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CAMPAGNE, STEVEN AND DINA (KASTEIN)
Steven Campagne was born March 31, 1867, to Jacobus Campagne and Hendrika Vander Weide. On December 19, 1894 he married Dina Kastein who was born June 15, 1871 to Benart Kastein and Fredericka Ten Brink.

In an article in the July 1941 Jubilee Edition of the Sioux Center News the following information was stated. Steven Campagne, Pioneer Blacksmith, came to Sioux Center from the Gelderlands Netherlands in 1892. On the second day of January 1893 he bought a blacksmith shop which was owned by Lew Schoeniche and started in business. The shop was first in the location of John De Gooyer and later moved to the Co-op Gas Station location. He married Dina Kastein. Because of a sunstroke Mr. Campagne's health was impaired and, therefore, took a trip with his wife and two children to Holland in 1903. After his return he resumed blacksmithing for a short time but his health soon forced him to give it up.

The article continued, John Warntjes had worked for him for some time, and to him he sold a half interest in the shop. Later, sold the other half to Gerrit E. Vande Brake. In his retirement from the blacksmith business he had managed Remko Kooi's auto business for a year or two. He was five years in a gas station and had an auto-garage and repair shop. He was a city council man for thirteen years.

Children of Steven and Dina Campagne
Hendrika "Gerdena" (Mrs. William Van Vliet)
and Frederic Campagne.

An article in the Sioux Center News of March 1957 reads; On the Occasion of the 90th Birthday of Steven Campagne; Steve crossed the ocean a total of five times in his lifetime. First when he came to the USA. Two visits with his wife, again with his wife and two small children in 1903 and again in 1949 with friends. He was in business 45 years, first as a blacksmith, 10 years a blacksmith, but because of health reasons went into the automobile business, and is thought to have sold the first Chevrolets in Sioux County. He recalled several of the "Four Ninety's" so called because the price was $490 at the time. He took an active interest in the town. In the 1920's he was in the home construction business and built seven new homes. A feature of some of these was the black metal railings on the level areas of the roofs. The family moved many times as these new homes were built and resold.

Steven Campagne died in 1959 and his wife Dina died October 6, 1942.
Their two children were as follows:

Hendrika "Dreaka" or "Gerdena" Campagne was born August 4, 1895. She married William Van Vliet on August 19, 1918. William was born 1892 and died in 1963, his wife died May 17, 1933. Gerdena had a millinery shop in Sioux Center when she was a young girl, and was employed also as a "Hello Girl" in the telephone office when the party line customers rang, one long ring for "Central" and the operator then rang the correct number of either "long" or "short" rings for each of the several members on the party line. Her husband William Van Vliet was a teacher in the Sioux Center Christian School. They moved to Hull where he was the principal of the Western Academy and this was where his wife died in 1933. He taught in Washington State and in Pella, Iowa, and back in Hull, Iowa, in the 1950's. Their son, Stanley Bertrum Van Vliet, was born October 5, 1920. Stanley married Johanna Elgersma in 1946. They lived in Sheldon, Iowa, and were the parents of two sons and three daughters, Jerry Lee, Linda Mae, Luann, Steven and Debra Van Vliet. The Van Vliet's of Sheldon have the business, Sheldon Drape and Blind.

Freddric Campagne was born Aug. 21, 1898, and died Oct. 29, 1955, and he married Jessie Vande Brake, born Nov. 9, 1899, and died Aug. 10, 1963. They moved to California and were the parents of one son Stanley. Stanley Everett Campagne was born June 29, 1922, and married Nelvina K. Den Hartog in 1943. They lived in California and were the parents of four children: Sharon, Mrs. Duane Anderson; Scott; Bonite Jo and Kim Campagne.

by Wilma J. Vande Berg and Jennie Haverhals

Source: Sioux Center Iowa 1991 Centennial Book--Family Contributor, Mary Haverhals