IAGenWeb - Marion County |
    |
Image of page online.
the colony, the plans did not work out successfully. Some of the boats were stranded on sand bars in the Des Moines river, others were wrecked in the Mississippi, and only a part ever reached their destination. Fortunately, while there was considerable financial loss, no loss of life was involved in the undertaking.
There was one case of death by drowning that year, but not in connection with the flat boat project. On the 12th day of September, 1851, Dirk Den Hartog, 35 years old, who was employed by Rev. H. P. Schulte, was drowned while swimming in the Des Moines river. He left a wife and three children to mourn his loss.
The emigration from Holland was almost negligible in 1851, the only arrivals of record being the following:
Breen, Frans Also Rubertus, Herman D. Dr. Breen, Pieter Rubertus, Antonetta Jatina Rubertus, Herman D.
An important addition to the citizenship of Pella, and a material factor in the growth and development of the community, consisted of a number of Germans who came to Pella in the early days. Some of them took a leading part in the commercial and industrial affairs of the town, and a number of their descendants are among our honored citizens today. Below we give the names of those found recorded in Van Stigt's History of Pella:
E. F. Grafe C. R. Frowein F. W. Waechter George Henckler Carl Schmidt Fritz Schmidt Philip Mathes Fritz Mathes Valentine Mathes G. H. Hoening Wm. Karel Kruger H. Holst Wm. Herbig E. H. Shubring John Schlosser George M. Blattner Wm. Lust Edward de Borde Heinrich von Ramming Carl Bergck Mrs. Kalb Guido Kalb Hermina Kalb Andrew Kroedel John Shafer Daniel Shafer F. W. Brinkhoff C. A. Gieseler Geert Laug John Ulrich J. B. H. Steinkamp Johann Traub Mrs. Rosina Kraft Mrs. Wm. van Asch
One of the causes that led up to the emigration movement was that the government in Holland interfered with the religious instruction in the schools. That the Holland people believe in education is evident from the fact that there are less cases of illiteracy among them than of any other class of foreigners that come to America.
One of the first things taken up by our pioneers was to supply school facilities for their children. Before ever a school building had been erected, I. Overkamp, H. Hospers and James Muntingh gave daily instruction to the youth of the colony.