Popma, Frans 1853-1946 & Marike Heimstra Family

POPMA, HEIMSTRA, HIEMSTRA, DEBOER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/23/2024 at 10:15:46

Popma, Frans 1853-1946 & Maike Heimstra Family

This story was taken from pages 460-463 of the Maurice Centennial Book (1891-1991). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

In 1848, in the Province of Friesland in the Netherlands, a young man named Popke Alberts Popma (from Dorp of Bergum) looked around and found a fomke (girl) to his liking. As she was also willing, they decided to get married. The young lady, named Pietertje F. De Boer, lived at Jorwerd, also in Friesland. They married May 3, 1848, in the town of Drachten, when he was 25 and she was 21. They lived in Jorwerd eleven years and had five children. They then moved five miles away to Welsiyp. Three more children were born in the following ten years.

On April 29, 1869, they arrived in America, and came to Pella with their six children, Trijntje (Catharina) Popkes, Albert (Aldert) Popkes, Frans Popkes (10/17/53-5/24/46), Leendert Popkes, Houkje Popkes, Gerben Popkes, Frouwkje Popkes, (who died, so they named the next girl the same name; one other died in childbirth).

The family Bible, printed in 1848, and brought along to Iowa, recorded that Popke Alberts Popma died 3/16/71.

Frans’ grandson, Frank Popma, wrote in 1970, “A number of families from Pella were migrating northwest to greener pastures. This was to the good land in Sioux County and in the area of a small town of Orange City. So Great Grandma too came to Sioux County, probably about the year of 1873 or 1874, settling on a farm 3½ miles west of South Orange City … children … ages 6 to 24. Great Grandma was about 47 years old”.

They farmed a few years until the grasshopper plague forced their return to Pella in 1875-1878, There Pietertje Popma married a Brolsma (she died 2/21/13 in Sioux County).

On January 20, 1876, Frans Popma married Maike Heimstra (11/6/57), the daughter of Ulbe S. (Albert) and Jantje (De Boer) Heimstra who lived on a farm in Otley, near Pella. They lived in Pella until 1886 or 1887, when they decided to move to Sioux County with their five or six children. Their granddaughter, Viola Popma Koopmans, said “My dad told me the Heimstras came the same time to Pella”. Jantje “Jennie” had reddish hair and was the only child of a minister and a kind strict mother. Ulbe left Holland while King William II was king and became an American citizen. Ulbe and Jantje’s children were Maike, Jake, John, Neal, Abel and Dena. Abel and Dena both died of typhoid fever.

Frans and Maike settled briefly on a small place northeast of Orange City, the Sipma farm in the southwest corner of the section, then 1¼ miles west of Northwestern Academy. About 1896, they moved to a farm known as the John Kiel farm. They bought a 320 acre farm in Center Township eight miles west of Orange City. They had twelve living children; Jennie (10/20/76, m. John Muilenburg), Nellie (9/16/78, m. Henry De Raad), Albert (10/27/80, m. Clara Marra), Leonard (11/18/82, m. Ida Raak), Abel (12/28/84, m. Effie Swart), Dena (11/25/87, m. Jake Gerritson), Katie (4/13/91, m. Ira Muilenburg), Cornie (10/22/93, m. Sarah Wassenar of Maurice), Florence (12/8/95, m. Gerrit Kots), Frances (7/24/1900, m. John Schuller), Margaret (8/5/02, m. Gerrit Wichers), Marie (4/10/04, m. Alfred Van Peursem).

In 1914, Frans and Maike decided to retire, and they and their three single daughters, Frances, Margaret and Marie, moved to Maurice, and bought a nice home.

Viola wrote, “Grandma had a breast removed of cancer and she had rheumatism and was in a wheel chair about ten years. Aunt Marie … married Alfred Van Peursem and they lived with Grandpa and Grandma. Grandpa always had a nice garden and the garden gate had to stay closed. They had nice apple trees; asparagus was growing too … they thought it was poison.

… “About December 17, 1927, Marion was born to Aunt Marie and Uncle Alfred Van Peursem, but she died soon after of kidney poisoning. Grandma had told her you didn’t have to go to a doctor; she never did before with all her children, and afterward she was so sorry she didn’t tell Aunt Marie to go to a doctor. Then Uncle Gerrit and Aunt Margaret Wichers moved in with Grandma and Grandpa. Uncle Gerrit was a good old soul and had to go to the farm every day.” Marion and Sadie Van Peursem now farm north of Maurice.

