ALBERT VAN HOUWELINGEN

Was born in the Netherlands, October 2, 1841. He came to Pella with his parents
who settled on a farm near Pella, where Albert lived until his marriage, with
Annigje Klein, which occurred on the 14th day of August, 1865. After his
marriage he continued to farm, first as a renter near Pella and later on land he
bought about seven and a half miles northwest of Pella. He was one of the few
men who even in the early days, when land was almost without market value, had
the foresight to see that it was sure Io grow in value with the inevitable
development of the country. The result was that while he started as a renter,
when he died at the age of 51, he was one of the largest land owners in the
entire Holland colony. An incident that shows the determined character that
marked all his activities in life was that at the age of twelve, he made the
trip to Keokuk alone, driving two ox teams the entire distance of 120 miles.

Mr. Van Houwelingen continued actively in the agricultural business until the
day of his death, which occurred on the home farm on the 18th day of October,

OEBELE HEERKES VIERSEN

Born in the city of Driesum, Province of Friesland, Kingdom of the Netherlands,
June 10, 1835. He emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1847 and
landed in Pella on or about August 25, 1847. He has lived on the old homestead
about a mile and a half northwest of this city, known as the Hy. Viersen farm
all of his life, seventy-five years, being twelve years of age upon his arrival
here. He with his brother, S. H. Viersen, were engaged in the mercantile
business for about three years. In 1858 he was united in marriage to Miss Emma
F. Renaud. To this union four children were born" Harry, Lottie, Mary and
Freddie, the two latter having passed to the Great Beyond in their early life,
when a very dark cloud covered the home with sorrow. On Saturday evening, April
13, 1907, the wife and mother was called to her reward by the Lord Jesus whom
she loved in spirit and in truth, but truly their loss was her gain, for of a
truth of her it could be said, "Asleep in Jesus, Oh, How Sweet," from which none
shall ever awake to weep. And now at this, his great old age, he enjoys life and
good health at the hearthside of son, Harry, and his esteemed wife, Dora
Lautenbach Viersen, on the old homestead and who are doing all they can to make
the evening shades of his life journey bright and pleasant. He enjoys every
moment of his life as the days go by.