BARTELS, PIETER AND GEESJE (KUIPER)
The Bartels family may have been Sioux County's earliest settlers in the Sioux Center area. In 1882 they immigrated from Dwingeloo, Drenthe, Netherlands to Sioux County, Iowa and resided in Alton for a few years, where Pieter worked as a day laborer. He worked on the Northwestern Railroad for a couple of years during the summer months and in the winter time he dug wells by hand. After two years they began to farm on rented land. In 1887, they bought their first farm north of Sioux Center and farmed there until the fall of 1910 when they retired and moved into the town of Sioux Center. In 1914 they visited the Netherlands. Pieter Bartels (Bartelds) was born on January 11, 1853 to Hendrik and Jantje (Strijk) Bartelds at Beiler, Drenthe, Netherlands. On September 19, 1878, he was united in marriage to Geesje Kuiper at Dwingeloo, Drenthe, Netherlands.
Pieter and Geesje (Kuiper) Bartels before
1915 (from photocopy)
The Bartels family attended church in Sioux Center until the First Reformed Church of Carmel was organized in 1895. Pieter had always been active in church work, he was the first Deacon and later elected Elder at the Carmel church. He also was an Elder at the Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center.
Pieter's mother died in Beilen, Drenthe, Netherlands on April 5, 1886, so his father Hendrik Bartelds immigrated to the United States in 1894 or 1895. Hendrik came to Sioux Center and lived in the Pieter Bartels home 4 miles northwest of Sioux Center and died on November 28, 1897 in their home.
Geesje Kuiper was born on December 6, 1858 to Roelof and Jantje (Mos) Kuiper at Dwingeloo, Drenthe, Netherlands. She died on March 5, 1915 at the age of 56 years, 2 months, and 29 days of an abscess on her lung. She is buried at Memory Gardens Cemetery at Sioux Center.
After his first wife's death, in the late fall of 1916 Pieter remarried a widow, Mrs. Sarah (John) Meerdink of Yakima, Washington. They were married 22 years before Sarah's death in 1938. Pieter died on June 15, 1938 at the age of 85 years, 5 months, and 4 days of pneumonia. Pieter is buried next to his first wife, Geesje, at Memory Gardens Cemetery at Sioux Center, Iowa.
Pieter and Geesje Bartels were the parents of 12 children. Two daughters ware born in the Netherlands, Ralph was born at Alton, Henry was born 4 miles east of south Sioux Center, and John was born 1 mile west end 1½ miles south of Sioux Center. All the other children were born 4 miles northwest of Sioux Center.
The Bartels children were:
1. Jantje (Jennie) (Mrs. Albert Wolfswinkel), Breckenridge, Minnesota, born April 1, 1879, died April 14, 1958.
2. Jantina (Nellie) Bartels (5 years old), Sioux County, Iowa, born in 1881, died December 1, 1886.
3. Roelof (Ralph) Bartels, Sioux Center, Iowa, born September 21, 1883, died November 8, 1982.
4. Hendrik (Henry) Bartels, Bellflower, California, born November 10, 1885, died April 29, 1974.
5. Jan (John) Bartels, Steen, Minnesota, born December 26, 1887, died in 1976.
6. Jantina (Nellie) (Mrs. Cornelius Wolfswinkel), Toppenish, Washington, born February 21, 1890, died between 1981 and 1989.
7. Marehtje (Mary) (Mrs. Peter Achterman), Rock Rapids, Iowa, born March 23, 1892.
8. Klaas Bartels, Sioux Center, Iowa, born May 4, 1894, died at 5 weeks.
9. Klaaziena Bartels, Sioux Center, Iowa, born July, 1895, died September 5, 1895.
10. Klaaziena (Cynthia) (Mrs. George Meerdink), Sioux Center, Iowa, born November 19, 1896, died March 28, 1981.
11. Anna Bartels (Mrs. Neal M. Punt), Sioux Center, Iowa, born August 22, 1898, died April 11, 1944.
12. Albertus (Bert) Bartels, Sioux Center, Iowa, born March 8, 1902, died August 17, 1989.
Bartelds was the original surname and when Pieter came to Sioux County to apply for citizenship papers, the Judge advised him to take the letter "d" out of his name, as it could be pronounced easier. So that is why the name became "Bartels" instead of "Bartelds"
by Mrs. Elaine Feldhacker
BARTELS, PIETER AND GEESJE (KUIPER)
Pieter "Peter" Bartels was born on the 11th of January 1853 in Beilen, Drenthe Province, Netherlands. Geesje Kuiper was born on the 6th of December in Dwingelo, Drenthe Province, Netherlands. They were united in marriage in the Netherlands in 1878 and emigrated with two small children in 1882 arriving in Alton IA. Peter was a day laborer for a few years he then started farming in the Carmel vicinity until they retired in 1910. Peter Bartels died on the 15th of June 1938 at the age of 85 years. Geesje Bartels died the 5th of March 1915 at the age of 56 years. They were both buried in the Sioux Center Cemetery. Peter Bartels married Mrs. John Meerdink in 1916 and she died in 1938.
Peter Bartels parents came to America in 1894 or 1895. His father Hendrik
Bartels died in 1897 in his sons home. Peter's mother Jantje and stepfather
Berends spent their last days at Peter Bartels home also. They are buried
in the Sioux Center Cemetery.