“On June 2, 1930, Grandma died, leaving Grandpa alone. Later Grandpa married Mrs. Vander Stoep, and they lived happily until he became senile; then Aunt Florence and Uncle Gerrit Kots took him into their home in Maurice. Grandpa died at the age of 93 in Maurice (5/24/46)”.

Abel married Effie Swarts. Their son Frank wrote, “Dad grew up on ½ section of Grandpa’s farm in Center Township, working with horses and hand labor, no autos or tractors or engines in those days, only hard work by hand or with horses. Harnessing them, currying them, bedding them feeding them. Farming was hard work - - plowing with a single walking plow, cultivating corn with a walking cultivator, walking behind a harrow, chopping trees and sawing wood too, all by hand. Horses went round and round to grind and shell corn, threshing too. Corn and grain were hauled to town with wagons and horses.

“Dad (Abel) with his parents and brothers and sisters went to church in Maurice, with a team of horses and two seated buggy. It was quite a drive and took some time, seven miles to Maurice. In the winter a big bobsled was used, with two horses and a wagon box. Plenty of blankets and maybe a hot stone kept feet warm.

In the house lots of wood and cobs were used.

Frank writes of his father, “By working and saving his money he got himself a team of buggy horses. This was standard equipment for young men in those days. He also worked in North Dakota, for a year when still single.

“All dressed up with button shoes even, he began courting a young lady in Maurice, Effie Swart, also a Friesian. After much Fries talk and many buggy rides they decided to become married. She had been working for Mr. Pete Moir who farmed six miles east of Maurice. This was quite a drive for young Abel with his team and buggy. First fourteen miles to pick up his girl, then six miles back to church, then six miles back to bring her back to the Moir farm, then fourteen miles home, all in slow motion, and sometimes it rained or snowed or was foggy, but horses work by remote control and can find their way home even if the driver falls asleep.”

Abel and Albert convinced their father that he should build them each a set of buildings on 100 acres of land; Abel got the north end and Albert the southeast corner. Abel and Effie were married in Maurice, by Rev. Ehrman on May 21, 1908, and lived on the farm fifteen years. He started with one hog, three horses, and a cow or two, and lots of ambition. Later a horse was added, the sow got pigs, some chickens were raised. Slowly the operation grew and more machinery purchased. When Abel was busy in the field, Effie, a “town girl”, would feed pigs, milk cows and gather eggs. They seldom traveled the eight miles to town, as the weather had to be pretty good for the horse and buggy. “But we always got to church on Sunday as far back as I can remember,” wrote Frank. “Grandma and Grandpa still lived on the farm just over the section one mile south … Every day the mail man came … not much mail of course, but maybe a one cent card from Grandma Swart or Uncle Tom or Aunt Nellie De Jager. The mail man always got through by horse, motorcycle or sleigh. They had no telephone. They sent mail or went to town by horse.

“Dad was a good farmer, a modern farmer, one of the first to raise alfalfa hay. The neighbors couldn’t understand how he could always be cutting hay three cuts a year, as other hay was a once-a-year deal. He also used sweet clover to enrich the land. He raised Poland China hogs and used mineral feeds which was new then. He put in nice straight fences, raised an orchard and improved and enlarged buildings. Dad was a jack-of-all trades, good at them all. He could shoe horses, and operate on sick pigs or cows. He picked all his seed corn, and ran germination tests on each ear. He could fish, hunt, and shoot with the best, and could pick corn, pitch bundles to shock grain and scoop corn with the fastest.

“They had a big garden with corn, watermelon, muskmelon, potatoes. Meals included fried chicken, home-baked bread, home-made butter, buttermilk, fat and stroop (syrup), eggs, and Popp (a thickened buttermilk pudding – with syrup and sometimes raisins).

“Always after eating Dad would get out the Dutch Bible and read a chapter, or if pressed for time, a Psalm. Then we would all fold our hands and bow our head and Dad would pray. And we listened and closed our eyes or else. When the kids started to school we got American Bibles to read and follow. Each had a Bible to read the last verse. Mother taught bedtime prayers and songs, all of which we have never forgotten”.

