Zalme, Marinus, 1854-1927

ZALME, DERUYTER, FRANSSEN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/19/2022 at 22:18:10

From the Alton Democrat, April 29, 1927:

ENLISTED DUTCH ARMY AT SIXTEEN
MARINUS ZALME DIED MONDAY AT ALTON AT AGE OF 72 YEARS

Marinus Gerard Zalme was born at The Hague, Netherlands, Dec. 8, 1854 and died April 25, 1927, at 1:30 P.M. at Alton, Iowa.

The subject of this sketch was married in 1879 to Miss Louisa Franssen of The Hague after he had completed ten years of service in the Dutch army in the East Indies, Java, Celebas and Sumatra, enlisting at 16 years of age. During his army service he contracted yellow fever and was 18 months in bed before recovering from the disease.

Mr. and Mrs. Zalme came to the U.S. a few months after their marriage and lived most of the time in New York and New Jersey, Mr. Zalme being a florist and gardener, until 5 years ago when they came here. He is survived by the widow and one son, William, of Alton, and nine grandchildren.

Mr. Zalme had been in poor health for many years. His constitution was weakened by the siege of yellow fever in his younger days and the effects were the indirect cause of his passing. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon from the home and Alton Reformed Church.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate (informant Louisa Zalme) has Marinus Zalme, retired florist; born Dec. 8, 1854 in Den Haag, Netherlands; parents William A. Zalme and Gertrude De Ruyter; wife Louisa Zalme; died in Alton at 1:30 p.m. April 25, 1927; cause, carcinoma of stomach, duration 2 years; contributory cause, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, duration 12 years; buried in Nassau [Township Cemetery], Alton.

He does not appear in the Sioux County Cemetery Index, although there is an entry for “M. Zalme,” no dates, buried in Nassau Township Cemetery.

WieWasWie.nl has a marriage index record for groom Marinus Gerardus Paulus Zalme, age 24, a florist, parents Willem Antonie Zalme, a florist, and Geertruida Catharina de Ruijter; bride Frederika Louisa Wilhelmina Franssen, age 22, parents Johannes Franssen and Frederika Louisa Wilhelmina Neukirchen; married 6 Aug 1879 in ‘s-Gravenhage, Den Haag, South Holland.

The 1905 New Jersey state census for the Village of Ridgewood shows Mareanus Zalme (49), born Dec 1855 in Holland, in the U.S. 23 years, naturalized, a florist; Louesia Zalme (38), born Sept 1866 in Holland [however, her obituary says born Sept. 1856]; William Zalme (25), born Jan 1880 in Holland, in the U.S. 23 years, a florist; Jennie Zalme (20), born Feb 1855 in Holland; Louisa Zalme (1), born Feb 1904 in New Jersey.

The 1910 U.S. census for West Islip, Suffolk County, New York, shows a household comprising numerous servants and employees on a private estate, headed by Morenus Zalme (56), a gardener, and his wife Louisa Zalme (53). They were born in Holland, immigrated in 1882, married 30 years, have one child (not enumerated with them).

The 1920 U.S. census for Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County, New York, has M. G. P. Zalme (65), born in Holland, immigrated in 1882, naturalized in 1894, a laborer in a netting mill[?], and his wife Louisa (63), born in Holland, living in a home that they own. They were also living in Hoosick in the 1915 New York state census, where he was a gardener.

The 1925 Iowa state census shows Marinus (71) and Louisa (71) living in Alton in a home that they own freehold, in the U.S. 46 years and Iowa 3 years. Marinus’ parents are William Zalme and Gertrude DeRuiter. Louisa’s mother is Fredricke Unkinge[?], father’s name unknown.