Groen, John 1826-1897 & Nellie Rysdam Family

GROEN, RYSDAM, RIJSDAM, VANDERMAREL, VANLINT, VANMAANEN, TLAM

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/31/2025 at 11:27:50

Groen, John 1826-1897 and 2nd wife Nellie Rysdam Family

This biography of the John Groen family was composed by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. The narrative was made from various sources including records from the web site www.iagenweb.org/sioux ; family reports and vitals collected from ancestry.com records and ancestry’s public member trees, Find A Grave index and various local archives, books and publications.

Disclaimer: Names, dates and places may very from one source to another, but have been stated in this biography as presented in the source. Family data taken from ancestry.com public member trees is subject to the submitter of data to ancestry.com and was not fully verified by this submitter. Information was cross checked from other sources where possible.

IMMIGRATION:
Jan Groen left Rotterdam Netherlands for America Apr 1849 on ship Amicita.

CENSUS records:
1860 census of Pella Lake Prairie Marion County IA John Green (Groen) was age 35 born about 1825, he was an engineer on Sawmill, his wife was Neeltje Green age 26, children wee Peter 5, Adriana 2, and Arie 2 mos.
1880 census of Holland Township Sioux County Iowa, John Groen was 54 yrs born about 1826 Holland, he was a farmer was married to Nellie Green age 44, Children were Peter 24, Henry 19, Jane 15, Adaline 13, Cornelis 11, Garrett 9, Mary 7, Dirk 8, Wina 3 and Nellie 1.

RESEARCH Notes: From sources as described above.

Groen, Johannes ‘Jan’ ‘John’ born 26 Mar 1826 Zoetermeer, Zuid Holland, Netherlands died 21 Jan 1897 Rock Valley, Sioux, IA He was the son of Pieter Groen 1778-1831 and Adriana van der Marel 1903-1860. He was first married on 15 Feb 1854 in Marion County IA to Annigje van Lint 1833-1855 and married on 1 Feb 1856 Marion County IA to Neeltje Wynanda Rijsdam 1834-1892.

Wife #1: Annigje van Lint was born 4 Sep 1833 Leerbroek, Zederik, Zuid Holland, Netherlands died about 1855. She was the daughter of Cornelis van Lint 1800-1869 and Aaltje ‘t Lam 1808 – 1854. John and Annigje Groen had one son Peter Groen 1855-1941. See children’s list below #1.

Wife #2: Neeltje Wynanda ‘Nellie’ Rijsdam born 24 Aug 1834 Weesp, Noord Holland Netherlands. She died 16 Jan 1892 Sioux County IA. She was the daughter of Arie Rijsdam 1804-1867 and Geertruij van Maanen 1802-1870. They had a family as follows:

CHILDREN: From ancestry.com’s public member trees, local obituaries, Find A Grave. Note names and dates vary.

Peter was son of first wife Annigje van Lint the rest of children were of second wife.

1. Peter Groen born 30 Nov 1854 Marion County IA died 4 Nov 1940 Corsica, Douglas, SD He married Jeanetta De Geest born 1858 died 26 Mar 1930 Corsica SD. Their children were – Anna L. Mrs. Isaac Doscher 1882-1975 , Margaret Nellie Heezen Mrs. John born 1889-1965, Ollie Sullivan born 1885 died 1959 and Peter Groen born 1881 died Apr 1971 Corsica SD.

2. Adriana ‘Jane’ ‘Jennie’ Groen born 1 Nov 1857 Amsterdam Hancock IA died as a child before 1865

3. Arie Groen born 1859 Amsterdam Hancock IA, assumed died as infant or child before Nov 1861.

4. Arie Henry Groen born 3 Nov 1861 Knoxville, Marion Co. IA died 8 Jul 1942 Orange City IA He married Mary Van Groningen They had nine children – From his obit on this web page the children were - Surviving him are Mrs. James Coughlin of Canada, who was here recently; Dick of Minnesota, John of Orange City; Charles of Waterfleet, N. Y., Mrs. Gerrit Wagner, Orange City, Mary of Chicago, Ill; Arie Jr., Orange City; the twins, Kenneth, Orange City and Mrs. Frank Richters of Los Angeles, Calif.

