Siebrands, William

SIEBRANDS, JULIUS

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/25/2006 at 15:55:40

SIEBRANDS, WILLIAM

William Siebrands whose residence is in the township of Liberal, Lyon county, where he owns a fine and well appointed farm, which he has reclaimed from the wild prairie, and where he is known as an earnest and hard working cultivator of the soil, and withal a most upright and honorable citizen, was born in Holland in 1860, on a farm where his father, Dick Siebrands, lived and died. William was the first born in a family of seven children, and was reared to manhood on the family estate where he was afforded solid training in agricultural matters and such schooling as the ability of his parents afforded. For some years he worked out among the neighbors at farm work, though he remained at home until he had reached the age of twenty-three years.

Mr. Siebrands was married in Holland in 1880 to Miss Jennie Julius, also Holland-born and reared on a farm. To this union have come the following children: Dick, Annie, Abby, Simon, Minnie, Peter, Hiko, John and Jennie.

Mr. Siebrands brought his young and growing family to this country in 1883, in the hope that fate might deal more kindly with them than could be hoped for in the crowded region of the old world. He landed in New York and made his way to Illinois, where he lived until the fall of 1887, working out at anything he could find to do, in the meantime saving his money and making ready for an independent future. In September, 1887, the Siebrands, now increased to a family of three children, came to section 12, Dale township, where the parents settled on a farm and made a home for four years. In 1891 Mr. Siebrands bought their present home, and there they effected a location the following spring. The land was wild but beautiful prairie in section 34, Liberal township. To-day the place is thoroughly cultivated and provided with all needed improvements, such as a house, 16 by 24, 16 by 18, and 14 by 16, a barn 36 by 40, corn cribs and a granary, a fine grove, and all well fenced.

Mr. Siebrands has not by any means traveled an easy road. The work has been hard, and to make one's way in a strange country after having attained full age is by no means a light undertaking. He has had losses peculiar to the country, such as hail destroying his crops, and winds prostrating grains all but ready for the harvest, but perseverence has conquered all things, and he is now past all danger. A good farm well cultivated, a family of growing children that would honor any parentage, and a standing in the community as a thoroughly upright and honorable citizen, -- he may well be satisfied with the result of busy years.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson