Flanders

FLANDERS GUSTIN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/27/2010 at 23:15:50

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Flanders
By Robert W Flanders

John Flanders was born about 1814 in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Little is known of his early life, but indications are that he was born in the Province of Zeeland and was of Flemish descent. The name of Flanders is an exact translation of Vlaanderen, a country which now comprises part of Belgium. It is believed that John Flanders came to America at the age of twelver, working his way over as a cabin boy. He continued to work as a sailor on various river boats, eventually travelling the Ohio River.

On March 25, 1841, he married Rachel Anna Gustin in Athens County, Ohio, a daughter of James Washington and Hester (Cassille) Gustin. That same year, he and Rachel arrived in Washington County, Territory of Iowa. In 1843, John sold his claim in Washington County and moved to what is now Union Township, Marion County. He bought and sold several parcels of land in Marion County, his first farm being situatede a few miles north of Knoxville, Iowa. This area became a popular route for wagon trains heading for the California gold fields during 1850 with many of the settlers in that region joining up with them. In the fall of that year, John and an older brother named Sam, supposedly left with one of these groups. Upon the return trip a couple of years later, their wagon train was hit with cholera. Sam died and was buried along the prairie in Kansas. John returned to Iowa with their gold dust which he used to buy more land and also help other Dutch settlers in the area. In 1854, John moved his family to Red Rock Township, Marion County. They settled on a farm located south of Prairie City, Iowa. Four of their eight children were born on this farm, two dying as youngsters. They are buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, land once owned by him. On March 15, 1864, John became a naturalized citizen.

In 1874, John and Rachel left Marion County for O’Brien County, Iowa. They settled on a farm east of Hospers, but left after losing their crops to grasshoppers three years in a row. They arrived in Woodbury County, Liberty Township in the fall of 1877. They located on a farm halfway between Sergeant Bluffs and Salix, later known as Wheeler land. John continued to farm here until his death on August 19, 1891. Rachel stayed on the farm with her daughter, Martha Wheeler until her death on March 21, 1902. John and Rachel Flanders are listed among the founders of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Salix, and are buried in their original cemetery in Liberty Township.

The children of John and Rachel and Flanders were:

Elizabeth Rosanna, born 1842, Washington County, Iowa. Married John W Brannan in Marion County on January 20, 1867. Children: John Jr and Joseph S Brannan. Little more is known of this family. They remained in Marion County for awhile after the rest of the family left, but were living in Sioux City in 1900.

Francis Marion, born 1844, Washington County, Iowa, died June 20, 1883, Clay County, South Dakota. Marion Flanders served in the Civil War in Company G 18th Infantry Iowa Volunteers. He married first, Florence Foote, on May 3, 1874, in Marion County and Christian Chadwick on December 26, 1880, at Vermillion, South Dakota. No known issue.

James Washington, born March 12, 1848, Marion County, Iowa, died October 28, 1926, Thurston County, Nebraska. James came to Woodbury County with his parents in 1877 from O’Brien County. He married Martha E Bridget at Howe, Nebraska on December 25, 1887. They took up farming near Rosalie, Nebraska. Children: Albert James, Mamie Hipp and a daughter, who died young.

Eliza Jenny, born Marion County, Iowa, and died December 19, 1937, Redlands, California. Married first Tom Gray, and second to James Olman. No issue.

John Jr, born September 26, 1854, Marion County, Iowa, died January 4, 1867, Marion County, Iowa.

Robert, born April 18, 1857, Marion County, Iowa, died October 8, 1861, Marion County, Iowa.

Winfield Scott, born June 1, 1859, Marion County, Iowa, died June 15, 1936, Sioux City, Iowa. Married Emma Josephine Bridget on July 13, 1879, at Elk Point, South Dakota.

Martha A, born September 15, 1861, Marion County, Iowa, died April 28, 1938, Woodbury County, Iowa. Martha came to Woodbury County via O’Brien County with her parents in 1877. She married Chauncey ‘Tan’ Wheeler on March 19, 1880. They took up farmer with her parents on Section 15 of Liberty Township. Tan Wheeler died April 12, two weeks before his wife. Children: Lena Wheeler Smith, Fred Wheeler and a third child who died in infancy.

