Obituary--Wyan Arendsen

Another "born in the Netherlands" obituary.  And again, mourners coming from Holland.  As the name implies, that city was gateway to many of the settlers who came to Michigan from the Netherlands. 


From the 9 March 1916, Fremont TimesIndicator:

WYAN ARENDSEN
Wyan Arendsen was born in the Netherlands, May 17, 1840 and emigrated to this country about 50 years ago. He was married to Libbie Hopp in 1865 and to this union were born seven children, five sons and two daughters.
He who knows best called him to a land of rest Wednesday evening, Feb. 23rd, at 8:15 o'clock, being 76 years, nine months and six days of age. Mr. Arendsen leaves to mourn their loss, an aged wife, three sons, Henry, Albert and John, all of Fremont; and two daughters, Mrs. Alice Scott of McCord, Mich., and Mrs. Mary Dunning, of Fremont, sixteen grand-children and twelve great grand-children.
About 31 years ago, Mr. Arendsen purchased a farm northwest of Fremont in Dayton township, where he lived until about seven years ago when old age made the care of the farm too hard for him and his wife and they moved to Fremont and they lived happy and contented until his work was done.  Last November he was stricken with heart trouble which caused his death.
Those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. John Scott, of McCord; Andrew Scott, of Muskegon; Miss Dora Scott, Mrs. Winnie Dysker, Alice Scott, Mrs. Soll, of Grand Rapids; Wm. TImmer and Wm. Hopp, of Holland; Mr. and Mrs. John Hopp and Mrs. Wm. Hopp, of Beaverdam, Mich., and Brad Odell of Big Rapids.
The funeral services were held at the First Christian Reformed church of which he was an active member, Rev. H. Keegstra officiated.  He was laid to rest in Maple Grove cemetery.

Another member of the farming community, apparently coming around the time of the Civil War.  Family man and one who helped to grow this area into what it is today.    

Obituary--Mrs. Henry Derks and Mrs. Jacob Tanis

I am starting another theme week with my obituaries.  This time the theme is "born in the Netherlands."  In randomly searching through some of the obituaries I have copied off for posting, the same phrase kept popping up.  While this area was originally settled by other pioneers and lumbermen, we had several waves of settlers from the Netherlands who had a great influence on the culture of the region. You probably have noticed many previously obituaries with that phrase already, and this week will be no exception. 
The first posting is actually a two-fer.  The death of these two ladies both were mentioned in the same community column for Reeman.  Their obituaries were in the same paper, they were born in the Netherlands and both died in the same small community.  I decided it was fitting their obituaries be posted together. 


From the 25 May 1916 Fremont TimesIndicator:

REEMAN
This community was shocked and saddened by the death of two of its number during the space of one week.  Mrs. Derks, who has made her home with her soon, Joe Frens, passed away Wednesday May 17.  Early on the morning of May 19 came the death of Mrs. Jake Tanis, who has been ill at her home here for the past three months.

Next, the actual obituary for Mrs. Derks:

MRS. HENRY DERKS
Mrs. Henry Deks died Wednesday noon, May 17 at her home near Reeman, at the age of 72 years.  The deceased was born in the Netherlands November 7, 1843.  She is survived by her children, namely, John Frens, Mrs. B. Rynberg, Joe Frens, Harry Frens, Mrs F. Buteau and Mrs G. Dake, besides several step-children.
Those from away who attended the funeral are Mrs. Frank buteau, Mr and Mrs. Harry Frens, and Mrs. F. Dake, from Muskegon, Mrs Henry Teusink, from Holland, Mrs. E Comissaris and Mrs. L Lanting from Jamestown.

I am fairly certain that the Holland referred above and again below to was the city in the Michigan county of Ottawa, which is about 50 miles or so away.   
Anyway, on to Mrs. Jacob Tanis's obituary.

