VanderHamm, John J., 1859-1940

VANDERHAMM, GEUDER, JUELFS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/25/2022 at 21:36:33

From the Sioux Center News, October 17, 1940:

Ireton – Special: – John Vander Hamm, age 81, died at the Le Mars hospital Thursday, following a prolonged sickness and operation. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ireton, Rev. H. W. Krieger, officiating. Burial was made in the Lutheran cemetery. Survivors include his widow, one son, E. C. Vander Hamm of Sheldon, and a daughter Christine, at home. Five grandchildren, and two brothers, August and Herman of Ireton. Deceased was a well-known farmer, and had lived in this community nearly all of his life.

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From the Hawarden Independent, October 17, 1940 – Ireton and Vicinity news:

Death Calls John Vander Hamm

John J. Vander Hamm, a citizen of Sioux county for 68 years and honored and respected by all who knew him, passed away in the Sacred Heart hospital in LeMars at 12:30 last Thursday afternoon. He had been in failing health for some time. During the past year it was noticeable to his loved ones as well as his friends that his strength was slowly ebbing. A man with patience, he bore his suffering without complaint. His whole life had been one of vigor and health and as the years rolled on past the three score and ten and up to the four score mark his activities, both physical and mental, were always like those of a younger man.

He loved his home, his family and friends, his town and community as well as state and nation. His experience here in this neighborhood went back to the very beginning of settlement and some of those when told to the present generation sounded like fairy tales. He was a loyal citizen, believing in law and order. He was a true Christian who loved his church and all it stood for. He was honored by his fellowmen time after time in positions of honor and trust.

John J. Vander Hamm, the second son of the late Mr. and Mrs. H. Vander Hamm, was born December 25, 1859, at Dixon, Ill. When he was five years old his family moved to Monticello, Iowa, and in 1872 he came to Sioux county, locating on a farm, five miles southeast of Ireton. In 1885 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Geuder of Guttenberg, Iowa. In 1886 Mr. and Mrs. Vander Hamm moved onto his father’s farm, three miles southeast of Ireton. To this happy union were born two children. In 1913 they retired and moved to Ireton which has since been his home.

He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Christina, at home, and one son, Ernest of Sheldon; two brothers, August and Herman Vander Hamm; five grandchildren and one great grandchild and a host of other relatives and friends. He had reached the age of 80 years, 9 months and 15 days.

Funeral services were held from St. Paul’s Lutheran church Sunday afternoon and a large assembly gathered to pay their last respects to the departed. Rev. H. W. Krieger preached a very touching sermon of comfort and strength. Misses Cleone and Lorraine Vlotho and Lois Kreiger sang beautifully, “Heaven is My Home.” Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery. The pall bearers were nephews of the departed, Fred, Oscar, Elmer, Lorenz, Walter and Herbert Vander Hamm.

[A news note elsewhere in this issue names Mrs. Melvin Moleman, nee Lela Vander Hamm of Long Beach, Calif., as a granddaughter.]

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate (informant H. L. VanderHamm) has John J. VanderHamm, husband of Mary Geuder; born Dec. 25, 1859 in Dixon, Ill.; parents Henry VanderHamm and Christina Julffs[?], both born in Germany; a retired farmer; died in the Sacred Heart Hospital, LeMars, where he had been for two weeks, at 12:30 p.m. October 10, 1940; cause, uremia, due to obstruction from enlarged prostate; other condition, arterio sclerosis. An operation was performed on October 1, 1940: “transurethral resection of prostate.”

His FindaGrave.com page shows him buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Ireton, with a copy of the joint headstone of him and his wife. Parents Henry Bernard Anton Vander Hamm (1832-1910) and Christina Juilfs Vander Hamm (1832-1923). Six siblings listed. Wife Mary Elizabeth Geuder Vander Hamm (1863-1949). Children Christine Vander Hamm (1887-1988) and Ernest Carl Vander Hamm (1888-1961).

The Sioux County marriage register for 1885/1886 has groom John Juelf v. d. Hamm, age 26, resident of Reading Township, Sioux County, a farmer, born in Dixon, Ill., a German, parents Henry v. d. Hamm and Christine Juelfs; bride Marie Elizabeth Geuder, age 23, resident of Reading Township, born in Clayton County, Iowa, a German, parents John Sebastian Geuder and Helene Barbara Wellein; married in Reading Township December 14, 1885.