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Jasper County, Iowa
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Harry D. Terpstra To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our great country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy perseverance and the wise economy which so prominently characterizes the foreign element, both those who have come direct from the European nations and their American-born children. All will agree, after so much as a mere cursory glance over our forty-eight states, that they have entered very largely into our population. By comparison with their "old country" surroundings these people have readily recognized the fact that in the United States lie the greatest opportunities for the man of ambition and energy. And because of this many have broken the ties of home and native land and have entered earnestly upon the task of gaining in the new world a home and a competence. Among this class may be mentioned the Terpstra family, of whom Harry D., a farmer of Elk Creek Township, is a worthy representative; but he, being of the first generation in America, had the good fortune of being born here, thus avoiding many of the trials of his father, who had to master our language, get acquainted with our strange customs and be assimilated, as it were, into our civilization. Harry D. Terpstra was born in Elk Creek Township, Jasper County, September 11, 1873, near Kellogg, and there he spent his boyhood and attended the McKinney district school. He is the son of Dow W. and Rosa (Napjus) Terpstra, both born in Friesland, Holland, the father on June 11, 1842, and the mother on September 23, 1848. The latter came to America with her parents, John and Rosa (Plantenga) Napjus, and they established their home near Red Rock, Marion County, Iowa, in 1856 and there became well known. Dow W. Terpstra was the son of Watson and Sietska (Zuidma) Terpstra, both born in Holland. The paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch emigrated to the United States in 1850, and located in Lancaster, New York, and there they remained five years engaged in farm work, then the family emigrated west, settling in Marion County, Iowa, when that country was receiving its horde of settlers from the Empire and other Eastern states. Watson Terpstra became the owner of eighty acres of land in Marion County which he developed into a good farm. His eldest son, Dow W., began to work on the place when but a mere lad and there he grew up and married, later, in 1869, moving to Jasper County, this state, and here bought eighty acres near the hamlet of Killduff. Later he traded this for one hundred and twenty acres in Elk Creek Township. Here he prospered and finally became the owner of four hundred and fifty acres. He farmed on a large scale and was an cattle feeder and stock dealer. Accumulating a competency, he and his faithful life companion moved to the town of Sully in 1905 and retired from active life, living there until his death, on July 11, 1906, after a successful and well spent life, during which he gained the respect of all with whom he came in contact by reason of his model characteristics. Mrs. Terpstra now lives on part of the home place. The father of the subject of this sketch was prominent in the public affairs of his community. He was a Democrat and in religious matters supported the Reform Dutch Church. Dow W. Terpstra and Rosa Napjus were married on February 14, 1867, and to this union eight children were born, named as follows: Watson Valentine, John N., Mrs. Sietsk George, of North Dakota; Harry D., this sketch; Albert L., Mrs. Rosa Dick, Mrs. Yetta Romans and Martin. Dow W. Terpstra was a true pioneer, locating here in the days of wild prairie which he saw transformed into a rich agricultural region, taking a conspicuous part in the same. Harry D. Terpstra, of this sketch, early in life knew the meaning of hard work, starting to drive a team when only fourteen years of age. When twenty-one he began life for himself, and he remained under his parental roof-tree, working for his father until 1898, then moved to Sully and conducted a livery barn there for two years. On November 22, 1900, he was married, and at that time he moved to Colfax where he opened a restaurant which he ran for six months, then moved on one of the farms owned by his father-in-law in Palo Alto Township, which he rented for two years. In 1903 he moved on one of father's farms in Elk Creek Township, where he rented for five years. In 1908 he moved on part of the old farm which he had previously bought. This excellent farm, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres, has been kept under a high state of cultivation and improvement by him and here he has met with encouraging success as a general farmer and stock raiser. He feeds four or five car loads of cattle annually, no small part of his income being derived from this source. Politically, Mr. Terpstra is a Republican, and while he takes an abiding interest in the affairs of his communty, he is not a seeker after public favors, preferring to devote his attention to his farm and stock. On November 22, 1900, Mr. Terpstra was united in marriage with Augusta L. Brodersen, who was born on February 26, 1874, in Palo Alto Township, Jasper County, Iowa, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools. She is the daughter of Peter and Caroline (Wulf) Brodersen, the father born on February 20, 1842, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, which province was formerly a part of Denmark. The mother was born on March 11, 1848, at Ratzwig, Germany. Mr. Brodersen spent his boyhood in his native land and in 1865 he emigrated to Davenport, Iowa, and three years later he came to Jasper County, locating in Palo Alto Township. Mrs. Brodersen came to Newton, Iowa, in 1868 and she and Mr. Broderson were married on December 17, 1869. They are now living in section 34 Palo Alto Township, where they have a pleasant home. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harry D. Terpstra: Leslie Dow, born December 27, 1901; Leah Irene, born November 11, 1903. Mr. Terpstra is one of the best informed men and one of the most progressive citizens of his locality, keeping well abreast of the times and keeping his home well supplied with good current literature. He believes in adopting the most modern methods of agriculture, farms on the intensive plan and therefore gets the largest returns for the least outlay of labor. He is an excellent example of the thrifty second generation of Hollanders in the United States, and he has the confidence and esteem of all who know him, being a man who believes in following as far as possible, in his daily life, the Golden Rule. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 692. |
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