Draayer, Ben 1884-1961 and Jane Nyhof Family

DRAAYER, NYHOF, RIPHAGEN, BEUMER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 6/8/2024 at 06:03:21

Draayer, Ben 1884-1961 & Jane Nyhof Family

This story was taken from pages 344-345 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 by Wilma J. Vande Berg

Berend (Ben) Draayer was born on October 9, 1884, in Heerde, Gelderland, Holland. He was the son of Jan and Wilmina (Riphagen) Draayer. As a young boy he came to America with his family and lived for some time in South Dakota, before moving to Sioux County, Iowa.

On January 16, 1908, he married Janetjen (Jane) Nyhof. She had been born to Hendrik and Henrietta (Beumer) Nyhof on April 12, 1884, in Heerde, Gelderland, Holland. It is not known exactly when her family moved to Iowa.

Ben and Jane Draayer commenced farming near Sioux Center, from the date of their marriage. It was at this farm that their first three children were born; Wilmina (Minnie) in 1908, Hendreka (Hattie) in 1911, and Rienera (Rencella) in 1913.

The family moved to South Dakota, in 1916, to a farm near the neighborhood of Ben’s youth. In 1918, a son, John B. Draayer, was born. But times were hard in South Dakota, and the family of six, along with Ben’s brother, Albert, moved back to Iowa, early in 1923, and settled into an existing farm less than two miles north of Maurice, on the east side of Highway 75.

In the summer of 1923, Ben and Albert Draayer built a service station at the intersection of Highways 75 and 10, which Albert ran for the next few years. Ben bought the farm he was living on from W. and Lena Riphagen on February 26, 1925.

The huge flood of 1926, brought water up to the very foot of the service station. Many hay stacks, large animals, trees, and other debris floated by, and cries for help were heard from people whose cars had stalled in the rising waters. A Mr. Terpstra and son stopped at the Draayers, and then decided to try to make it to Sioux Center, but were unsuccessful and drowned after disregarding Ben Draayer’s warnings. When Highway 75 was paved the year after, the service station was moved 100 feet south.

The Draayer family operated a typically diversified farm; milking cows, raising hogs and chickens, and keeping horses. Corn, oats and barley were the main field crops and a large garden was maintained. The two younger children attended the newly built Maurice School starting in 1923, traveling by horse and buggy until later years when bus service started. They also remember the bobsled rides to church when winter made roads impassable for cars.

Except for a brief period between 1932 and 1934, during which time daughter Hattie and husband lived on the farm, Ben and Jane Draayer and son John lived and farmed at this location from 1923, to 1940. At this time John took over the farming, and Ben and Jane retired to a home in Orange City. They lived there, in the midst of many loving relatives, until Ben passed away on January 10, 1961, and Jane followed him on February 13, 1961.

The farm remains in the ownership of Ben’s grandson, Arlin Draayer, and the buildings survived until the summer of 1989.

IN MEMORY OF Mr. and Mrs. Ben Draayer by Arlan Draayer. (end of story in the Maurice book)

RESEARCH Notes: From a family report on ancestry.com public member trees submitted by other than this submitter.

Berend ‘Ben’ Draayer born 9 Oct 1884 Eerden Heerde, Gelderland, Netherlands died 10 Jan 1961 Orange City, IA. His parents were Jan ‘John’ T. Draayer 1859 – 1950 and Wilhelmina Hermina Riphagen 1863-1951. He married Jannetje ‘Jane’ Nyhof 16 Jan 1908 Sioux County IA .

Jannetje ‘Jane’ Nyhof was born 12 Apr 1884 Gelderland, Netherlands and died 10 Jan 1961 Orange City IA. Her parents were Hendrik Nyhof 1844-1910 and Hendrika Johanna Beumer 1852-1915.

CHILDREN: three children, Mrs. Otto Rowenhorst (Minnie), Mrs. Frank Popma (Rencella) and John B. Draayer of Maurice.

1. Minnie Draayer was born 28 Sep 1908 in South Dakota, She married Dick Zeutenhorst and later she married Otto Rowenhorst. Her children were two sons and their wives, Marvin and Wanda Zeutenhorst and Darwin and Joan Zeutenhorst, all of Orange City; a daughter and her husband, Harriet and Robert Puff of Mesa, Ariz. See Minnie’s obit on this web page.

2. Rencella Draayer was born 27 May 1913 Clear Lake SD, and later Frank Elmer Popma. Their three children - Barbara and her husband, Clifford Harmelink of Las Vegas, Nev., Frank Popma Jr. of Naples, Fla., and Nyla Thoreau of Spencer, Iowa. See Rennie’s obit on this web page.

3. John B. Draayer born 16 Feb 1918 Clear Lake SD died Nov13, 1987 Sioux Falls SD He married Wilmyna M. Van Peursem.  Children - son, Arlan, of Sioux Center; daughter, Mrs. Allen (Donna) Kosters, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. See John’s obit on this web page.

OBITUARY of Ben Draayer 1884-1961
Source Sioux County Capital of Thursday January 19, 1961
Services Friday for Ben Draayer of Orange City.
Funeral services for Ben Draayer, 76, of Orange City were held Friday at the First Reformed church with the Rev. Colenbrander officiating, Prior to the church rites, services were held at the home with Rev. Vander Lune and Rev. Roetman officiating. Mr. Draayer died Jan. 10 at the Orange City Municipal Hospital.
Born in The Netherlands, he came to this country at the age of three. On January 16, 1908, he was united in marriage to Jane Nyhof at Maurice. After residing in the Maurice-Sioux Center area for a time, they moved to South Dakota and after eight years, returned to Maurice. In 1940, they moved to Orange City.
He is survived by the widow and three children, Mrs. Otto Rowenhorst (Minnie), Mrs. Frank Popma (Rencella) and John B. Draayer of Maurice. Also surviving are nine grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; six brothers Henry and Chic of Ireton, Gerrit of Sioux Center, Bert of Austin MN, and of Albert of Artesia CA, and a sister, Mrs. Sam Wynia Minnie of Sioux Center.
He was preceded in death by a daughter Hattie Mrs. Gerrit Zeutenhorst at the age of 26; His parents and two sisters; Mrs. Gerrit De Weerd and Cynthia Draayer.
Pall bearers were grandchildren Herbert Zeutenhorst, Darwin Zeutenhorst, Arlan Draayer, Clifford Harmelink and Robert Puff. Interment was in the Orange City Cemetery.

OBITUARY OF JANE DRAAYER
Source Sioux Center News of Feb 16, 1961
Mrs. Ben Draayer – Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the First Reformed church in Orange City, for Mrs. Ben Draayer 76. the Rev. H. Colenbrander officiated.
Burial was in the Orange City cemetery under the direction of the Van Etten funeral home. Mrs. Draayer born in the Netherlands, came to the United States at the age o 8. she was married to Ben Draayer in 1908. The couple lived in South Dakota prior to settling on a farm in the Orange City area where they resided until there retirement in the early 1940’s.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Otto Rowenhorst and Mrs. Frank Popma, both of Orange City; a son John B. of Maurice nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Picture taken from page 345 of the Maurice book.

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