E. Hoeven, Pioneer Passes Beyond

Evert Hoeven was born May 4, 1832, on a farm a short distance from Hardewijk, [sic] Netherlands. On June 1, 1857 he was united in marriage to Aaltje Mulder which union was blessed with 14 children. Four of these children, Henry, John, Mrs. J. Oolbekkink and Joe, preceded him in death and the following children are left to mourn his loss: Ben of George, Gerrit and Abe of Alton, Mrs. J. J. De Bruin and Mrs. C. P. De Jong of Hospers, Andrew of Sanborn, Mrs. Bert Braskamp of Sheldon, Jake of Sioux City, Ike of Sioux Center and Mrs. C. Idema at the home in Sheldon.

In 1865 he emigrated to America, settling at Pella where he followed his former occupation of farming until April, 1871, when he moved to Sioux County, homesteading on Section 6, Floyd township, on which he resided until 1903 when he retired from farming and moved to Alton.

On February 10, 1919, his wife died. The following November he took up residence at Sheldon where he and his daughter, Mrs. Idema and her children, lived until he died on March 13, 1921 at the age of 88 years, 9 months and 16 days.

He was a man of sterling integrity and ability, very successful in all his undertakings and a very devoted father. Funeral services were held at the Reformed church at Sheldon on Wednesday conducted by Rev. Henry Vander Naahl of the Reformed church and Rev. Allen of the Congregational church, interment taking place at the Newkirk cemetery where the services were conducted by the Rev. J. P. De Jong of Alton.

Mr. Hoeven and his son Ben took part in the righteous attempt of Sioux County citizens to have the board of supervisors approve the bonds of Mr. Greatrax[?] and Mr. Betten in 1872 while the courthouse was at Calliope. When the board refused to allow these two to take office the records of the courthouse were forcibly removed to Orange City [remainder of column is obscured on the newspaper microfilm].

Source: Alton Democrat - 19 March 1921
Contributor: hostagal (49125082)