VanderWell, Walter, 1867-1941

VANDERWELL, DEVRIES, RIETDIJK

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/6/2022 at 14:44:02

From the Sioux Center News, October 16, 1941

Rock Valley - Special - Walter Vander Well, Sr. passed away at his home in Rock Valley Saturday night at 10 o'clock after a lingering illness.

Walter Vander Well was born at Eirhil, South Holland, Netherlands, March 12, 1867 and had attained the age of 74 years, 7 months and 29 days at the time of his passing. He came to the U.S. in 1885.

Walter Vander Well married Lillie De Vries, March 15, 1893. To this union were born six [i.e., five] children: Anna, Steve, Walter, Herman, and Kate, one daughter Anna died in 1919, at the age of 24 years.

The family moved to Rock Valley from Boyden in 1920 where they opened a hardware store known as Vander Well and sons from which Mr. Vander Well retired owing to poor health several years ago.

He is survived by one brother and one sister residing in the Netherlands besides his widow, Mrs. W. Vander Well, Sr., his three sons, Steve and Walter of Rock Valley, Herman of Maurice, and Kate, Mrs. Frank De Haas, and seven grandsons.

Burial was made at the family burial plot at Boyden Tuesday.

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From the Rock Valley Bee, October 17, 1941:

FUNERAL OF W. VANDER WELL, SR. HELD THURSDAY
Veteran Hardware Dealer Passes Away

Mr. W. Vander Well, Sr., was born March 12, 1867, at Piershil in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. When a young man of 18 years he emigrated to the United States, coming to Orange City in the year 1885. Shortly thereafter he went to Boyden where he was employed and where, on March 15, 1893, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie De Vries who, after a married life of more than 48 years, mourns his departure.

Mr. Vander Well lived at Boyden for more than a quarter of a century, coming to Rock Valley 20 years ago to enter the hardware business which firm still bears his name. He became ill with a brain disease which sapped his mental powers and necessitated his retirement from an active business life. This sickness became more severe through the years and for the last eight months he was confined to his bed, to be faithfully ministered to by his wife, until last Saturday evening when he answered the final summons and was ushered into the presence of his Lord.

Five children were born to the Vander Wells, of whom four remain to mourn the death of a faithful and loving father. One daughter, Anna, preceded her father in death at the age of 24 years. Three sons and one daughter survive—Steve and Walter, Jr., in business with their father; Herman, at Maurice, and Kate, Mrs. Frank De Haas of Orange City. Seven grandsons and one brother and one sister, Mr. John Vander Well at Piershil, the Netherlands and Mrs. Sloof of the Hague, Netherlands, also survive. The only other blood relative in this country is a nephew, Mr. Walter Van Rees of Sanborn, Iowa.

Mr. Vander Well was a loyal citizen, a loving father and a devoted Christian. He was a member of the Reformed church all his life and served the local First Reformed church as deacon for some years.

All business places of the community were closed Tuesday afternoon during the funeral services held in the First Reformed church and conducted by the pastor, Rev. H. J. Aberson.

[followed by a sentimental poem]

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RESEARCH NOTES

A shorter obit published in the Boyden Reporter (Oct. 23) adds that he was manager of the Farmers Cooperative Association of Boyden for several years before moving to Rock Valley.

An obit published in the Sioux County Capital (Oct. 16) adds that he suffered a stroke several years ago and has been confined to his home since, bedridden much of the time. . He came to Rock Valley from Boyden in 1920, buying out the P. D. Grootes hardware store.

FAMILY NOTE: John van der Wel confirmed that Walter (Wouter) VanderWell (van der Wel) was born in Piershil, South Holland, the Netherlands.

His death certificate (informant Steve Vander Well) has Walter Vander Well Sr., retired hardware merchant; wife Jennie De Vries; resident of the U.S. 53 years and of Rock Valley 20 years; born March 12, 1867 at Piersil, Netherlands; parents Walter Vander Well and Anna Wolterina; died at 10 p.m. October 11, 1941; cause, multiple sclerosis, onset 1934; buried at Boyden.

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index record for Wouter van de Wel, born 12 March 1867 in Piershil, Zuid-Holland; parents Wouter van de Wel and Annetje Rietdijk. (Online Netherlands family trees indexes also give his mother’s name as Annetje Rietdijk.)

The 1900 U.S. census shows Walter, Jennie, and children Annie, Steve, and Walter living in Hull, where Walter is a laborer (lumber); his immigration year is given as 1890, and Jennie’s as 1891; he is naturalized. In 1910 they are living in Boyden, where he is a lumber yard manager; his immigration year is given as 1888. In 1920 he is still a lumber yard manager in Boyden, and his son Steve (23) works as bookkeeper in the lumber yard; Walter’s immigration year is given as 1891 (naturalized 1895), and Jennie’s as 1885.