Frank reported, “We didn’t need many clothes. We kids walked barefoot in summer and wore a one-piece overall. Baths were in the stock tank, and peroxide was used if we stepped in a nail or a pitch fork lying down.

“Dad and Mom were good neighbors; they visited and helped at hay time, harvest, threshing, planting, shelling, butchering, hauling grain, building time, in fact anytime. Close neighbors were the Wynias, Altenas, De Raads, Ravenswaays, Muilenburgs, Vande Wals, Drosts, Kruids, Vande Kiefts, Van Beeks, Holtdorfs, Ditmers, Walravens, Uncle Al, and Grandpa.

“Dad was a modern thinking man and after a few years he bought a gasoline engine to pump water and turn the wash machine. It was done by hand before that. In 1913, he bought a new Ford touring car - - some car, with side curtains in case of rain, top up, top down, three inch hard tires.

If you had a flat tire you pried it off and patched it, pumped it up and away we go, no foot feed, no water pump, no battery, no gear shift. They bought it from John Vloto Garage in Ireton, for $400, a brand new Ford Model T touring car, copper trim on its headlights and radiator cap, four coils and a timer, lights from the magneto (fast—good lights, slow – poor lights).”

●Abel and Effie’s children were Frank (12/14/05, m. Rencella Draayer 2/14/34), Sadie (8/28/10, m. Lawrence Ver Steeg 5/24/32), Delbert (11/30/12, m. Siebeanne Reinders 12/20/39), Madge (7/19/15, m. Bud De Boer 4/10/41), Lloyd (5/17/17, m. Esther Mae Vermeer 8/7/39), Blanche (9/15/27-1/14/36), Muriel (6/4/20, m. Johnny Palsrok 7/22/48). Frank and Rencella lived in Orange City. Their children are Barbara (3/10/37), Frank (2/8/41), and Nyla (3/8/49).

●Jennie and John Muilenburg’s children were Anthony, Frank, Margaret, Gertrude, Henrietta, Elmer, Howard, Eunice, Marion and Nelson. They lived on a farm near Orange City, where all their children lived.

●Albert and Clara Popma lived on a farm northeast of Maurice. Their children were Viola (9/29/13), and Edna (3/26/15). Clara died in 1916; Albert married Ida Raak Popma, their child was Alma (4/10/26). (see the Albert Popma story)

●Leonard and Ida Popma moved to Montana, where he died in the flu epidemic in 1918. Their children were Elsie (4/21/15), and Russell (1/4/17). Ida’s parents were Jerry and Ellen Raak; he was a blacksmith in Orange City. (see the Albert Popma, Ray De Jager and Rob Vander Broek stories)

●Nellie and Henry De Raad’s children were Margaret, Frank, Arthur, Woodrow, Harvey, Leonard and Francis. They farmed by Ireton.

●Dena and Jake Gerritson’s children were Frank, Nellie (who died at age 18) and Margaret, who died recently. Dena died around 1920, when her horses ran over her when she was picking corn by the wagon.

●Ira and Katie Muilenburg lived on the Frank Popma farm and moved to Oregon, during the depression. Their children were Esther, Orville, Harold, Edward and Mildred.

●Cornie and Sarah Popma’s children were Vernon, Lester, Merle, Norman and Lois. He hauled gas in Sioux Center and farmed northwest of Maurice.

●Gerrit and Florence Kots farmed on the north edge of Maurice. Their children were James, Ethel, Pearl, Esther, Rosie, Ruby, George and Daisy. Gerrit did a lot of threshing; he enjoyed it and took pride in doing a good job.

●Frances and John Schuller farmed near Ireton. He was mechanical, and taught Russell Popma how to fix motors. Their children were Leona, Vera, Shirley, Laurence, Wayne, Darlene and Marie.

●Gerrit and Margaret Wichers farmed southeast of Maurice; their children were: Irene, Marlin, Joyce, Myron, Russell, Donald, Allen, Betty, Leon, Lola, Bob and Alma.

Frank recalled his father’s farm: the two-hole privy, no running water, hot water on the cook stove (frozen by morning), the cook stove too hot in the summer and not hot enough in the winter.

How did they do it all?

IN MEMORY OF Mr. and Mrs. Frans Popma by Mrs. Viola Koopmans
(end of story in the Maurice Book)

RESEARCH Notes: From a family report on Ancestry.com submitted by other than this submitter, also from family obits on this web page, Find A Grave among others.

