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Edward Versluis

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Edward Versluis

Birth	:	4 Oct 1858 Sint-Laureins, Arrondissement Eeklo, East Flanders (Oost-Vlaanderen), Belgium
Death	:	22 Apr 1943 Earlville, Delaware County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Saint Joseph Cemetery, Earlville, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.4799995, -91.2619019
Description	:	HISTORY OF EDWARD VERSLUIS Edward Versluys was born to the parents Joannes Francies Versluys and Maria Antonia Versluis (Van Camuenberge) on 4 October 1858 in Sint-Laureins, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium; he being the oldest of six children. Philomena Tresa Van Hoecke was born to the parents Francis Van Hoecke, and Emily Van Hoecke (De Decker), on 6 October 1859 in Sint-Laureins, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium; she being the older of two children. Edward Versluis, being the second oldest in their family, started to work on a farm as a very small boy. This farm was near Sint-Laureins, and the farmer's... Read More	HISTORY OF EDWARD VERSLUIS Edward Versluys was born to the parents Joannes Francies Versluys and Maria Antonia Versluis (Van Camuenberge) on 4 October 1858 in Sint-Laureins, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium; he being the oldest of six children. Philomena Tresa Van Hoecke was born to the parents Francis Van Hoecke, and Emily Van Hoecke (De Decker), on 6 October 1859 in Sint-Laureins, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium; she being the older of two children. Edward Versluis, being the second oldest in their family, started to work on a farm as a very small boy. This farm was near Sint-Laureins, and the farmer's name was Buck. Mr. Buck was some sort of an officer in the Province just under the Burgomeister. Edward stayed with the Buck family until he was a grown man. By that time, he had advanced to driving horses. Those that drove horses did no other work, not even hold a plow. As a grown man, Edward worked from East Flanders to France collecting sugar beets from farms and transporting them in a wagon to be processed. He got very little schooling, though he could write his name very nice, and of that he was proud. Before Edward and Philomena were married, they had a child out of wedlock. They left Sint-Laureins, Belgium and went to France since Edward being a farm laborer could work in the fields with sugar beets, and move through Flanders in Belgium and in France following the crops. Their first child Jules Versluys was born in Lille, Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, but died as an infant and was buried there in France. They were united in marriage on 20 April 1883 in Sint-Laureins, Belgium. Their second child, August (Gus) Joseph Versluis, was born on 25 March 1885 in a hamlet in a the small village of Comer on the north side of Comer-Graafjansdijk Street, located in the Sint-Margriete Municipality near Sint-Laureins Municipality, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Their third child, Lena Versluys, was born on 7 May 1887 also in Sint-Laureins, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Edward and Philomena decided to leave their families and homeland behind and start a new life in America. By September 1888, the family saved enough money to buy passage to the New World. In mid-to late September they boarded as steerage class on the Red Star Line Sail & Steam Ship SS Waesland out of Antwerp, Belgium, headed for New York City. Edward & Philomena would celebrate their birthdays aboard the SS Waesland, Edward turned 30, and Philomena turned 28. The SS Waesland docked at Castle Garden, New York City on October 25, 1888. The ship passengers were processed by the emigration center on October 26th, and the spelling of their last name was changed from Versluys to Versluis. They lived on Alabama Avenue near Wabash Avenue, in Paterson, New Jersey. Edward worked at a steel mill sweeping and cleaning, and worked sixty to eighty hours a week. While living in Paterson, an old blue trunk became the family table and old boxes became their chairs. August and his sister slept on the floor on a homemade bed. August’s parents owned an old wooden bed given to them by one of their neighbors. Edward and Philomena had two children in Paterson, one of which died during infancy. Edward spoke Flemish and French but never any English and Philomena also spoke Flemish and French and learned how to read English, and reluctantly ever spoke it. Edward wanted a better place to raise his family, so he saved every dollar he could spare. He wanted to move to Atkinson, Illinois where a large Belgium community existed. So in 1892, Edward shipped the old trunk and carried a big cloth bag with the rest of the family’s belongings to Atkinson, Illinois. A few days after arriving in Atkinson, Edward found employment in a neighboring town working in a steel mill making tractor parts, so the family moved to Geneseo, Illinois, where they had their 6th child. The family experienced hard times; August picked up coal almost every day after school along the railroad tracks so the family could heat their home. They moved to Moline, Illinois in 1895 where they farmed, and had another four children. In 1914, they moved Iowa, and in 1936 settled in Earlville, Iowa, where they spent the next seven years until his death on 22 April, 1943. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Edward and Philomena celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary just two days prior to his death. Children of Edward Versluis and Philomena Tresa Van Hoecke Versluis: 1. Juel Versluys, born 1883 in Lille, Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. He died as an infant in 1883 in Lille, Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France 2. August (Gus) Joseph Versluis, born 24 Mar 1885 in a hamlet in a the small village of Comer on the north side of Comer-Graafjansdijk Street, located in the Sint-Margriete Municipality near Sint-Laureins Municipality, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium. He married Iola Alverta Marquart on 09 Jun 1931 in St. John’s Reformed Church, Tipton, Iowa. August died 28 Oct 1979 in Gunnison, Colorado and was buried 31 Oct 1979 in Aurora, Colorado at Olinger's Eastlawn Memorial Gardens. 3. Lena Versluis, born 07 May 1887 in St. Laureins, Belgium. She married Cyriel Verstreet about 1905 in Rock Island County, Illinois. She died on 9 Jan 1984 and was buried in East Moline, Rock Island, Illinois. 4. Amil Versluis, born 1889 in Patterson, New Jersey. He died as an infant in 1889 in Patterson, New Jersey. 5. Emil Joseph Versluis, born 14 May 1891 in Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey. He married Mae Binacombe on 16 Jun 1923 in Oelweion, Iowa. He died on 27 Aug 1989 and was buried in Stanley, Buchanan, Iowa. 6. Emma B. Versluis, born 04 Apr 1893 in Geneseo, Henry, Illinois. She married Raymond “Boomer” Claeys in 1912 in Rock Island, Illinois. She died on 7 May 1975 and was buried in Moline, Rock Island, Illinois. 7. Charles J. Versluis, born 05 Jan 1896 in Moline, Rock Island, Illinois. He married Myrtle Alberta Brownell on 25 Jun 1924 in Independence, Buchanan, Iowa. He died on Feb 1979 in Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa. 8. Mary Versluis, born 4 Jun 1897 in Moline, Rock Island, Illinois. She married Julius Benjamin Cable on 29 Jan 1920 in Moline, Rock Island, Illinois. She died on 16 Apr 1987 in Hinsdale, DuPage, Illinois, and is buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Stickney, Illinois. 9. Celena M Versluis, born 04 Apr 1900 in Moline, Rock Island, Illinois. She died 13 Apr 1960 in Earlsville, Iowa, and is buried at St. Joseph Church Cemetery, Earlville, Iowa. 10. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Versluis, born 27 Feb 1903 in Moline, Illinois. She married Omar Carton on 29 May 1922 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Moline Illinois. She died on 7 Feb 1999 in Earlville, Delaware, Iowa, and is buried at St. Joseph Church Cemetery, Earlville, Iowa. (Bio provided by John Versluis)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Edward Versluis's memorial?
Edward Versluis's memorial is located at: Saint Joseph Cemetery, Earlville, Delaware County, USA.
When did Edward Versluis death?
Edward Versluis death on 22 Apr 1943 in Earlville, Delaware County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Edward Versluis's memorial?
Latitude: 42.4799995
Longitude: -91.2619019

