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This is the third of twelve articles about the early immigrants to Pella that Kor Postma contributed and Thys de Jong has now translated for us.
Heerke Ypes Viersen was born on April 10, 1794, [baptized on June 1, 1794 in the Reformed church] at Rinsumageest [Dantumadeel] as the son of Ype Jans Viersen and Sybrigje Harings Feenstra. Heerke married on July 29, 1815 in Dantumadeel with Sibbeltje Pieters van der Wal. She was a daughter of Pieter Gosses van der Wal and Janke Rinses and was born on May 9, 1784 [baptized on June 6, 1784 in the Reformed church] in Driesum. The couple was blessed with 2 children. On April 13, 1816 daughter Janke was born and on March 19, 1819 son Pieter, born at Driesum. It is oteworthy that both children were named after Sibbeltje's parents and not Heerke's. In various legal records often the occupations of people are mentioned and we find that in Heerke's records he was both a market gardener and a coach driver, while later on he's mentioned as a chicory drier. [Chicory was extensively grown in Dantumadeel. Its cultivation was introduced by a minister looking for ways to increase the living standard of the poor. It was used as an addition or substitute for coffee, which at the time was very expensive, and had a caramel-like flavor. Drying the chicory was a part-time occupation lasting about 3 months in autumn.]
Suddenly, on April 24, 1821, Sibbeltje died in Driesum at the age of 36 and, as though that was not enough, little Janke died shortly after, also in Driesum, on June 19, 1821 at the age of 5. Heerke married for the 2nd time on July 12, 1829, also in Dantumadeel, Hiltje Aukes Sipma who had been born on October 7, 1805 [baptized November 3, 1805 in the Reformed church] at Bornwird [in Westdongeradeel]. She was a daughter of Auke Sipkes Sipma and Ytje Ritskes Reitsma. Heerke and Hiltje had 6 children: Sybrigje born January 8, 1830, Auke born March 26, 1831, Ype born May 24, 1833, Oebele born June 10, 1835, Heerke born December 11, 1838, and Sipke born August 29, 1842, all in Driesum in the municipality of Dantumadeel. In the same month and year in which Sipke was born, Heerke's oldest son Pieter married Ymkje Jacobs Meyer in Dantumadeel. Ymkje was a daughter of Jacob Ymkes Meyer and Antje Meinderts Dantuma; she was born on October 24, 1820 in Driesum. Pieter died on April 8, 1886 in Driesum and his spouse Ymkje a few days later on April 24, 1886, also in Driesum.
In 1847 Heerke, Hiltje and their 6 also traveled with the Rev. H. P. Scholte and crossed de grutte dobbe [This is the first instance of Frisian rather than Dutch that I've found in the articles. Grutte means great and dobbe refers to something floating on the water. going up and down with the waves. A fishing float is named a dobber in Dutch.] From American sources we learned that Heerke occupied himself with all kinds of trade in the Netherlands and knew how to make a profit from it. As well he owned a chicory factory and was a dealer in food grains. In America he earned his living farming and owned a large farm upon which he lived. Heerke died on August 3, 1861 in Lake Prairie Township and was buried at the Viersens' burial site south of his own farm near a hill.
Nowadays it is not easy to find these graves. In addition to Heerke's grave there are other Viersen family graves, among them the graves of a number of children, none of whom reached the age of 5, as well as Pieter, Mary and Christina, three children of Auke Heerkes Viersen. Freddie and Mary, two children of Oebele Heerkes Viersen, are buried here as well. There's a rumor that the remains of Heerke Ypes Viersen's body were moved to Oakwood cemetery [in Pella] where his name can be seen on a great black stone. Hiltje Aukes Sipma died on February 19, 1898 in Pella.
The children of Heerke and Hiltje Viersen
We begin with Sybrigje Heerkes Viersen the oldest and perhaps the best known. She never married though there is a rumor that she was engaged, but the man she was engaged went on a journey and never returned. The old spinster used her money by founding a library in Pella, and she was able to do that with the help of Andrew Carnegie. This library can still be seen today and keeps her memory alive. Her thrift and her miserly ways have been written about in many articles.
One of the most amusing tales is how Siebertje (as she was later named) collected bills with a long-past due date. A tailor, one of her many debtors, had the opinion that since Siebertje had so much money he did not have to pay her. Siebertje thought different and made a list of all those who owed her money and let them know she would personally come [to their homes] to collect and would board with them until the entire bill was paid. No one waited for that to happen and soon all moneys due her were paid. A photograph shows her as hard and unapproachable, but in spite of her eccentricity she was a calm and thorough business woman with a very great sense of humor. She died on August 18, 1910 in Pella and was buried at the Oakwood cemetery.
