the Peter J and Willempje De Jong family

Name                Occupation        Date of Birth         Birthplace            Date of Death             Notes                                            

Peter J.             Farmer                  Dec 17, 1863        Hoogblokland    March 1938                5th grade education

De Jong                                                                                     Netherlands                                                   Buried in Graceland                        Cemetery, Pella IA in Block 7 - South Section

Willempje      Housekeeper      Nov 13, 1863        Iowa                       Feb 1, 1948                  Buried in Graceland

(Wilma)                                                                                                                                                                     Cemetery, Pella IA

De Bruin                                                                                                                                                                   Block 7 South Section

Martin J          Son                            May 15, 1888        Iowa                      Jan 8, 1986                    Baptized July 1, 1888 in 3rd Reformed Church

Rachel              Daughter               Aug 3, 1890            Iowa                     Oct 4, 1954                   Baptized Nov 2, 1890. Married Peter Jonker

Gerrit P            Son                           Nov 30, 1892          Iowa                     1980                                 Baptized Jul 31, 1893 in 3rd Reformed Church.

John                    Son                           June 13, 1895         Iowa                     Jan 10, 1968               Baptized Sep 8, 1895 in 3rd Reformed   Church

Wilhelmina     Daughter              June 1899                 Iowa                     1998

(Minnie)

Arie                      Son                           Jan 1, 1903               Iowa                     Jan 31, 1903

Peter J. and Willempje were married on Feb 20, 1887. Peter also became a naturalized citizen in 1887. 

Willempje was the older sister of Jane De Bruin, Arie’s wife. Peter J. and Willempje were members of Third Reformed Church of Pella, when they were first married. 

They initially farmed in Black Oak Township. In 1896 they moved to a farm near Peoria. Peter J. and Wilma joined the Peoria Christian Reformed Church, where he would serve as both a deacon and an elder. 

Later they purchased 211 acres from Antonie Vermeer on March 3, 1914 in Richland Township, Mahaska Countynear Peter J.’s brother Arie and his sister Gysbertje Pothoven. 

The 1915 Iowa State Census records provide some idea of the farming operation in 1914. Peter J. owned his farm. He had no debt. The farm was valued at $38,000. He listed an income of $1000. He gave his religious affiliation as Christian Reformed.

Calves: 8 Heifers: 4 Milk cows: 12 Horses: 9 Colt: 1 Hogs: 70 Chickens: 400

In 1925 Peter J. and Wilma moved to 502 Liberty St in Pella. They became members of Second Christian Reformed Church.

In 1937, Peter J. and his son John, purchased 120 acres from Jacob and Gysbertje Pothoven (his sister).

Kenn Haven, grandson of Gysbertje (De Jong) Pothoven, recalls that Peter J. and his wife lived next to his grandmother in their later years in Pella. He remembers Peter J. as an avid gardener.

After Peter J.’s death in 1938, Wilma moved to the home for the aged in Pella.