Vierkant Family Album
contributed by Bob & Nola Vierkant

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Harm Geerds and Adolphine 'Aaltje' Wildeboer Vierkant came to America in 1894 along with their daughter Grietje 'Grace'. Their sons, Berend 'Ben' Harms Vierkant and Geerd 'George' H. Vierkant had worked off their passage from Germany and were already settled.  I believe that Harm and Adolphine initially lived with their sons. Grietje married Albert Kuhlers in 1897 and lived in Section 3 of Wisner Township. 

Harm Geerds and Adolphine (Wildeboer) Vierkant are buried at Palsville, Wright co. IA 

Adolphine 'Aaltje' Wildeboer

Harm Geerds Vierkant

Harm Geerds Vierkant


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Brothers, Berend Harms Vierkant and Geerd H. Vierkant came to America in 1893.  They had each worked for a year to pay for their passage then brought their parents and sister to Iowa.

Berend H. 'Ben' & Geerd H. 'George' Vierkant
ca1893-1894

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Geerd H. Vierkant married Serberdina Christina Beenen. She had immigrated in 1884 with parents Theodore and Grietje (Wildeboer) Beenen. Geerd & Serberdina lived in Section 20 of Wisner Township.  The farm is now occupied by their grandson William George.

Sisters, Serberdina 'Dena' & Anna Beenen

Geerd & Dena Vierkant 1902

Geerd H. Vierkant, 1940

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Berend married Gazena Engelina Ahrenholtz in 1904. She was the daughter of Beye Lubberts Ahrenholtz and Gesche Christina Brunken, who had immigrated to America in 1880 along with four children: Geda, Gazena Engelina, Engel (Lena) and George.  Beye L. Ahrenholtz moved around considerably.  After Gesche died, he married Gazena Yelke in the Ackley area.  Gesche is buried at Ackley. Of the daughter Geda, I have found no other trace. Engel (Lena) Ahrenholtz married Fred Andrew Loats in 1899 in Wright co. IA. George Ahrenholtz married Sophia Huslebus in 1908 in Shelby co. IA.

Beye Lubberts Ahrenholtz

Lena and Gazena Ahrenholtz

Gazena had been separated from her family in the Ackley area probably after the death of her mother when Beye was unable to take care of the children.  She was raised by another family (Boelman, Bohman) and tending cattle when she and Berend met.

Berend Harms Vierkant and Gazena Engelina Ahrenholtz were married in 1904, probably in Meservey, Cerro Gordo co. IA, at the Reformed Church. Berend and Gazena farmed in Wisner twp. Franklin co. until they retired and moved into Meservey. Berend was a successful farmer, did custom threshing and raised champion percheron horses in Wisner twp. They are buried in the cemetery at the edge of Meservey.

Berend Vierkant 1904 wedding photo

Berend & Gazena Vierkant's first 5 children L-R: Grace, Alice, George, Herman H. and Bernard 'Benny' Grace married Jake Harms Alice married Luke Esk George, my father, married Gladys Tostenson in Minnesota Herman H. married Gretje 'Grace' Fekkers Bernard 'Benny' married Marie Pals

Berend Harms Vierkant farm home & family, ca 1905
L-R: unidentified girl, Berend, Gazena, first-born son Herman, and unknown boy holding the horse

Berend Vierkant with horse, colt & dog Berend Vierkant threshing

Berend Vierkant threshing Berend Vierkant threshing

4-Generations, ca 1926

Standing are Berend Harms Vierkant and Harm Geerds Vierkant
Seated is Herman H. Vierkant holding LuVerne Henry Vierkand

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This is the Geerd Vierkant home, but the family in the picture is not the Vierkants.
Any help with identifying them is appreciated.

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~photos & notes on this page were contributed by Bob and Nona Vierkant

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This page was last modified on December 20, 2011
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