Family Members:

Spouse

Philomena Tresa “Minnie” VanHoucke Versluis

(1859 - 1955)

Children

Emil Joseph Versluis

(1891 - 1989)

Celena M. Versluis

(1900 - 1960)

Elizabeth Versluis Carton

(1903 - 1999)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Earlville, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4799995, -91.2619019

2. Fairview Cemetery
Earlville, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4789009, -91.2613983

3. Plum Creek Cemetery
Earlville, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4343987, -91.2621994

4. Pine View Cemetery
Delaware, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4880981, -91.3407974

5. Saint Johns Cemetery
Delhi, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4310989, -91.3347015

6. Evergreen Cemetery
Delhi, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4258003, -91.3383026

7. Allison Cemetery
Delhi, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4041606, -91.2918120

8. Saint Peter and Paul Cemetery
Petersburg, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5557294, -91.2133758

9. Saint Francis Cemetery
Dyersville, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4879860, -91.1355320

10. Lillibridge Cemetery
Delhi, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4430457, -91.3918140

11. Spring Branch Cemetery
Manchester, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4693985, -91.4024963

12. Rock Prairie Cemetery
Oneida, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5060997, -91.4017029

13. Rockville Cemetery
Rockville, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4180500, -91.1445800

14. Grant View Cemetery
Greeley, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5828018, -91.3324966

15. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Greeley, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5830000, -91.3345000

16. Worthington Baptist Cemetery
Worthington, Dubuque County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4119360, -91.1324930

17. Baileys Ford Cemetery
Manchester, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4342003, -91.4100037

18. Willard Cemetery
York, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3641500, -91.2199000

19. Upper Bay Cemetery
Delhi, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3919200, -91.3778080

20. Mount Hope Cemetery
Dyersville, Dubuque County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4716988, -91.0942001

21. Saint Boniface Cemetery
New Vienna, Dubuque County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5518000, -91.1148000

22. Saint Paul Cemetery
Worthington, Dubuque County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3931007, -91.1260986

23. Hutson Cemetery
Thorpe, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5670000, -91.4001000

24. Roe Cemetery
Dutchtown, Delaware County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5672090, -91.4011380