Notes for: Antonie (Anthony, Tone) Vander Waal
The last name on his tombstone is "Vander Waal." He seems to have inherited the original farmstead in Black Oak Township, Mahaska County, Iowa. His name is on the land plot maps after his father had died. His older brother Aart was already living up in Minnesota by the time his father died and probably owned his own land there. Antonie did own his own land in Section 29 of Black Oak Township, but it is obvious from who his neighbors are on the 1895 and 1900 Censuses that he is living on the land in Section 18.
1885 Iowa State Census of Black Oak Township, Mahaska County
Antonie and his wife are living on land in Section 29 of Black Oak Township. They have no children yet. He is 26 and Dirkie is 22. (The name in the census was transcribed as Vanderwoal.) Both were born in Marion County. Neighbors in the census on one side are Elliot and Malinda Cummings and on the other side are William and Gerty Ryka. They are all youngish. A William and Jacoba Verwers, with many children are below the Verwers. Jackson and Lenora Howard with children are above the Cummings. I have found this farmstead. It is in Section 29 of Black Oak Township. An "A VanderWaal" owned this in 1884 and an "A Van De Waal" owned it in 1895.
Pella Blade (Marion Co., IA) of January 31, 1893
A "G van der Waal" is trying to rent out a farm of 160 acres southeast of Pella. That would be about where Section 29 is located. I wonder if this is his son Gerrit.
1895 Census of Mahaska County, Iowa [Black Oak Township]
Antonie is 36, born in Marion Co., IA, a farmer, and of the Dutch Reformed religion. Dirkie is 32 and born in Marion County. Wilhemina is aged 8, Dielis age 6, William age 5, and Pieterje is 3. All kids are born in Mahaska Co., IA. One of Anthonie's neighbors is James Richardson meaning he is in Section 18 - his father's former property.
1900 US Census of Black Oak Twp., Mahaska Co., IA
It is obvious from Anthony's neighbors that he is living on the property his father bought and is in Section 18. He and his wife and all his kids except for Marvin are in the census. James Richardson is one of his neighbors.
In the 1910 Census of Black Oak Township, Mahaska Co., Iowa he is 59, married, and born in Iowa. Both his parents were born in Holland. His wife is Gertie D. Vanderwaal. She was 42 and born in Iowa. Both her parents were born in Holland. Antonie and Gertie's native language was English. They were farmers. Names of children come from the 1895 Iowa Census and federal censuses.
1920 US Census of Black Oak Twp., Mahaska Co., Iowa
They are in section 18. Their son William and his family is right next to them in the census. I bet he is living on that additional 140 acres Antonie had bought.
A 1920 Plat map of Mahaska County shows DIRKJE VANDERWAAL as the owner. It is divided in to a section with a house and 39 acres and another section of 120 acres. I wonder if they were renting this out.
1930 US Census of Pella, Ward 1, Marion Co., IA
Antonie is alone living in Ward 1 of the city of Pella. He is 71 years old.
On the 1930 Plat map of Black Oak Township, Antonie still owns the 400 acres in sections 18 and 17 and Dirkje owns the 140 acres in Section 29.
He is alone in his own home in the 1940 Census of Ward 3, Pella, Lake Prairie Twp., Marion Co., Iowa. He is age 81 and born in Iowa. He appears to be in the same place in the 1930 Census. In that census he is 71 and born in Iowa. Both of his parents were born in the Netherlands. He married at age 25.
A township map for Black Oak in 1943 (and 1949) shows a John Vander Wert living on Antonie's former property of 160 acres. Others had also bought his additional 140 acres. I assume Antonie sold off his land and he then moved into his Pella home by 1940 since he had gotten older and would not have been farming at that time.
His obituary is in the Pella Chronicle of July 10, 1941:
ANTONIE VANDER WAAL
Antonie Vander Waal, son of Arie Vander Waal and Minnie Bauma, was born in Marion County, Iowa, on Dec. 13, 1858, and departed this life on July 2, 1941, at the age of 82 years, 6 months and 19 days.
He was united in marriage on October 22, 1884 to Dirkie Van Zante who preceded him in death on January 27, 1928. To this union eight children were born, two of whom preceded him in death, namely, Minnie on June 5, 1899, and William on May 15, 1926.
The surviving children are: Dielis, Nellie, James, Arie and D. K. of Pella and Marvin of Hospers, Iowa, als 15 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
During life he was a member of the 4th, 1st and 3rd Reformed churches of Pella, having served on the consistory of the 3rd Ref. Church.
Since early childhood until November, 1926, he lived in Black Oak Twp., in Mahaska County. Since then he lived in Pella.
His remains were laid to rest beside his wife in Black Oak Center Cemetery.
Antonie Vander Waal did not shirk the responsibilities of a good citizen. He was always willing to serve his fellows. Some of the responsibilities he accepted and which he did well were serving on the Board of Supervisors of Mahaska County; service as a trustee of Black Oak Township for many years; the presidency of the Mutual Insurance Company known as the "Bear Ye One Another's Burdens Society," which he held from time to time until a few years ago; the Presidency of the Board of the Farmers Co-perative Exhange; and countless services to the Democratic Party. Mr. Vander Wall came to Black Oak Township as a boy of eleven years and was known throughout the township, the county and in the adjoining Marion County for his excellent character and good business judgment. He was associated with other prominent farmers and business men in this area in the promotion of the Lake Prairie District Fair, and was always an exhibitor of fine Belgian and Percheron horses which he raised on the farm for forty years or more. Antonie Vander Waal left behind in passing a fine example of good citizenship and upright living.