Sipma, Mary "Maria" (Mrs. Sjoird R.) 1856-1948

SIPMA, VERHEUL

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

Source: Sioux County Capital (5-20-1948)

Born: July 26, 1856
Died: May 15, 1948

Mrs. Mary Sipma, nee, Mary Ver Heul, was born in Pella, Iowa, July 26, 1856, and died in Grossmann Hospital Wednesday, May 12, at the age of 91 years.

At the age of 13, in 1869, she came with her mother and sisters in a covered wagon to Sioux County. She did the driving, as her father had gone ahead to get located. The trip took three weeks from Pella to Orange City, Iowa. The family homesteaded near Orange City.

She was united in marriage to Sjoird Richard Sipma in 1872.

They lived in a sod house until a permanent home was erected on the Sipma farm north of Alton. Mr. and Mrs. Sipma move to Alton 38 years ago, and built the home in which she lived until the time of her death. Her husband was a Civil War Veteran and preceded her in death nearly sixteen years ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Sipma were the parents of eight children, all of whom survive: Richard of San Jose, California, Mrs. Jennie Stronks of Alton, Marten of Los Angeles, California, Mrs. Anna Hyink of Watertown, South Dakota, Hanna (Mrs. Ben Marks) of Lennox, South Dakota, Flora (Mrs. Andrew De Graaf) of Alton, Iowa, Mabel (Mrs. George Eason) of Alton. With the exception of Richard and Marten of California, all the children were here for the funeral.

Surviving besides the children are 24 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren, four great- great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. J. M. Nobles of Milbank, South Dakota, who also attended the funeral. Six of the grandsons were pallbearers.

Grandchildren from out of town here for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. A. Huygens and family of Akron, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hammerstrom, Mrs. Lester Hammerstrom and Mrs. Henry Kock of Davis, South Dakota, and Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Sipma of Orange City; and also a nephew, Richard Dacres and wife of Yankton, South Dakota; and also Mrs. E.J. Scholten of Sheldon, and many friends.

Mrs. SIpma was an honorary member of the Legion Auxiliary, and a member of the Reformed Church, where funeral service were held Saturday afternoon. Reverend H. Hesselink officiated. Interment was in the Nassau Township Cemetery.

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One of Sioux County's oldest residents, Mrs. Mary Sipma of Alton died Wednesday, May 12, shortly after Midnight in Grossmann Hospital.

She would have been 92 in July. The aged lady was taken to the hospital May 2 and her condition became grave May 8. Death was due to a gastric hemmorrhage and the infirmities of old age.

Funeral services will be held at the home Saturday, at 1:30 and in the Dutch Reformed Church at Alton at 2 p.m. with Reverend H. Hesselink officiating.

Burial will be in Nassau Township Cemetery.

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Source: Find A Grave

Mary moved with her parents to Pella, Iowa and then in 1869 they moved to Sioux County, Iowa. She drove a team, pulling a covered wagon in the three week trek from Pella, Iowa to Sioux County, while her father scouted for campsites, firewood, and water. She played accordion in the evenings around the campfire. There were 13 or 14 families in the wagon train. The younger kids walked and herded cattle along the trail. There were at least 4 younger girls and 1 boy in the family on the trip. Another boy was born in Sioux County, and also 2 girls who died in infancy with scarlet fever.

Mary Sipma learned about 71 years ago of relatives living in the New Jersey area on the Kloosterman side. She traced them and visited them. There were four aunts and two uncles and numerous cousins living at Lodi, Passaic and Paterson, New Jersey. At later times two cousins, Barney and Will Witte visited in Alton, Iowa. Jane Kloosterman Verheul's sister, Cina, also came to Iowa with her husband Peter Meyer. They also spent some time in Big Stone, South Dakota with Katherine Nobles family and at Ortonville, Minnesota with Martin's family.