The Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society News
327 1st Avenue NE Sioux Center IA 51250
Meetings are held in the lower level of the Sioux Center Public Library every fourth Monday of
the month. (except May and December). 7:00 p.m. winter months and 7:30 p.m. summer months.
Officers for the 2002 Term:
| President | Jennie Den Besten |
| Vice President | Marje Brunsting |
| Recording Secretary | Jeanette Van Grootheest |
| Treasurer | Gerald Wissink |
Corresponding Secretary
and Researcher | Wilma J. Vande Berg |
PROJECTS
Obituary Card file
Jennie DenBesten became the chairperson of this project at it's inception and remains in the
position. Many of our members have assisted her in clipping the obituaries from their local
newspapers. Imo Mulder, Bill VanWyhe, Marje Brunsting, and Jeanette VanGrootheest have been
of much help and are to be thanked for their assistance. These obituaries are pasted on 4x6
file cards and can be found in the Mark Twain Room in the archival cabinets on the north wall
at the east side. Along with this on-going project we also have made an index of all maiden
names, spouse names and mother's names, which is helpful in finding the female member of your
family. This index is in a notebook located near the obituary file cards. We hope that you
will find this useful in your family research.
Surname Files
In the four vertical file cabinets in the Mark Twain room over 4,500 separate surname files
can be searched. Any genealogical information found about a surname is put in the files.
We ask everyone including the research queries to contribute their family history information.
GREAT RESOURCE!
Newspaper Indexes
We are in the process of indexing the local news section and correspondence sections of the older
area newspapers. This is a very tedious task, but has already proven to be very useful in research.
Papers will be indexed from the beginning for the newspaper to about 1930. Those completed are:
· Sioux Center 'Nieuwsblad' 1891 - 1929
· Orange City 'Volksvriend' 1874 - 1900
· Alton Review 1883 - 1885
· Rock Valley Bee (sporadic issues) 1892-1900 (in progress)
The above first three newspaper indices have been sent to the Iowa Genealogical Society to participate
in their revenue sharing program. They can be purchased from the IGS for a minimal fee. (see the
Publications Menu on our web site under GSCGS Menu.) Copies are also in the local libraries.
History and Town Book Indexes
We are in the process of indexing the local area history books that do not contain an index.
Completed are:
· 'Story of Sioux County' by Charles Dyke indexed by GSCGS
· 'Maurice Centennial Book' indexed by Gayle Harper
· 'Rock Valley Centennial' indexed by Jeanette VanGrootheest
· 'Calliope' by Ken Hansen, indexed by Marian Goemaat
· 'Bonnie Doon' indexed by Jeanette Van Grootheest
· 'Hawarden Centennial Book' indexed by Wilma J. Vande Berg
· 'Ireton Centennial Book' indexed by Wilma J. Vande Berg
· 'Sioux Center First 75 yrs' indexed by Jeanette Van Grootheest
· Sioux Center 'Pocket of Civility' by Mike Vanden Bosch indexed by Jeanette Van Grootheest
· 'Siouxland: A History of Sioux County, Iowa' by Nelson Nieuwenhuis indexed by Wilma Vande Berg
· ' Orange City Centennial Book' indexed by Minerva Van Peursem (in progress)
· '1908 Atlas of Sioux County' indexed by Wilma J. Vande Berg
Census Indexes
Federal Census of Sioux County 1880 is being put on Excel spread sheets which will having
capabilities of being sorted in various manners. A GREAT NEW RESOURCE when it is finished
thanks to John E. DeZeeuw. The 1900 census with names listed in order taken by township
done by Gayle Harper.
Internet Projects
Our web site is being remodeled check it out at: www.rootsweb.com/~iasioux which will
link you to the new page at http://brunsting.pern.org/sioux/ Thank you, Diane Brunsting,
for accepting the position of new web page coordinator! Diane and Wilma are getting the
whole Sioux County site updated. At the various menu headings on the right side of the
first page you will find most of the information contained in this newsletter plus a lot more!
We have had two projects on our page previously, the index of the book 'Story of Sioux County'
by Charles Dyke and a combined cemetery index of Sioux County, that are not on the new site.
We are trying to get these worked out so that they will eventually be back on our new site.
Books for sale
- Sioux Center Centennial History Book 1991 edition entitled "A People with Convictions'
1870-1991, A beautiful big hard cover book with 689 pages, over 1000 photos, 800 family
histories. A great value at $50. plus $4.50 postage. (only a few left)
- 'Sioux Center - Pocket of Civility' 1976 by Mike Vanden Bosch, 369 pages hard cover,
only $5. plus postage.
- 'Sioux Center 75 Year Book' 1966, many historical photos in 76 pages. Another super
value for only $5. plus postage.
GET ALL THREE OF ABOVE BOOKS for only $55. plus $7.50 postage!
- 'Maurice Centennial Book' 1991 edition, 603 pages, many photos, about 500 family
histories, separate index. A bargain price for this huge book and index $24. plus
$3.50 postage.
- Also see the part of our internet site under the GSCGS Menu box and click on
Publications. All the publications we have for sale, plus those through the Iowa
Genealogical Society are listed with prices.
Research
GSCGS does a lot of research for people from all over the world. Become a new member at
$7.50 per single and $10 per couple, you will receive one hour of free research. Wilma
J. Vande Berg does a good deal of the research. A donation is asked for after the work
is sent to the query. A copy of the family history is requested for the surname files.
Microfilming Hospers Newspapers
Some available copies of the Hospers Tribune are being prepared for microfilming by some
of the GSCGS members. This project is being headed by Frank and Ruth Postma and others
participating are Minerva VanPeursem, Darrell and Phyllis DeBoom, Jennie Den Besten and
Jeanette Van Grootheest. They have been meeting the first Monday of the month at 10:00
until completed.
Meeting Programs in 2001
January 22, 2001 - Wilma J. Vande Berg told about her interesting genealogy searches
February 26, 2001 - Sharing
March 26, 2001 - 'Ancestral Homes' and More by Jennie Den Besten
April 23, 2001 - 'Dutch Genealogical Research' by Wilma J. Vande Berg
June 25, 2001 - Richard Rietsma hosted Dutch Heritage Program in the Dutch Heritage Room at
Ramaker Library, Northwestern College at Orange City IA.
July 23, 2001 - Frank and Ruth Postma reported on their recent visit to the Netherlands
August 27, 2001 - Combined meeting with the Sioux County Quilters
September 23, 2001 - Sharing the Black Sheep in your family
October 22, 2001 - Video of Netherlands bus tour by Darrell De Boom
November 26, 2001 - program cancelled due to inclement weather.
Computer at the Library
There is a computer and printer in the Sioux Center Library designated for the use of
Genealogy members and clients only. The Internet is available on the computer and some
genealogical software including 'Family Tree Maker". The Family history volumes on CDs
are being purchased in super bundles as they become available. Some of the Federal
censuses are also on CDs for your use. It is our goal to keep adding to this collection.
The password to use the computer is 'gscgs'.
Notes:
The newsletter is mailed to members once a year. Our web page is quite informational
and will be updated regularly. Our hard copy newsletters that are mailed out to
members contains the names addresses, phone and e-mail addresses of members, however,
due to privacy concerns, the names and addresses have been dropped from this on-line
newsletter. For other services and resources available at the library see our complete web page.
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