coming to Alton. Some years ago he left for Idaho and recently has been living with his only child in Quincy. He was 80 years and five months old at the time of his passing and was the oldest of five brothers, of whom Henry of Chicago and the two Alton brothers survive.

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From the Plumas Independent (Quincy, Calif.), April 3, 1941:

Wm. Van Laar Passes Away in Oroville Friday

William Van Laar, 80, died at an Oroville hospital, Friday, March 28. He was born Dec. 6, 1860, in Holland, and came to America at the age of six. He made his home in Chicago where he married Miss Rose Price at the age of 23 and moved to Oregon five years later. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Adella Kellerman of Quincy and Mrs. Agness White of Walla Walla, Washington. Burial services were conducted by Mamilton[Hamilton?] and Riley with interment in the Cherokee cemetery.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His FindaGrave.com page has William Van Laar, born 6 Dec 1860 in the Netherlands; died 28 March 1941; buried in Cherokee Cemetery, Oroville, Butte County, California. Parents Fredrik Jan Van Laar (1834-1914) and Grada Meggelina Slotboon Van Laar (1838-1923). Siblings: John Van Laar (1862-1926), Henry Van Laar (1866-1944), Gerrit Van Laar (1869-1952), Bernardus Van Laar (1878-1882), Frederick Jan Van Laar (1881-1955), Verendina Van Laar (1884-1885).

The 1910 U.S. census shows him as a 49-year-old widower, born in Holland, immigrated in 1873, naturalized, working as an odd jobs laborer, living in Alton, Iowa, with his brother Gerrit, a house mason, and Gerrit’s family.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1886/1887 has groom William Van Laar, age 26, resident of Alton, a laborer, born in the Netherlands, parents F. J. Van Laar and G. H. Zomerhuis; bride Rose M. Price, age 16, resident of Alton, born in Wellington, Ill., parents W. H. Price and Francis Baker; married in Alton October 4, 1886.