Winfield Scott Flanders, youngest son of John and Rachel went to O’Brien County with his parents, coming to Woodbury County with them in 1877. He farmed extensively in Liberty and Grange Townships, purchasing several parcels of land. In the late 1890’s, he and his family moved to Morningside on the northwest corner of South Saint Aubin and 4th Avenue. The house had been built by Andrew Jackson for his son and was considered one of the finer homes in Sioux City. Besides his land holdings, Winfield Scott Flanders was very active in the stock market, investing heavily in various ventures. This proved costly when the market crashed in 1929, but he was able to keep his farm in Section Nine of Liberty Township and the home in Morningside. Winfield Scott Flanders died on June 15, 1936, and Emma Josephine died June 12, 1939. Both are buried in Graceland Cemetery next to several of their children.

Children of Winfield Scott and Emma Josephine Flanders:

Andrew Robert, born July 21, 1880, Woodbury County, Iowa, died May 2, 1973, Sioux City, Iowa.

James Albert, born February 2, 1882, Woodbury County, Iowa, died August 19, 1973, in Sioux City, Iowa. Married first to Gertrude Coats, October 14, 1902, daughter Dorothy, born March 12, 1906, died as a young woman; married second, Floy Baxter, January 7, 1921.

Clara Effie, born March 17, 1884, Woodbury County, Iowa, died February 28, 1885, Woodbury County, Iowa.

Winfred Scott, Jr, born May 14, 1887, Woodbury County, Iowa, died 197?, California. Married Anna Mae Hogan. Sons: John, Wayne, Soctt and Bill.

Warren Harrison, born March 28, 1889, Woodbury County, Iowa, died March 6, 1920. Unmarried.

John, born December 8, 1891, Woodbury County, Iowa, died December 20, 1891, Woodbury County, Iowa.

Andrew Robert Flanders, eldest son of Winfield Scott and Emma Josephine Flanders married Mary Etta was born in Hampton, Iowa on July 8, 1877, a daughter of James Monroe and Sarah (McCord) Ridenour. James and Sarah were living in Covington, Nebraska at the time, now known as South Sioux City. They are the parents of five daughters. Besides Mary Etta they had: Lillian Reinch, Anna Bettle Ammerman, Kate Ammerman and Maude Bliss.

Andrew or Bob as he was commonly called farmed in Grange and Liberty Townships. After Mary Etta diied on May 3, 1934, Bob left Woodbury County, living in Primghar, Iowa and later in Lincoln, Nebraska. He returned to the Siouxland area in later years and died on May 3, 1973 in Sioux City, Iowa. Children of Bob and Mary Flanders:

Robert Monroe, died in infancy, March 13, 1900.

Oscar Albert, born December 16, 1901, died December 28, 1916, Woodbury County, Iowa.

Gladys May, born April 19, 1904, Woodbury County, Iowa. Married first, Les Tresham, second, Ed Ellensen. Gladys’ daughter, Gwendolyn, married Robert McKelvey. They live presently in Jefferson, South Dakota, and raised a family of four sons and three daughters.

Vera, born December 16, 1906, died March 1935. She married Ray Smith, and they had three children, Barbara, Shirley and David. The two girls were raised by their paternal grandparents and David was adopted by Al Reinch, Vera’s first cousin.

Frances, born August 26, 1909, Woodbury County, Iowa. Married Joseph Niven and had sons, John and James. Frances and her son, John, moved to Artesia, California where she still resides. Her son, John, died there in 1956. Joseph Niven died while living with son, James, near Jefferson, South Dakota. James Niven married Wilma Joseph and they had a daughter and two sons.

Harold Allen, born October 31, 1912, married Theresa Uhl, daughter of William and Mary (Schoenherr) Uhl. They had foru children: Robert William, Harold Allen, Jr, Theresa Marlene May and Jacquelin Joanne Kellen.

Warren born June 2, 1917, Woodbury County, died 1974. He married first, Vida Sturges and had Connie, Richard, Steven and Terry. Married second, Pauline Golden, and had Lyle and Beverly.