5. Jane Groen born 1 Nov 1865 Amsterdam Hancock IA died 5 Nov 1958 Rock Valley IA She married Cornelis ‘Case’ Van der Poel. To this union three children were born: James, of Rock Valley; John,
who preceded his mother in death in 1948; and Ann, Mrs. John Dodewaard of Rock Valley. Besides her son and daughter, she leaves also her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Grete Vander Poel,  See her obit on this web page.

6. Gertrude ‘Gertie’ Groen (aks Adeline) born 12 Jul 1867 IA died 30 Mar 1945 Alton Sioux, IA She married Peter Van Groningen See her obit on this web page. Children - a child Theodore died 1906 and she was survived by  Richard of Superiors, Wis. Nellie, Mrs. J. S. Egenes of Sutherland, Iowa; Clarence of Orange City; John of Alton; and Lieut. Theodore, of Seattle, Wash

7. Cornelius ‘Niel’ Groen born 12 Feb 1869 Amsterdam Hancock IA died 23 Feb 1941 Rock Valley IA. His wife was possibly Mary Veen status at his death was divorced. He was survived by two sons, Dick and John Groen of Santa Ann, Calif. See his obit on this web page.

8. Gerrit Groen was born 3 Apr 1870 at Orange City IA died Oct 1938 Minneapolis MN He married Miss Lydia Baysinger of Rock Valley. Children, one son died in infancy, John and George of Minneapolis; Edward of Hankinson, N. Dak.; Arthur of Widemere, N. Dak; Mrs. Leo Keumpers of Hankinson, N. Dak; Mrs. Benj. Olson of Porter, Minn.; Mrs. Fred Snyder and Mrs. James Fucch of Widemere, N. Dak.  See Gerrit’s obit on this web page.

9. Mary Groen was born 30 Oct 1872/1873 and died 6 Jun 1947 Orange City IA. She married Mike Westra. They had children - Jennie, who passed away Aug. 2, 1937; Henry, John, Nell, Mrs. Lester Dykstra, and Mitchell all of Orange City.  See her obituary on this web page.

10. Dirk ‘Dick’ Groen born Feb 1874 died Sep 1901 Rock Valley Iowa. He married Jennie Stek (or Steck) They had a son died young and a daughter Nellie Groen Koning.
From the Alton Democrat of Sep 28, 1901 Rock Valley News See his obit on this web page.
On Saturday from the Holland church occurred the funeral of Dick Groen who died Wednesday of last week. He leaves a wife and one child. Dirk Groen born Feb 1874 Iowa to Jan Groen and Nellie Rysdam, wife was Jennie Stek born 11 Nov 1879 Heiligelee, Scheemda, Gronigen Neth. to Albert Stek (or Steck) and Ida Bloem. They were married Feb 4, 1899 at Rock Valley and they had son John Groen died 1900 and a daughter Nellie Groen 1899-1978 who married Sieburd Koning and they had four children. Jennie Stek wife of Dick Groen later married Thomas Gerritsen and they had several children.

11. Wynanda Groen 1876 From the Alton Democrat of Jan 20, 1900
Mrs. John Schuller died suddenly at Rock Valley Thursday morning of heart disease, aged about twenty five years. She leaves a husband and two children. Mr. Schuuller was formerly in the blacksmith business here. Two children listed on ancestry.com public family tress as Adiana Margaret Schuller 1896-1975 and John Schuller 1897.
(1900 census lists John as born Aug 1871 Holland. The marriage record listed his wife as Winnie Groen married Apr 3, 1895, 19 yrs of Orange City, her parents were John Groen and Cornelia (?) Rysdam.)

12. Nellie Winifred Groen born 24 Feb 1878 Orange City IA died of heat stroke on 5 Jul 1949 Osage, Mitchell, Iowa. She married Matthew Eernisse. One child named on Find A Grave as Alta Eernisse 1907 -1985 Mrs. Raymond Bernard Jordan.