MRS. JACOB TANIS
Lizzie Drost was born in the Netherlands March 19, 1878.  Her parents came to America in 1885, settling first in Brookside and later moving to their present home near Reeman.
She was married May 12, 1897 to Jacob Tanis and to this union three children were born, Willie aged 18, Libbie, 16 and Cora 14.
Mr.s Tanis died Friday, May 19, aged 38 years, two months.  She was a loving and devoted wive and mother and a sincere christian, having been a member of the Christian Reformed church since age 16. Besides the grief-stricken husband and children, an aged father and mother, three brothers and three sisters are left to mourn.
Funeral services were held Monday, May 22, at the church which was filled to overflowing by the hosts of friends who gathered to pay their last tribute to one who by her sunny christian character had endeared herself to all.
Those attending from a distance were John Newald and wife, Mr. and Mrs Maring, John Drost and Ed Neiboer of Muskegon, Martin Tanis and wife, Lane Tanis and wife of Holland, Will Drost, of Racine, Wis., and Mrs Josephine bush, of Grand Rapids.

I find particularly interesting in Mrs Tanis's obituary the line about her parents settled first in Brookside and then moving to a home near Reeman.  What were then two very small communities are only a three miles apart, and even closer going cross country.

Tombstone Tuesday--Volney Cemetery

 Volney Cemetery is near the Beaver township hall, in western Newaygo county.  Burials appear to start in the 1870 and 1880s and continue to the current time.

 Much of the cemetery, especially the older sections have the cement boundaries.  The bordered plot above is typical.  Unfortunately, the day most of our pictures of Volney cemetery were taken was a bright sunny day, and many of our pictures have highly contrasting light and shadows, making some of the names hard to read.

 Here however is a clearly visible military stone with the flag in place.  The word "Artificer" apparently refers to his rank or job in the army, as it was skilled workman or mechanic in the armed services. Jesse E Walker served in Company 1 of the 18 US Infantry during the Spanish American War.   Living from 17 March 1871 to 18 February 1936, I am unable to make out the words inscribed on the bottom of the stone.  Although the stone is mottled with lichen, it is very sharp and free from weathering in this picture. 

 This stone for Sarah Painter Redding (1846-1880) was surprising to me also.  It appears to be composed of red granite, a material that I always thought of as of usage much later.  While it could have been placed much later than her time of death, the stone itself is of a shape and design similar to older stones.

 This stone for John Painter (died 13 November, 1887, age 69 years, 11 months 3 days) is also in a remarkable state of repair. While it is missing a top finial of some kind, the fleur de lis pattern around the bottom is wonderfully sharp and clear.   The same stone can be seen in the picture below, although the border from the plot in back cannot.

Here is another large Painter family stone, with a large Bettys family stone in the background.

Here is another old stone in a great state of repair. The base with the crosshatching pattern is clearn and in one piece.  The obelisk above is also tall and has the little urn shaped finial still in place.  It memorializes the Loehr family.  Only the name of Edna Clair Loehr, daughter of J & J Loehr, who died in 1908 is easily readable from this side.

Many family stones are visible in this picture: McDonald, and Charles & Charlotte Gleason.  but I was most intrigued by the double stone with the carving in the right foreground.  I cannot make out the name but the carved middle stone seems to connect the stones of two separate couples.

Another family plot for the Conleys.  Newer stone, but still a bordered plot behind it.
One of the most intriguing stones, listed in the transcript, but not seen in our pictures, has this inscription:  James Gorwin, son of J.W and H.M.  Was murdered by Daniel McDonald June 2, 1881.  12 years, 10 m's, 3 d'y.  Dearest child, rest with your mother's love and care and God will deal justly with the murderer that took your young life.   1869-1881.
Whew!  Interesting enough, of the McDonalds in our transcript, there is no Daniel.

Obituary--Mrs Zwaantje Rozema

This obituary caught my eye because of her name.  So indicative of our extensive Dutch heritage here, (the local phone book for our small community has 8 columns of names beginning with Van, from Vanaartsen to Van Zyll, not to mention the other "old country" surnames), her name invokes the spirit of many of those who came to this area of Michigan.


