Iowa Old Press
Alton Democrat Newspaper
Dated July 15, 1925
HOMESTEADED NEAR ALTON IN YEAR '78
Mrs. Vander Meer Goes Beyond At Home Of Daughter Sunday
Diederika Hendrika Vanden Burg was born in The Netherlands in 1841. When her
father and the rest of the family came to America to live in Chicago, she
remained and was married at the age of 30 to Johannes Fredriks in 1874.
They joined the rest in Chicago later the same year, taking the journey
across the ocean as their belated honeymoon trip. In 1878 they came still
farther west and homesteaded a farm two miles south of Alton, the farm where
Gerrit Ruisch and their daughter, Mrs. Gerrit Ruisch, and family now live.
Their business on the farm was not long-lived, however. Mr. Fredriks
passing to the Beyond in 1887 after going through the hardships of pioneer
days and reaching the point where he was just able to see better times
ahead. Several years later she was married to W. K. Scholten. They moved
to his farm farther north, renting the old homestead, but about 1900 Mr.
Scholten died. She was married a third time to L.Vander Meer of Corsica,
S.D., and for fourteen years they lived happily together in their home in
Alton. Mr. Vander Meer died six years ago and since that time Mrs. Vander
Meer lived alone in her home here until two years ago when she was unable
longer to cling to it, then taking her home with her devoted children.
Mrs. Vander Meer was a devoted member of the Reformed church from early
girlhood and always ready with a helping hand for every good cause.
Hundreds of devoted friends mourn her passing and recall the friendship and
helpfulness of her spirit in the early days when everyone knew everyone
though separated by miles of prairie.
The four children who survive are all from the first marriage. Two children
of Mr. and Mrs. Fredriks died in infancy and one, Mrs. Gerrit Scholten of
Corsica, S.D., [who died less than two months earlier than Mrs. Vander
Meer.]
Those who survive in order of their ages: Gerrit Fredricks, of Minn.; Mrs.
Gerrit (Marie) Ruisch, of Alton; Mrs. C. (Anna) Van Meeveren, of Alton; and
Mrs. Hubert (Josie) Vieuwenhuis, of Sheldon; two sisters, Bertha D.
Gerritsen, of Los Angeles; Mrs. James (Gertruida) Dorsman, of Alton,
survive.
[ Date of death was 12 Jul 1925...the rest of this obit is torn away..not
legible enough to transcribe]