OBITUARY of John Groen 1826-1897 Notes accompanying this obituary were copied as published on our site www.iagenweb.org/Sioux under obits. Most of the obit information is from our web page and posted by J. Smith.
From the Alton Democrat of Jan 30, 1897 Orange City news.
John Groen, an old ex-soldier and a pioneer of this county, known and respected by all, died at Rock Valley last Sunday. For many years he had been a resident of our town and had removed to Rock Valley only two years ago. His relatives have the heartfelt sympathy of all.
NOTES:
(Found an account on ancestry.com John Groen was born 1827 in Reusel de Mierden, North Holland Netherlands and died 25 Nov 1897. He was first married Feb 15, 1854 at Marion Co. IA to Anatje Van Lint and they had one son Peter Groen 1854-1940. She died and he married Jan 25 1956 Marion Co. IA to Neeltje Wynanda Rysdam or Rijsdam. Born 1834. They had the following children – Jennie 1857-1857, Arie 1861-1942, Henry 1861, Jane 1865-1958, Adaline 1867, Gertrude 1867-1945, Cornelis 1869-1941, Garrett 1870-1938 , Mary 1872-1947, Dirk 1875, Wynanda 1876, and Nellie 1878. The family was in the 1880 census in Holland Tsp Sioux county IA )
---------------------------------------------------
Rock Valley Bee May 31, 1907
A government headstone was erected to the memory of
Comrade John Groen who was a member of Co. I., 33 Iowa Infantry Volunteers. For a number of years, he made is home here in Rock Valley. He died Jan. 18, 1897. Since that time a number of the old comrades have answered the roll call. Those who survive are growing old; their race is nearly run. So few are they that the G. A. R. organization is fast passing away. The one at Hull has disbanded. Jerry Rusk Post cannot live but a very few years at the most.
However, the hallowed influences of grand old veterans will live on and on.
NOTES
Jan Groen was John Groen, officially his name was Johannes Groen but he appears as John or Jan (John was sick because he became very ill when he was in the Civil War. Author - I have papers from family that tell of his experiences.) This was from Janie Smith’s work (not this submitter)
__________________________________________________________
De Volksvriend
Thursday, January 28, 1897
Sunday night the old Mr. Groen died. Toward the last he lived with one of his children in Rock Valley. Mr. Groen was sick a long time, and it was obvious for a long time that death could not be far away. He belonged to those who volunteered in the Civil War and he took part in various movements with one of the Iowa regiments.
Of the people who came here, he and his family were one of the first. He thus experienced the disappointments that the first years brought in the new colony.
Mr. Groen leaves several children who, as far as we know, are all
grown and are all married. Tuesday, the remains were brought to the cemetery and the funeral services were conducted by Dominie Huizenga.
__________________________________________________
50 years later Thursday, January 30, 1947 Alton Iowa Democrat
The local newspaper remembered Johannes Groen and posted a
remembrance of his death once again: “John Groen, Civil War Veteran and Pioneer of the Orange City vicinity died at Rock Valley.”
Neelia Wynanda Rysdam Groen
(Note: Married to John Groen on February 1, 1856 in Marion County, Iowa. He was born 1826, died 1897 and buried in Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley. She is not buried with him.)
De Volksvriend Dated 21 January 1892 P. 5, column 2: Last Saturday Mr. Jan Groen lost his mate. Monday afternoon the remains were taken to the grave. Rev. Van der Ploeg led the service.
(Translated by J. Smith ) The records were written in Dutch.
Obituary places her death on 16 Jan 1892
Family tradition: She was buried in either West Lawn Cemetery or Nassau Township Cemetery. There is not a stone for her. Husband Jan Groen, is buried in Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley. When he died the roads were too bad to take him into Orange City for burial next to his wife.
Burial for Neeltje: (Unknown)

Note: If anyone has more about the lives of John and Nellie Groen, please contact our page coordinator to share on this page. No family picture readily found, if you have a family picture please share that also.