LYON COUNTY GENEALOGY

 

William Waagmeester Family

William Waagmeester and his wife Aaltje lived in Rock Rapids, Iowa. He hauled cream in the Lester area in the early 1900’s.

Cornelius Waagmeester, a son of William and Aaltje Vader Waagmeester was born January 21, 1874 in Catanlsoog, Helder, North Holland. He came to America alone in August 1889 at age fifteen. He settled in Sioux County, Iowa where he did farm work. He married Elizabeth Vander Wege in Rock Rapids, Iowa on June 26, 1894. She was the daughter of William and Gertrude (Vander Weel) Vander Wege. They settled in Kinbrae, Minnesota. Elizabeth came to America with her parents at age nine. She was born March 10, 1875 in Goes Zeeland, Holland.

The couple started farming in 1896 in Logan Township. They lived on other farms prior to building their farmstead in 1914, it was occupied in 1915. The carpenter was William Amidon of Larchwood. The supplies were purchased from the Chamberlain Lumberyard in Lester. The farm is owned by Blauwet Brothers of Larchwood and is now occupied by the Tom Blauwet family.

The family they raised consisted of eight children. Three daughters, Gertrude Schmidt born December 1, 1896, passed away in 1949. Hilda Van Der Pol, born July 3, 1898, passed away in 1976. Elizabeth Jibben, born March 10, 1910, lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Five sons, William, born July 2, 1902, passed away in 1960. Cornelius born February 3, 1905 resides in Larchwood, Iowa. John born April 23, 1907 lives in Worthington, Minnesota. Richard, born July 25, 1914 lives in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Harvey was born April 19, 1917 and lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Waagmeesters retired from the farm in 1945 and moved to Larchwood. They continued to live there until Cornelius passed away on January 28, 1950 and Elizabeth on November 5, 1959. Their burial was in Larchwood, Iowa cemetery. They attended church at the United Church of Christ in Larchwood, Iowa.