It was interesting when members of the OUDERKIRK family worked together in tracing the family tree. The earliest record is of Jan Janse OUDERKIRK in Albany, New York, 1652, a member of the Dutch Reform Church. Indications are he came from the town of Ouderkirk An Aimsel in Holland, six kilometers south of Amsterdam on the Arusel Canal.

We are descendants of Richard Bond OUDERKIK, born December 27, 1798, in [Guilderland, Albany County] New York. Richard Bond married Amanda PERKINS, who was born in 1807. She passed away in 1851 [January 30, 1852, as per gravestone] and is buried in [Ouderkirk Cemetery at Maquon] Knox County, Illinois. There were six children born to this union: Jacob, born in [November 10] 1831 [married November 5, 1868 Elizabeth SMITH (1832-1914) in Maquon, Illinois; died January 16, 1887; interred at Fairview Cemetery, Lenox IA; two children: Elmer L. and Nora]; Philester, born in [November 13] 1834 [died February 11, 1912, interred Sandville Cemetery, Warren Co. IA]; Elizabeth H., born in [April 14] 1837 [married April 5, 1860 William George WEST; died August 23, 1902; interred Yates City Cemetery, Knox County IL; three children: Elmer H., Florri M. and Luella I.]; Martin, born in [June 14] 1839; Pvt. in Co. F, 86th IL Infantry, Civil War; died November 19, 1913; interment Benton Cemetery]; Eliza, born in 1844; and John T., born in 1847.

Later Richard Bond married Frances [Ann THURMAN], who was born in [November 10] 1810, and died in [April 13] 1902. He passed away January 15, 1874. Both are buried in a little country cemetery [Platte River Cemetery] near Maloy.

Martin OUDERKIRK married Eliza STOCKDALE, who was born in [June 17] 1844 [in Knox Co. IL, the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth STOCKDALE; died April 3, 1933; interred Benton Cemetery]. Four children were born to this union: Boyd [died January 19, 1938, interred Linwood Cemetery, Dubuque IA], who married Ella MOORE; Charles Bond, who married Minnie BROWN; Cora [died September 19, 1924], who Joe DALTON; and Elizabeth, who married William FERTIG.

In my family of Charles Bond (Bondie) and Minnie OUDERKIRK, there were the following children: Jennie, born October 7, 1892, died March 28, 1955; Stella, born June 6, 1897, died February 27, 1975; Lattie, born September 24, 1899, died January 8, 1951; Charles Martin, born October 5, 1902, died February 17, 1966; and Lester Earl, born March 31, 1905, died May 25, 1959.

[Charles Bond Bondie OUDERKIRK was born in 1866 and died in 1946. Minnie E. OUDERKIRK was born in 1874 and died in 1934. They were interred at Benton Cemetery.]

Iowa records show that Richard Bond OUDERKIRK purchased land from Jacob OUDERKIRK on September 16, 1872, section 27, township 68.

The 1899 Beall's Ringgold County records had the following OUDERKIRKS living in Benton Township: Mrs. Frances OUDERKIRK, section 27, farmer, three in family; Harman L. OUDERKIRK, section 27; and Miletus OUDERKIRK, section 6, farmer, four in family; and Martin OUDERKIRK, section 6, farmer, two in family.

The OUDERKIRKS were farmers in that section before Benton became a town. What a shame they never spoke of those days. Interesting stories could have been told, I am sure.

By the time I was really able to remember, there were only the folks and me in the little three-room house. Grandma OUDERKIRK lived down from us, behind us lived Uncle Jim GROVES, and beside us was Floyd and Blanche FERTIG and sons, Leo, Loren, and Bob.

Besides working on the railroad, my father had the dray in Benton, hauling shipments from depot to merchants, and delivering coal to homes in winter. He was mayor of Benton a few years. So much changed after the fire which destroyed the lumber yard and other stores. His last job was picking up mail from the depot (which had been closed) and post office. His last days were spent in Califronia, where he passed away.

I like to remember Benton as it once was: doctor's office, garage, bank, barber shop, post office, ice cream parlor, opera house, general stores, hotel, schoolhouse, Uncle Lute GROVE'S store (where you could get so much candy for a penny), the community get-together in the park with homemade ice cream and cakes, the music - so much comes to mind of things and people living there.

The winters were harsh, but the ice-laden trees shimmering in the moonlight were a beauty to behold.

Dear ones and friends have passed on, the days of yesterday gone, yet the memories linger on.

SOURCE: 1887 - Benton, Iowa Centennial - 1987. p. 156. Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, Mount Ayr IA

Transcriptions and notes by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012

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