Crooy, John G., 1861-1941

CROOY, LASSOUW

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/23/2022 at 15:48:20

From the Alton Democrat, July 11, 1941, Orange City news:

John Godfried Crooy passed away July 2 in the De Bey hospital where he had been taken a few hours before. His death was caused by heart failure and dropsy.

Mr. Crooy was born Feb. 11, 1861 at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and came to Orange City in 1893 where he first worked on a farm, later he opened a photographer’s shop and then took up the trade of painting and paper hanging. He never married and as far as is known has no living relatives.

Funeral services were held for him in the Van Etten funeral [line missing] officiating. Burial was made in the local cemetery.

[This obituary was also published in the Rock Valley Bee, July 11.]

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From the Sioux County Capital, July 3, 1941:

JOHN G. CROOY DIES WEDNESDAY

John G. Crooy, town character and known to every citizen and child as “Crosy” died Wednesday morning at 4:30 in a local hospital at the age of 80 years. Funeral services will be held today (Thursday July 3) at the Van Etten Funeral Home at 2 p.m.

Crooy was a great visitor but disclosed very little of his past in visiting. He was an object of charity and often made the rounds to pick up a few dimes for meals and he had been on the county for years. He most always had gum, candy and a few words for every child who passed him.

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RESEARCH NOTES

He does not appear in the Sioux County Cemetery Index.

His death certificate (informant, Old Age Assistance Records) has John Crooy, single, resident of Orange City; born Feb. 11, 1861 in the Netherlands, in the Orange City community 59 years; father unknown (annotated J. Crooy), mother unknown (annotated H. Lassow); died in the De Bey Hospital July 2, 1941; cause, arterio sclerotic heart disease, due to chronic nephritis; buried in the Orange City cemetery.

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index record for Johan Godfried Crooij, parents Lubbertus Jacobus Crooij and Frederika Henriette Lassouw, born in Zierikzee, Zeeland, 11 Feb 1861.

The 1900 U.S. census for Orange City has Johann G. Crooy [indexed on Ancestry.com as Crovy], single, age 39, born Feb, 1861 in the Netherlands, immigrated in 1893, naturalized, living alone, a painter. The 1910 census shows him as Johann G. Crooy, a house painter. He was not readily located in the 1920 census. The 1930 census shows him as John G. Crooy [indexed on Ancestry.com as Brooy], a painter of private homes. The 1940 census shows him as J. G. Krooy, age 79, still living alone, no occupation given.

In his will, he left all his property, after payment of debts, to the grandchildren of Herman Toering (who was named executor) – courthouse notes, various newspapers, July 1941. Later reports (1942) note that all property belonging to the estate (an Orange City lot and personal property) was sold for $500.00, and that after payment of liens, sale expenses, and administration expenses, the remaining balance was paid to the State Board of Social Welfare to apply upon their claim. The Sioux County Capital (March 5, 1942) reported that Orange City Boy Scout Troop No. 49 had purchased the property for its headquarters, with $500 donated to it by a local citizen.