From the 10 February 1916 Fremont TimesIndicator:

MRS ZWAANTJE ROZEMA

Zwaantje Rozema, nee Nyenhuis, was born March 24, 1837, at Benneveld, Province of Drenthe, Netherlands.  In 1847 she came to America with her parents.  They were of those pioneers to whose efforts so much of the development of this and other states is due.  They settled in Ottowa county.  she was united in marriage to Hendrick Rozema in 1858.    Ten children blessed this union, siz of whom are now living, namely: Jacob, at Ludington Mich., John H at Spirit Lake, Iowa, Martin at Seattle, Wash., Joe, Henry and Mrs Jennie VanZomeren, at Fremont.  Since the death of her husband in 1900, Mrs. Rozema made her home with her daughter, Mrs. VanZomeren.
She died on Feb 2, at the age of 78 years, 10 months and 8 days. 
Funeral services were held from the Reformed church, of which she was a member, on Saturday, Feb. 5.  Interment took place in Maple Grove cemetery.

I always hope, when I post an obituary like this, that some one searching for the connection to to the old country will find this and get the breakthrough they need.  It is great when not only the country, but the province and city are given in these old obituaries. 

Obituary--Libbie Drost

This obituary is one of those where we get two for one.  There is the regular obituary, giving names and facts, and then the more personal notice that appears in the community gossip column.  Both give different views of the same individual. 


From the 24 August 1922 Fremont TimesIndicator, the obituary:


MRS. GARRET DROST.
Libbie Van Baak was born in The Netherlands, march 9, 2853.  On April 27, 1875 she was married to Garret Drost.  In 1885 they came to America and soon after that settled near Reeman where they have since lived.  Nine children were born to them of which six survive, John Drost and Mrs. J. Newald of Muskegon, Mrs Will Tanis, Mrs Ed Neiboer and Garret and Will Drost of Reeman.
Mrs. Drost was a life long member of the Christian Reformed church and it was her sorrow that during her nearly eight months of invalidism she had to miss the church servicees.  funeral services were held last Wednesday afternoon, Rev. J H Mokema of Fremont taking Charge.  Burial was made in Maple Grove cemetery.

And this clipping was in the same issue of the paper, from the Reeman community news.

REEMAN
This community was saddened Monday morning to hear of the death of Mrs. Drost who passed away while asleep early that morning.  The deceased had been an invalid since her serious illness with pneumonia last January, yet her death, though not entirely unexpected, was a shock to relatives and friends because of the suddenness and quietness of her passing.  Mrs. Drost had lived many years in this community and was a loved friend of all.  The deepest sympathy of everyone who knew her is extended to the mourning relatives.

See what I mean?  The obituary tells where she was born and married, when she came to America, the names of surviving children. (Although no mention is made of the husband, if alive or not.) But the second tells more of the effect on the community of her life and of her loss.  I am glad we have them both.

Tombstone Tuesday--Troy Cemetery

 Troy Cemetery is, surprisingly enough, located in Troy Township, in the northwest corner of Newaygo county.  It is near the southern edge of the township, on a fairly well traveled, paved road in rural central Michigan.  It is near a portion of Manistee National Forest, as is a good share of the county.  Over half of Troy township is part of the national forest.

A fairly good sized cemetery, with a variety of new and old style stones.  If you look close, you can see modern granite stones as well as the obelisk shaped stones.  Our transcript has a hand-drawn map, showing that the drive is a semicircular one, through the cemetery and back out onto 13 Mile road

 An impressive large stone for the Basford family.  Only two names listed here, although we have another sone for the Basfords.  This one lists Lorissa J, March 8 1898 to 1900, and Minnie Myrtle October 25 1895 to 1916.  We also have a picure of a stone for Lourissa Basford, daughter of L & J, with the dates 1899 to 1900.  The same child listed on two stones?  Perhaps cousins, since their lives overlapped enough to (hopefully) prevent them from being sisters.