Frans Popke Popma was born 17 Oct 1853 Jorwerd, Friesland, Netherlands died 24 May 1946 Orange City IA. His parents were Popke Alderts Popma 1822-1900 and Pietertje Franes deBoer 1926-1913. Frans married Maaike ‘Margaret ‘ Hiemstra on 21 Jan 1876 Marion County IA

Maaike Hiemstra was born 6 Nov 1857 Menaldum, Friesland, Netherlands died 2 Jun 1930 Maurice IA. She was the daughter of Ulbe Sikkes Hiemstra 1828 and Janke Abe De Boer 1834. Maaike and Frans had the following children.

CHILDREN:

1. Jennie ‘Jane’ Popma born 20 Oct 1876 Pella Marion, IA died 27 Dec 1952 IA. He married Johannes Antonie ‘John’ Muilenburg 1870-1952. There children were Gertrude Muilenburg 1897-2002, Margaretta Muilenburg 1900-2003, Anthony Harold Muilenburg 1902-1973, Franklin Nelson Muilenburg 1904-1995, Henrietta Jennie Muilenburg 1906-2001, Howard William Muilenburg 1908-1977, Elmer Cornelius Muilenburg 1910-1979, Marion Leonard Muilenburg 1914-1989, Eunice Elizabeth Muilenburg 1916, Nelson Alfred Muilenburg 1918-2008. Also see her obit Muilenburg, Jennie (Mrs. John) 1876-1952 on this web page.

2. Nellie Popma born 1878 Pella, Marion, IA died 30 Sep 1939, She married Henry De Raad born 30 Dec 1880 SD died 20 May 1959 Bellflower, CA. They had the following children Margaret De Raad 1904-1992, Arthur De Raad 1906-1987, Frank H. De Raad 1908-1986, Woodrow De Raad 1914-1996, Frances Gertrude De Raad 1915-1980.

3. Albert Popma born 27 Oct 1882 died 7 Feb 1954 Maurice IA. He married Clara Marra March 1911. They were the parents of three daughters – Mrs. Charles Koopman of Maurice, Mrs. Edward Riepma of Norwalk CA and Mrs. Robert Vander Broek of Ireton. See Albert’s obit on this web page.

4. Dena Popma born 1887 died abt 25 Oct 1929 Ireton IA husband W. H. Gerritson. See her obits on this web page. 1920 census had Dena age 32 and children Nellie 12, Frank 23 and Margaret infant.

5. Abel Popma born 28 Dec 1884 Orange City IA died 30 Jun 1969 Sioux Center IA. He married Effie Swarts 1887-1979. Their children were – Frank E. Popma 1908-1979, Sadie M. Popma 1910-2009, Delbert Thomas Popma 1912-2011, Madge Mildred Popma 1916-2009, Loyd Milton Popma 1917-2000, Blanch Popma 1927-1936. See his obit - Popma, Abel 1884-1969 on this web page.

6. Katie Popma born 13 Apr 1891 Died 15 Jan 1968 Sherwood, OR. She married Ira Muilenburg. Two children were listed on Find A Grave – Orville Muilenburg and Esther Muilenburg.

7. Cornelius Popma born 22 Oct 1893 Sioux County IA died 22 Jul 1970 Scotland SD. Children listed on Find a Grave were Lois Arlene Kirshenman, Merle Dean Popma, Lester Duane Popma, Vernon Roy Popma, and Leona B. Popma.

8. Florence Popma born 8 Dec 1895 Ireton died Apr 1985 Maurice IA She married Gerrit J. Kots Nov 27, 1914 Maurice IA. They had two sons, James of Ireton, and George of Wisconsin; seven daughters, Ethel Kots of Maurice, Pearl Kots of Platte, S J)., Mrs. Ted E. (Esther) Coleman of Hillsborough, N.C., Mrs. Don Rose (Jones) of Dumont, Mrs. Pete (Ruby) Veldkamp of Canton, S.D., Mrs. Max (Goldie) Bowman of Elgin, Nebr., and Mrs. George (Daisy) Headrick of Powersville, Mo . See Florence’s obit on this web page Kots, Florence (Mrs. Gerrit J.) 1895-1985