Pieter Bartels Family about 1915. Back row: L-R Anna Bartels Ackterhof, John Bartels, and Hen-
ry Bartels. Middle row: Ed Kosters, Mary Bartels Kosters, Jennie Kuiper Bartels, Ralph Bartels,
Tillie Dykstra Bartels, Albertus Bartels, Cynthia Bartels Meerdink, Anna Bartels Punt, Nellie
Bartels Wolfswinkel, and Cornelus Wolfswinkel. Front row: Lena Hunink (visitor), Gysbert Bar-
tels, Henry C. Bartels, Helena Bartels, Grace Bartels, Peter Bartels, Pieter Bartels Sr., Geesje
Kuiper Bartels, Peter Wolfswinkel, Jennie Wolfswinkel and the three babies are three unidenti-
fied grandchildren.
Peter Bartels and his wife Geesje Kuiper were the parents of twelve children. The first two children Jantje "Jennie" and Jantina "Nellie" were born in the Netherlands. Their children were as follows:
First child Jantje "Jennie" was born April 1, 1879 and she married Albert Wolfswinkel November 23, 1897. They lived naar Hull IA and later moved to North Dakota. They were the parents of fourteen children.
Second child Jantina "Nellie" was born in 1881 and died in 1887 of scarlet fever and was buried in the Sioux Center cemetery.
Third child Ralph Bartels was born September 21, 1883 and he married Jennie Kuyper on January 4, 1905. They farmed naar Carmel IA and had eight children. See their separate story.
Fourth child Henry Bartels was born November 10, 1885 and he married Tillie Dykstra on March 8, 1912. They lived in the Bellflower CA area and were the parents of six children, Grayce (Mrs. Leonard Hilbert), Gertrude (Mrs. Clifford Fenenga), Leona (Mrs. Robert Schilling), Pearl (Mrs. Edwin Kooiker), Eugene Bartels, and Peter Bartels.
Fifth child John Bartels was born December 26, 1887 and he married Anna Achterhof on February 1, 1911. They lived at Steen MN and had four children: Grace (Mrs. Gus Timmer), Louis Bartels, Peter Bartels, and Jane (Mrs. Arnold Bonnema).
Sixth child Nellie Bartels was born February 21,1890 and she married Cornelis Wolfswinkel. They lived at Toppenish WA and were the parents of five children: Jennie Wolfswinkel, Peter Wolfswinkel, Bernie Wolfswinkel, Grace Wolfswinkel and Cornelia Wolfswinkel.
Seventh child Mary Bartel was born March 23, 1892 and she married Edd Kosters on January 8, 1912. They lived in South Dakota and were the parents of eight children: Henry J. Kosters, Grace (Mrs. Henry R. Kroon), Gerald Kosters, Phyllis (Mrs. William Story), Allen Kosters, Irma (Mrs. Norman Halverson), Mary Ann (Mrs. Abram Ackerman) and Rodney Kosters.
Eighth child Klaas Bartels was born May 24, 1894 and died soon after birth.
Ninth child Klaasina Bartels was born November 19, 1895 and also died as an infant.
Tenth child Cynthia Bartels was born November 19, 1896 and she married George Meerdink on January 27, 1890. They lived near Hull IA and had seven children: Wilbur Meerdink, Peter B. Meerdink, Leona G. Meerdink, Grace J. (Mrs. Herman A. Boote), Carol G. (Mrs. Clarence Boote), Robert Meerdink, and George Meerdink.
Eleventh child Anna Bartels was born August 22, 1898 and she married Neal M. Punt on March 25, 1920. They lived in the Sioux Center area and were the parents of two children, Marvin P. Punt and Gracia (Mrs. Edward H. Long).
Twelfth child Albertus "Bert" Bartels was born March 8, 1902 and he married Margaret De Boer on February 26, 1925. They lived in Sioux Center and were the parents of four children:Gladus G. (Mrs. Marvin H. Vermeer), Virginia (Mrs. Gilbert R. Dietz), Peter A. Bartels, and Alice (Mrs. Leon D. Ver Steeg).
by Henry C. Bartels
North section, going west from the east side N-S road, row 6. Sioux Center, Iowa.
North section, going west from the east side cemetery N-S road, row 7. Sioux Center, Iowa.
Hope Cemetery Hull IA. Center area just north of the monument in the center of the cemetery, row 4 from the east side of this center section. George 1890-1968 Cynthia 1896-1981.
Mr. Peter Bartels, sr. of Sioux Center died June 15 at 3:45 p. m. Funeral services were held June 18 in the Central Ref. church with Rev. R. Meengs and Rev. L. Brunsting officiating.
Peter Bartels, sr. was born 85 years ago at Drenthe, The Netherlands. With his wife and two children, he came to this country 58 years ago. Nine children were born to this marriage, namely: Jennie, Mrs. Albert Wolfswinkle of Morten, N. D.; Ralph, Henry, John and Nellie, Mrs. C. Wolfswinkle all of Sioux Center; Mary, Mrs. Ed Koster of Sioux Falls; Cynthia, Mrs. George Meerdink of Hull; Anna, Mrs. N. Punt and Albertus of Sioux Center.
There are 52 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. The following grandchildren were pall bearers: Peter Wolfswinkle. John W. Meerdink, Louis Bartels, Gerald Kosters, Gysbert Bartels.
Mr. Bartels' first wife, Gracia Kuyper, died 23½ years ago. He then married Mrs. Sarah Meerdink. Mrs. Bartels is very ill at present and could not attend the funeral. Mr. Bartels was a long time resident of Sioux Center living there for 35 years. He had been ill for the past three months and a week ago suffered a broken hip. Pneumonia was the cause of his death.
Sioux County Capital 1938-06-23.