Jacob John Sybenga

SYBENGA, BLACK, SCHAFNER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 1/21/2010 at 19:39:30

JACOB JOHN SYBENGA is a talented physician and surgeon practicing at Pella, and represents that sterling stock of Netherlands people who were first in establishing the Iowa community and who have given character to the community and institution ever since.

Doctor Sybenga was born in Friesland, the Netherlands, May 21, 1886, son of John and Anna (Brunia) Sybenga. He was an infant when his parents came to the United States and located at Pella in Marion County, Iowa. There he grew up, taking his academic work in Central College at Pella and graduating in 1906 from Iowa City Academy. His medical education was acquired, the first two years in the University of Iowa and then two years in Northwestern University School of Medicine at Chicago, where he was graduated M.D. in 1911. He took his intern work in the Chicago Baptist Hospital and in 1912 returned to Pella, where his earnest work and high attainments have brought him an honored and successful position in his profession. Doctor Sybenga is a member of the Marion County, Iowa State and American Medical Associations, and is a fellow in the American College of Surgeons.

In June, 1917, he volunteered for service to the World war and was sent to the Medical Officers Training School at Fort Riley, Kansas, for four months, and for three months had special training in X-ray work at Cornell University in New York. Following this he was made chief of the X-ray department of General Hospital No. 3 at Colonia, New Jersey, and remained there one year. He was honorably discharged in July, 1919, with a commission as major in the Medical Reserve Corps.

Doctor Sybenga married at Knoxville, Iowa, June 18, 1913, Miss Adelaide Black, of Knoxville. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and a PhiBeta Kappa. For two years she was English instructor in the Wapello High School. Since her marriage she has been interested in literary organizations, including the Pella Reading Club, is a member of the P. E. O. and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her parents were William Marshall and Bertha (Schafner) Black. Her father was of Scotch-Irish ancestry and was three years of age when brought from Ohio to Knoxville, Iowa. He died in 1924. Her mother was of German stock and was born at Burlington, Iowa, where her people were early settlers. Doctor and Mrs. Sybenga have two children: Adelaide, a junior in the Pella High School, and Phillip Marshall. Doctor and Mrs. Sybenga are active members of the Second Reformed Church of Pella. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity.

A Narrative History of The People of Iowa with SPECIAL TREATMENT OF THEIR CHIEF ENTERPRISES IN EDUCATION, RELIGION, VALOR, INDUSTRY, BUSINESS, ETC. by EDGAR RUBEY HARLAN, Volume IV, THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc., Chicago and New York 1931.