The Arie C. and Jaantje De Jong Family

Name           Occupation         Date of Birth         Birthplace                 Date of Death        Notes                                                       

Arie               Farmer                   Aug 16, 1866        Marion County      Feb 17, 1938

Cornelius                                                                             Iowa

De Jong

Jaantje         Housekeeper   Dec 23, 1868          Iowa                             Jun 22, 1956 

(Jane) 

De Bruin

Mary             Daughter            Jun 1, 1888               Iowa                           1931                             Baptized Sep 2, 1888 in Third Reformed Church

John              Son                          Oct 23, 1889            Iowa                           Dec 26, 1968           Baptized Jan 19, 1890 in Third Reformed Church

Martin          Son                          Nov 16, 1892           Iowa                           Feb 25, 1920            Died of influenza

Richard        Son                          Jan 6, 1894                Iowa                           Mar 17, 1988            First child baptized in Peoria Christian Reformed Church in 1894.

Margaret     Daughter            Jun 14, 1896              Iowa                          Mar 21, 1986

Jacob              Son                         Jul 28, 1898                Iowa                         Nov 23, 1951

Peter               Son                         Oct 6, 1900                 Iowa                         Nov 27, 1979

Wilma             Daughter            Oct 5 1902                  Iowa                          Dec 29, 1982

William           Son                         Aug 13, 1904             Iowa                          Jul 10, 1990

Gerrit               Son                         Aug 7, 1906                Iowa                          Feb 7, 1997

Herman          Son                         Jun 22, 1908               Iowa                          Mar 3, 1987

Anne                 Daughter           Sep 28, 1910               Iowa                          May 27, 1955

Arie and Jane were married on March 6, 1888 by Rev. Jan Smit, pastor of Third Reformed Church in Pella. They rented farms in Prairie and Richland townships, Mahaska County until 1914 when they purchased their own farm south of Peoriain an area known as Lower Grove. 

In 1893, initial attempts were made to form a new congregation over the river in Peoria. Families living across the Skunk River found it increasing burdensome to travel the distance to Pella by carriage across difficult roads.

Arie and Jane were active in the founding of the Peoria Christian Reformed Church. They were one of the seventeen original founding families. Seven families were affiliated with the Christian Reformed denomination and ten families with the Reformed Church. Both the Reformed Church and Christian Reformed Church sent representatives in an attempt to sway members to join their respective denominations. A vote was taken with preferences for the Christian Reformed denomination prevailing. 

The first official service of the newly organized church was held April 11, 1894. Uncle Rich (Richard A. De Jong) was the first child baptized in the newly organized church.[1]

For many years Arie served as the “voorzinger” as the church did not have a piano or organ.[2] The “voorzinger” was the one who had the strongest voice to lead the singing. His pay for serving in this capacity was free barn rent for his horses. 

Arie also was instrumental in starting the private school associated with the Christian Reformed Church in Peoria. He served on the school’s first Board.[3]

Arie and Jane purchased their farm of 298 acres for $ 40,988 in July of 1914, putting down $ 8,000 toward the purchase. The remainder ($32,988) coming in the form of a mortgage held by Union Central Life Insurance Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio. Arie was 48 years old at the time of the purchase.

The Arie De Jong family home still stands today, but has been renovated extensively. Some original barns remain.

For some period of time, Arie employed the use of a farm laborer, Henry Jelsma.

Records from the 1915 Iowa State Census give us some indication of his farming operation in 1914. Arie rented his farm at the time of the census. Earnings were listed as $2000. He gave his religious affiliation as Christian Reformed.

Calves:23 Steers: 13 Bulls:1 Heifers: 13 Milk Cows: 10  non-Milk cows: 4

Horses: 14 Young Pigs: 9 Hogs: 18 Chickens: 225 Registered cattle: 1 Hereford

He also noted 150 small pigs lost to cholera.

Arie died of a stroke at 8:30 PM on February 17, 1938 in the family home. He had eaten his usual hearty supper and shortly afterward was stricken by paralysis. He died an hour later. Although bothered with a headache for a day or so, there were no other indications of any serious illness.

Marylin Vander Linden relayed the following story to me:

At the time of his death, the women and children of the family were planning Arie and Jane’s fiftieth wedding anniversay at the home of one of the children. The specific location remains the subject of debate even today. The celebration was to inlcude cake and ice cream. The cake was to have the number 50 on top. The male members of the family were attending a Men’s Society meeting in Peoria. The call came that Arie was not feeling well. Everyone left to go to attend to Arie. But by the time they arrived, he was gone. Jane, who had been the driving force of the family, seemed to retire from life after his death.

In December of 1938, a judgement was found against Arie C. De Jong (now deceased) for $30,759 as being owed to Union Central Life Insurance Co. The property was offered for sale on the courthouse steps in January 1939. However, since there were no acceptable bids, the insurance company retained ownership of the property. 

It was not until March of 1946 that the property was sold by Union Central Life Insurance Co. to the Vander Linden family for $20,000.

Arie has been described as a very private, proud man. He was stern and not easy to please. He assumed the role of patriarch. He did not work the fields. Arie expected Jane to serve him with a cold drink of water as he sat in the shade, even as she slaved at her household duties. He was neat. He would sweep the barnyard to keep it clean. His yard was immaculate. Arie was also a theologian of sorts. He spent hours in the study of God’s word. He was headstrong and could defend his positions quite well.

Arie was described as a man of fine character and outstanding influence in his community, where he enjoyed the esteem and goodwill of a large number of admiring friends.

Marylin Vander Linden recalls that he would sit in his chair, smoking a pipe, and pass out peppermints to the grandchildren after church. He had a fish pond in his front yard. It should be noted that Arie’s uncle, Pieter De Jong, Jr. of Prairie View, KS also had a fish pond in the front yard of each of the houses he lived in. An interesting coincidence.

His wife, sons, and daughters knew nothing of his financial troubles. Arie’s sons John, Rich, Bill, and Herman all contributed to paying off his debts after his death to try to clear his name. One of Jane’s brothers left her some inheritance to be used to pay off some of the debts. Eventually it was determined Arie had borrowed money to pay off other borrowed money. 

Peter determined the foreclosure was too far along to prevent. Though in the end it may have mattered little. The mortgage amount still due in 1938 was far greater than the value of the farm, due to the dramatic drop in land values during the Great Depression.

Today, the Arie De Jong farm is owned by the Vander Lindens, descendants of Herman De Jong’s in-laws.