Dykstra, Mathilda “Tetje” (Mrs. Cornelius E.), 1854-1940

DYKSTRA, ELZINGA, ELSINGA, TANJA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/10/2022 at 10:53:29

From the Boyden Reporter, February 1, 1940:

Mrs. C. E. Dykstra, mother of Mrs. Herman Vander Maaten and E. C. Dykstra, passed away Saturday morning January 27th, at the Vander Maaten home, following a lingering illness.

Matilda Elzenga was born in Minnertsgo, Province of Friesland, Netherlands, on Dec. 27, 1854. She was united in marriage to C. E. Dykstra in 1885, and in 1890 they came to America to make their home. Five children were born to this union: Mrs. John Buurman, Peter and John Dykstra, all of Orange City; Mrs. Vander Maaten and E. C. Dykstra of Boyden. Her husband preceded her in death August 8, 1935.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 30, at 1:30 o’clock in the Buurman home at Orange City and at 2:00 o’clock in the First Reformed church, with Rev. Colenbrander officiating, assisted by Rev. J. W. Brink of Boyden. Interment was made in Orange City cemetery.

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From De Volksvriend, February 1, 1940 (in Dutch):

Saturday morning 25 January Mrs. Cornelius Dykstra, nee Elzinga, died quietly and calmly from a heart ailment, at the age of 85, in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Herman Van der Maten, in Boyden. She was born 31 December 1855 in Sexbierum, Friesland province, Netherlands, and was also married there to Mr. Cornelius Dykstra on 22 May 1886. In 1890 Mr. and Mrs. Dykstra and two children came to America, and settled at Orange City. Mr. Dykstra preceded her in death on 2 August 1935. After her husband’s death she took up residence with Mrs. Gerben Van der Meer, and after her death, she left Orange City about 10 months ago, and due to her dependent condition went to live with her daughter Lucy (Mr. and Mrs. Herman Van der Maten) in Boyden, where she was lovingly cared for until her death.

She is survived by her five children: Mrs. John Buurman, Orange City; Mrs. Herman Van der Maten, Boyden; Eeltje Dykstra, Boyden; Peter and John Dykstra, Orange City. The deceased was a member of the 1st Reformed church here, in which the funeral services were conducted on Tuesday by Rev. H. Colenbrander, preceded by a service at the house of her daughter, Mrs. John Buurman. Burial took place in the Orange City cemetery.

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From the Sioux County Capital, February 1, 1904:

OBITUARIES – MRS. CORNELIUS DYKSTRA

Mrs. Cornelius Dykstra of Boyden, 85, died Saturday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Herman Vander Maten, there. She had been an invalid for many years. [Funeral information] Mrs. Dykstra was born Elzinga in Sexbierum, the Netherlands. She came to Sioux County in 1890. She and Mr. Dykstra were married in 1886. Survivors include her 5 children: Eltje of Boyden; Grace, Mrs. John Buurman of Orange City; Lucy, Mrs. Vander Maten of Boyden; Peter and John of Orange City.

RESEARCH NOTES

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Her death certificate (informant John Buurman) has Mathilda Dykstra, widow of Cornelius Dykstra; resident of the United States 50 years and of Boyden 10 months; born December 31, 1854 in the Netherlands; father Elzinga, mother’s name unknown; died in Boyden at 5:30[?] a.m. January 27, 1940; cause, broncho pneumonia, duration 4-5 days; due to old age.

Her FindaGrave.com page has her as Mathilda “Tetje” Elsinga Dykstra, born 31 Dec 1854 in Minnertsga, Het Bildt Municipality, Friesland, Netherlands; died 28 Jan 1940 in Boyden, buried in West Lawn Cemetery, Orange City. Spouse Cornelus E. Dykstra (1858-1935). Four children listed: Eltje Dykstra (1887-1943), Grace Dykstra Buurman (1888-1971), Lucy Dykstra Van Der Maten (1890-1971), and Peter C. Dykstra (1892-1966). There is a photo of the joint headstone of Cornelus E. and Mathilda.

The 1900 U.S. census for Orange City has Cornelus Dykstra, age 41, born Nov. 1858 in the Netherlands, married 14 years, a day laborer; wife Tetje, age 45, born Dec. 1854 in the Netherlands, mother of 5 children, all living (though 13-year-old Eltje is not enumerated with them); and children Grace (12), Lucy (10), Peter (8), and Johannes (3). Cornelus, Tetje, and Grace immigrated in 1889 and Cornelus is naturalized.

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index record for Tetje Elsinga, parents Pier Sytses Elsinga and Geeske Johannes Tanja, born 31 December 1854 in Friesland.

WieWasWie.nl also has a marriage index record for groom Kornelis Dijkstra, age 27, born in Sexbierum, parents Eeltje Nannings Dijkstra and Lieuwkje Sybes Houtsma; bride Tetje Elsinga, age 31, born in Minnertsga, parents Pier Sydses Elsinga and Geeske Johannes Tanja; married in Barradeel, Friesland, 22 May 1886.