William August VanDyke
...............................................................................................................
Born April 12, 1877, DePere, Wisconsin
Died March 15, 1942, Verboort, Oregon
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bill was a lifelong farmer, raising wheat, oats, and barley, as well as
cherries walnuts and filberts. Like most farmers of the era, he grew
most
of
what his family needed including hogs, cows, and chickens.
Bill and his sons started the first commercial grain cleaner in the
Verboort
area in 1930. He had invented an auger that fed the grain onto a
canvas which
he patented in 1935. He later sold the patent rights.
Bill's father Theodore, passed his love of music to his son. Bill played
cornet in a series of bands in the late 1890's to the late 1920's,
including
the
Verboort Orchestra and Verboort Catholic Band. A photo exists of him
seated
with a base drum, posing with other members of a band that was
described
as
being quite good, and in high demand. Bill in turn passed his
interest
in music
down to his children, who all played in bands, including The
Nightingales
and
The Swing Melodians.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
(Several newspaper articles were written following his death.
Following text is from a March 18, 1942 newspaper article)
Death Takes W. VanDyke of Verboort
Forest Grove, March 18-- William August VanDyke, farmer of the
Verboort
district for
64 years, died suddenly Sunday. Worry over loss of his sons, called
into
service, leaving the
operation of his big farm on his hands, is believed to have aggravated
a heart condition. High
requiem mass was said Wednesday at St. Francis Catholic Church of Roy
with
the Reverend
Mathus Jonas, the Rev. Joseph Saal, and the Rev. Edmund Vanderzanden on
the altar. St.James
church choir of McMinnville sang. Burial was in Verboort
cemetery.
VanDyke came with his
parents from DePere, Wisconsin to Verboort five years after five
families
had bought the big
tract of land, which they named Verboort, establishing the
parish.
He was three years old, was
reared in the parish, attending its school, and on May 5, 1908, married
Alice Cecilia Evers, a
descendant of one of the first families, who survives him. There
are eight children. Julius of
Carlton, Robert of North Fork, Texas; Mrs Julius (Irene) Moore of
Cornelius,
Cyril, Stanley,
Ervin, Esther and Mrs. Martin (Evelyn) Herb of Forest Grove.
There
are three sisters:
Mrs.William Verboort, Mrs. W. Vandervelden and Mrs. Albert Jansen, and
two brothers: Henry
and John VanDyke, all of Verboort and vicinity.
Excerpts from other articles:
Prosperous Farmer Dies in Sleep: Community Shocked
Verboort-- The people of Verboort were shocked by the sudden death of
William
VanDyke
who died Sunday morning at 7:45. Mrs. VanDyke, up earlier, went to the
bedroom to call Mr.
Van Dyke and found him dead. Mr. VanDyke was 64 years old and a
prosperous
farmer of
Verboort....
".
"..Mr. VanDyke died at his farm home Sunday morning, in sleep. He
had complained of chest
pains Saturday morning, but was apparently well before retiring
Saturday
night..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FAMILY TREE:
(click on the 
for more information)
Parents of William VanDyke:
Theodore VanDyke
and Mary Bernards VanDyke
Siblings:
Henry (born 1872, died 1944)
John (born 1873, died 1957)
Walter (born 1876, died 1940)
William (born 1877, died 1942)
Annie (born 1880, died 1965)
Nellie (born 1882, died 1954)
Dora (born 1886, died 1955)
William VanDyke and Alice Evers
were married May 5, 1908
Their children:
Julius "Juke"
Irene
(Mrs. Julius "Spud" Moore)
Evelyn "Curly"
(Mrs. Martin Herb)
Ervin "Blackie"
Cyril
Robert "Bud"
Esther
(Mrs Edward Seus)
Stanley
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
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