 

 I love this old stone.  Apparently handmade from cement framed neatly into a rectangle, Henry L. carved, slightly off center.  I am unable to find a last name for him.  Our transcript shows him in an 8 grave plot with two other families, Ammerman and Wilkinson.  He is the only one listed with no first name.

Several areas in the cemetery show a cement bordered plot.  The above picture shows a plot, with the corners marked by the small obelisk shaped stones.  Three of them appear to have holes for ropes or  chains.  The fourth one would have the holes on the sides hidden from the camera.  I haven't seen this kind of border for family plots in many of our county cemetery pictures. That I can recall at least.

I was intrigued by this simple wooden cross for George W Wolgomott.  I was even more impressed when I saw the reverse side of the cross.  It says Civil war vet.  Obvoiusly someone has been making sure his grave is marked by more that the flag holder.

My pet peeve again.  Lilacs grow up!!!  Don't plant them tight to the stones.  Our pictures show several different stones buried in lilac bushes.  This one shows a base in the bush and it appears the top of the stone is leaning against another nearby.

A large monument for the Yates family, flanked by the stones for Alonzo (1842-1915) and Louise (1852-1929).  Here the more typical cement border is clearly shown outlining the plot.

This old weathered building stands outside one boundary of the cemetery.  A couple older stones, and an obelisk monument stand quietly in this slightly overgrown corner.  It almost reminds me, with the nearby shed, of an old family cemetery on some family homestead.
How many of those old graves were there at one time, that are now forgotten all together?  At least here in Troy Cemetery, they are remembered and maintained.

Obituary--Tucker S. Dragoo

This poor obituary has been in my pile of obituaries for so long, that I was beginning to wonder if I had already posted it and forgot to add to my spreadsheet.  ( I do try to avoid duplicates, but can't make any promises.)


This obituary is sort of a three-fer.  There was two brief mentions in a community column one week, as well as  a full obituary..  The obituaries of pioneers to the area are always so interesting when they give a glimpse of the journey made to get here to Newaygo county. 


From the 3 February 1916 Fremont TimesIndicator:

Mr. Tucker Dragoo passed on from this life last Sunday.  He was an old and respected pioneer.  He leaves a wife and three children, who were with him constantly for the past four weeks.  Mrs Dragoo is still very sick.

In another column was this item:

Tucker Dragoo, an old and highly respected citizen of this vicinity, died at his home one-half mile east and one mile north of the Tyndell schoolhouse Sunday morning.  Funeral services were held at the house Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock.  The bereaved family have the sympathy of the community.


And of course, the full obituary:

PIONEER OF DAYTON DIED SUNDAY, JAN. 30

Tucker S. Dragoo, a resident of Dayton township for about 47 years, died at his home Sunday after an illness of several years.  Mr. Dragoo had been suffering from the grippe.  He was 73 years of age.
The deceased was a son of Uel and Jane Dragoo, natives of Virginia and was born in that state July 9, 1842.  He came with his parents to Berrien county, Mich., when three years of age and lived there 24 years, engaged in farming.  In the spring of 1869 he came to Newaygo county and bought 80 acres of wild land in Dayton township, where he has since resided.
He was married in Buchanan Mich., January 22, 1865, to Sarah Kirkendall, a native of Ohio, who still survives him.  He is also survived by two sons, Lawrence, of Dayton, A. J. Dragoo of Traverse City, and Myrtle who is at home.
Mr. Dragoo saw all the hardships of the pioneer and helped to make this community one of the best sections in the state.
The funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home and the burial took place in Maple Grove cemetery.

I enjoy the way this obituary is full of all the necessary details: dates, family, places. so compete!  Another plus is that it, along with the two smaller blurbs, gives a hint of his life, even without going into all the flowery language.  A simple, clean, complete, and satisfying obituary.