One of the foremost citizens of Marion County was Auke Heerkes Viersen. For more than 20 years he had a trading company. In 1858 he was chosen to head Pella's finances during the time that Isaac Overkamp was mayor. In 1861-62 he was county treasurer nd recorder. He was municipal secretary and a member of the municipal council. In 1872 he became director of the local post office. Auke was a prominent and beloved member of the First Mennonite congregation [Eerste Doopsgezinde Gemeente] in Pella. He had a great interest in the religious and educational life of the entire area. According to American sources [the Souvenir History of Pella, Iowa] few were as respected and loved as Auke. It's not said of many that they had no enemies, but if there is one person who has earned this title, then it is Auke.
[The Mennonite reference intrigues me, it's the earliest mention I have seen yet of Dutch Mennonites in North America. Antje Meinderts Dantuma is mentioned earlier in the article, she and I share common ancestors in Dantumwoude, Dantumadeel. The Mennonite church there stands on land that once was the farm of our ancestors it's said that the first church building may in origin have been their barn.]
On March 4, 1853 in Lake Prairie Township he married Hendrika (Henrietta) Flootman Roelofsz. Hendrika was born on June 25, 1834 in Rinsumageest; she was the daughter of Dr. Joost Roelofsz and Mietje (Maria) Lindeloof. The family of Joost Roelofsz sailed with 4 children in 1847 aboard the ship Nagasaki to America because the Dutch governement had denied them permission to emigrate to Java [Indonesia, which at the time was a Dutch colony known as the Netherlands East Indies]. Auke and Hendrika were blessed with 17 children of whom 3 died young. The other 14 are Joost, Mary, Auke, Henrietta Flootman, Christina Lulu, Lydia Drusilla, Johanna Josephine, Benjamin, Ype, Leo Andrew, Bertha Evaline, Leonal and Paul. All were born inPella or in Lake Prairie Township. The family lived in a house built by Dr. Roelofsz on North Main. Daughter Lillie was for a long time a teacher at the local school. At the Historical Museum in Pella a replica of this house is on display. Auke died on July 23, 1888 and his wife Hendrika on September 6, 1905 both in Pella; they're buried in Oakwood cemetery.
About son Ype Heerkes Viersen not much is known; he remained a bachelor and died on June 19, 1911 in Pella.
Son Oebele Heerkes Viersen owned a trading company for many years together with his brother Sipke. On December 26, Oebele said "Yes" to Emma Catherine Louise Renaud in Pella. [This sounds as if Emma proposed marriage and Oebele said Yes; but I think the reference is to their wedding date). Emma was born on May 7, 1839 around Audincourt near Montebeliard in France. She was a daughter of Frederic Constant Renaud and Louise Dorrian. The marriage was blessed with 4 children: Lottie, Harry, Mary and Freddie. The last two died at a young age. Oebele lived at the old homestead about a mile northwest of Pella which during his life time was better known as the Heerke Ypes farm. The death of his 2 young children was very difficult for him and laid a burden on his shoulders that he carried for the remainder of his life. After the death of his wife Emma on April 13, 1907, from pestilence, he remained living on Pella in the old trusted neighborhood and was excellently cared for by his son Harry and Harry's wife Dora Lautenbach. Oebele died on July 17, 1926 at the age of 91 at Pella and was buried beside his wife in Oakwood cemetery.
About Heerke Heerkes Viersen only the following is known: He remained a bachelor just like brother Ype. Heerke graduated from the Medical University of Iowa in 1872 and became a succesful family doctor for 40 years.. He died on July 27, 1912 in Pella and was buried in Oakland Cemetery.
Sipke Heerkes Viersen was their last son. For many years he owned a trading company together with his brother Oebele. In 1872 he was chosen as court clerk and judge in Marion County, the position once held by his brother Auke. He had a great interest in education and was chairman of the school board. Sipke married on November 6, 1872 Jessie Fisher in Pella. Jessie Fisher was born around 1853 in Canada and was a daughter of John Fisher [from Ireland] and Jessie Fisher [from England]. The family had 3 children: Jessie L., Sipke and John Harry. John Harry only lived to the age of 1. The 1900 census for Pella mentions that Sipke and Jessie Fisher were divorced. Sipke Heerkes died on July 5, 1925 at Pella and was buried in Oakwood cemetery. Where and when Jessie Fisher died is unknown.
We have been told--it hasn't been proved though it is completely accepted in the Netherlands--that the Frisian Viersen family descended from nobility. The genealogy is well known and documented in the descendants of Charlemagne, King of the Franks (768-814) and Holy Roman Emperor (800-814). The place the Viersen family originated is now in Germany close to the Dutch border. [There is indeed a Viersen family linked to Charlemagne on Rootsweb. I have looked but am unable to connect the Viersens in this series of articles to the noble Viersens; perhaps it once existed but the paper trail can no longer be found.]
If you have additions or corrections I would like to hear them.
Kor Postma
van Aernsmastraat 14
9104 HG Damwoude
Tel: 0511-422640