Nov. 2 1894

Today would have been dad's 115th birthday. He died young at the age of 62. He was married when he was 26. Just thought I'd share a few things about him with you.

He was my favorite of the parents. Guess because ,since we were twins, the parents each took care of one of us and he was my care giver. His parents came from VerenProvince, in the Netherlands. They came to America because of Religious persecution. Children were baptized in cow sheds because the fear of using the churches.

They left Holland in 1848-landed in Baltimore-on to Columbia, Pa.--took a canal boat through the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers---took a box car (drawn by stationary locomotives ) up the Alleghanney's an down a tunnel on the western slope -on to Pittsburgh. ---Continued west on the Ohio River--traveled by steamboat 1000 miles on to the Miss. at St. Louis. This took 3 weeks. His grandparents and 4 other couples moved on the Ia. They homesteaded at Orange City. Land cost $2.50 and acre and they could buy 80 or 160 at that price.

Dad's parents, Isaac, married --lived at Orange City for six years -- moved to Harrison, S. D. and lived there 14 years. Dad was born in S. D. In 1894 they moved back to OC by covered wagon. Isaac bought the homestead of his father. 8 years latter he died and 4 years after that his mother died. Dad was an orphan at an early age. The family stayed together on the homestead.

Dad was always a cut up-got into a lot of trouble- He broke his wrist, showing off, while jumping out of the hay lot.--wiped up spilled milk of his brother Lester and squeezed the milk back into Lester's glass--hid in his sister's trunk in their bedroom , to watch them get ready for bed.---etc.-etc.

At 23 he joined World War 1. Infantry #9 Company B- 2nd Division. He was at Camp Des Moines, Camp Pike in Little Rock , Ar. and France and Germany. He was in 4 of the 5 Drives. He received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. In 1920 he was in a cast from his foot to his hip because of a knee injury--1926 a binder rod got jabbed into his hip---1934 he had his appendix removed (had to stay flat in bed for 9 days)---1946 he had his 1st heart attack on Thanksgiving day. Had another one in 1947 and had to remain in bed 9 week.

He was a tease, but was well liked. One day after coming home from the sale barn, Mom said-"I smell something" dad said-"Most be your breath" That did not set good. Mom really never had a sense of humor. He had his legs amputated in 1955, but continued to drive a car. He got Sam Zigtama's car, set up for him, because he was an army amputee. We built a new home for them in Maurice. He got the car from Sam-showed us how he could drive it so parked it in his new garage.(Went right through the other end) Backed it up and tried again. THAT WAS DAD.

I liked Dad. He had the longest funeral processions that people can remember--1 1/2 miles. Isn't it funny how you miss your friends. Enjoy the pictures. The top one is dad as Santa Claus--dad feeding the dog at lunch time ,in the field and my favorite--dad coming out of the outhouse.