9. Frances Popma born 24 Jul 1899 Ireton IA died 23 Oct 1966 Orange City IA. She married John Schuller Oct 14, 1919 at Maurice. They had children two sons, Lawrence and Wayne, both of Ireton; six daughters, Mrs. Ralph Voorhees of Spearfish, SD; Mrs. Arthur Loerts of Ocheyedan; Mrs. Ben Veldkamp of Pipestone, MN; and Mrs. John Van Iperen and Mrs. Cornie Rosskam, both of Hospers, and Mrs. Arthur Foos of Vale, SD. See her obit on this web page as Schuller, Frances (Mrs. John) - 1899-1966

10. Margaret Popma 5 Aug 1902 Center Tsp,Sioux County IA died Jan1977 Orange City IA. She married Garret Wichers on Dec 12, 1923 at Maurice. They had children - seven sons: Marlin, Bob, and Russell, all of Orange City, Allen of Maurice, Donald of Glenwood, Minn., Leon of Rock Valley, Myron of Billings, Mont.; five daughters: Mrs. Ken (Lola) Heys of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Mrs. Jake (Joyce) Siemonsma of Alton, Mrs. Frank (Betty) Pott of Puerto Rico, Mrs. Carl (Irene) Zeublis of Dunnellori, Florida, and Mrs. Don (Alma) Engeltjes of Orange City; a sister, Mrs. Gerrit (Florence) Kots of Maurice. She was preceded in death by her husband, one son, and one grandson. See her obit on this web page as Wichers, Margaret 1902-1977

11. Esther Marie Popma 10 Apr 1905 Ireton IA died 17 Dec 1927 buried Maurice IA , married 20 Jan 1926 at Maurice IA to Alfred L. Van Peursem. The Ireton Ledger of 22 Dec 1927 states the Mrs. Alfred Van Peursem passed away following the birth of a baby boy. The Alton Democrat of 22 Dec 1927 under Orange City News stated that relatives and friends were shocked to hear of the sudden death of Mrs. Alfred Van Peursem, age 23, immediately after giving birth to a little son in the Le Mars Hospital. Many from there attended the funeral at Maurice. Find A Grave lists one child as Marion Alfred Van Peursem

OBITUARY OF FRANS POPMA 1853-1946
Sioux Center News May 30, 1946
Frank Popma, 92 Dies at Maurice May 24
Frank Popma passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Gerrit Kots on May 24 at the age of 93 years, 7 months and 7 days. He was born in Friesland, Netherlands on October 17, 1853. He came to America with his parents and family at the age of 17 years. They settled in Pella, Iowa where he was untied in marriage in 1874 to Maggie Hiemstra. Later they moved to Orange City and then to their own farm northwest of Maurice. In 1914 he moved to town. 13 children were born to them. Of those one died in infancy, while four others passed on at an older age.
His surviving children are Jennie, Mrs. John Muilenburg of Orange City; Albert of Maurice; Abel of Sioux Center; Kate, Mrs. Ira Muilenburg of Beverton Oregon; Cornie of Scotland SD; Florence, Mrs. Gerrit Kots of Maurice; Frances Mrs. John Schuller of Ireton; and Margaret Mrs. Gerrit Wichers of Maurice. Also 71 grandchildren and 61 great grandchildren.
The mother passed away on June 3, 1930. In March 1936 he was untied in marriage to Mrs. Nellie Vander Stoep who also survives him.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Gerrit Kots home and from the First Reformed church where the deceased was one of the oldest member in full communion. Rev. J. Roggen officiated and burial took place in the Sherman Township cemetery.

OBITUARY OF MAIKE POPMA 1857-1930
Popma, Maaike born 1857 died 3 June 1930 Mother Sherman Tsp. Cemetery Maurice IA
Find a Grave lists Maaike Popma nee’ Hiemstra born 6 Nov 1857 Menaldum, Friesland Netherlands buried in Sherman Township Cemetery Maurice IA. Twelve children were listed.
See the obituary of her husband Frans - Frank Popma 1853-1946 for family details.

De Volksvirend of Orange City June 5, 1930 in Dutch
Translated:
On Tuesday morning, G. POPMA was called to Maurice by the news that Mrs. Frans POPMA had died there in the age of 72 years. She leaves her husband and 9 children all married, By her passing the loss of a loving wife and mother also the loss was felt by two brothers and a sister, living near Pella. The funeral will be in Maurice on Friday after noon. 

Picture was on page 460 of the Maurice Book. (picture should be up before long)

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen