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them, and their exclamations of fright added terror to the already terrified beast, who made his exit by the door with all practicable speed, probably resolving, ox fashion, for ever more to keep clear of such hay stacks."
The first child born in the new colony was Albertus Synhorst, son of Jan Synhorst. The place of his birth was the farm, one mile west of Pella, known in later years as the Reineir Dieleman farm. He served as Pella's marshal for a number of years and later moved to Sioux county, where he became a prosperous farmer. The second birth was that of Dirk Van Baren, son of Baltus Van Baren. In later years he became a resident of Kansas.
About one-half mile southwest of Straw Town, on the farm then owned by G. Hagens, later the beautiful home farm of our townsman, Nicholas Brand, a large, double log house stood for many years. People did not require as much room as we do today, and this log house for a time served as the home of one of our very first physicians, Dr. J. Roelofzs, and family, as well as for Mr. J. Smeenk and family, who also, in connection with J. H. Wolters, kept the first store there that was opened for business in the colony. Later they removed to Washington street, one block west of the Van Stigt corner, now occupied by the G. Thomassen building. As long as this was the only mercantile house they drove a good trade. There was considerable complaint in regard to the prices charged, but Mr. Wolters generally met this by advising them to "go to my neighbor." This rather unsatisfactory condition lasted until E. F. Grafe opened the second store in Pella. This was in a two-room building located where the residence of Dr. Crew now stands. G. A. Gesman, one of the first carpenters and builders, occupied this house of two rooms and a shed attached. Although five men worked for him and lived in the same two-room house, yet it was found possible to vacate one of the front rooms for Mr. Grafe's store. The five men were, W. H. Wormhoudt, Jan van den Oever, Joh's van Nimwegen, Jan van Driel and Jacob Baay.
The third mercantile establishment to be opened in Pella was a hardware store operated by Mr. D. W. Van Sittert on East Franklin street, on the corner west of the office of the Garden City Feeder Company. In later years Mr. Van Sittert had his store and residence on the west side of the square, in the building now occupied by Mrs. P. Johnson and family.
While our brave pioneers were thus adjusting themselves to the crude conditions found in the new land, many of their relatives and old neighbors back in the fatherland were preparing to join them, with the result that the Pella colony received a material increase in population, and our people were greatly cheered by having so many of their old friends join them in their new home. The following arrivals came in the year 1848:
Baard, van den Jan Dingemans, Daniel Baard, van den Jan Mrs. Dingemans, Cornelia Dingemans, Matthys Broekhuizen, Adolph Broekhuizen, A. Mrs. Jongewaard, Ringert Jongewaard, Albert Die, van Cornelus Jongewaard, Nicholaas Die, van Cs. Mrs. Jongewaard, Arie Dingemans, Wouter Jan Kallemijn, Jan Dingemans W. J. Mrs. Kallemijn, Jan Mrs. Dingemans, Gerrit Dingemans, Hendrika Langstraat, Cornelus Dingemans, Jan Willem Langstraat, Cs. Mrs. Dingemans, Jennike Langstraat, Pieter