Henry, son of Bert (Bart) Kersbergen and Antje Post Kersbergen, was born on December 2, 1879 in Onderkeerk (Ouderkerk aan de amstel), North Holland, the Netherlands. In 1887 he came to America with his parents and family settling at Otley, Iowa in the Galesburg-Bethel neighborhood. Later they moved to Pella where on November 21, 1901 Henry was united in marriage with Catherine Wichhart on Married Nov. 21, 1901. To this union 5 sons were born: Bert H Kersbergen, who in 1925 was killed at the age of 23 years; one infant son, Chris, who died at the age of 3 monthes, 10 days, cause: Hydrocepholus; Chris W Kersbergen, who passed away in 1954; Henry Leroy Kersbergen (H.Roy) now of San Mateo, California and Murray Kersbergen of Pico Rivera, California. Mr. Kersbergen worked on the railroad section for 2 years following his marriage and became a rural mail carrier in 1903. He continued this occupation in the Pella rural area until 1933 at which time he retired. Surviving besides his 2 sons Roy and Murray, are one brother, John Kersbergen of Knoxville, Iowa; a sister Gertrude, Mrs. Ardie Bloem of Chicago, Illinois; 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Preceding in death beside his parents were his wife who died November 9, 1946; 3 sons and 2 brothers. Mr. Kersbergen was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella all his life and a long-time member of the Marion County Rural Mail Carriers and Auxiliary. He died Febuary 16th, 1965 at age of 85 years, 2 months and 14 days.
This was taken from an obit. H.Roy now of San Mateo, California and Murray of Pico Rivera, California have since passed and are listed on find a grave.
********************************************
H. KERSBERGEN ROUNDS OUT 30 YEARS SERVICE
Roads, Duties and People Have Changed Since Oct. 1, 1902
_____________________
FOUR FORMER PATRONS
_____________________
1,800 Pieces Of Mail Monthly Then, Now There Are 8,000.
Likes the Work
Thirty years ago, or to be exact, Oct. 1, 1902, a young man went out to the barn, harnessed a team and hitched it to a buggy and entered upon a new adventure.
That young man was Henry Kersbergen, who just recently celebrated, with the help of his friends, the 30th anniversary if his service as a rural mail carrier on route 3.
Reads Then and Now
When Henry Kersbergen drove out on that frosty October morning 30 years ago, his horses did not set their feet on concrete or even gravel. There weren't no such things in those days, not in these parts, at least. To use his language, "Some of the roads were not roads at all, but pig paths." There were no ditches to hold one in the main road, he asserts, and he often drove along the side of the fences to avoid rough and muddy places.
The above was the picture ub 1902. Thirty years gave made many changes, so that there is today no similarity between road conditions now and then.
Paved and Gravel Highways
Today Oct. 11, or any other date, Mr. Kersbergen drives, not a buggy, but an automobile, over almost 20 miles of graveled and paved roads, having only 9 miles of dirt roads.
Thirty years ago practically a whole day was consumed in making the trip around the route, while today the route is covered in about three hours or less time.
Team To Motorcycle
Discarding the horse and buggy means of travel, Mr. Kersbergen purchased a motorcycle, which he used for four years. Then he took to the automobile, his first car being a Ford, the kind that was started by standing in front of it and going through a number of good-sized muscular movements.
The duties of a rural carrier are heavier than of that period, For a long time Mr. Kersbergen delivered about 1,800 pieces of mail a month, while today he delivers 8,000 pieces over the same period. Then the circulation of a daily paper in the rural sections was hardly know, now there are a few who do not take at least one daily paper and one or more weeklies, and there is more let (unreadable)
Advent Of Parcel Post
Asked if the parcel post system had not added considerably to his daily luggage, Mr. Kersbergen said it did for several years, but the depression of the last year or so had a different effect with the falling off of the mail order business.
Mr. Kersbergen says that at first the farmers were skeptical of the rural free delivery system. They could not believe that it would be free and that they would have to pay for it in some way. One would-be patron objected to it, saying that if a man was too lazy to come to town and get his mail he did not deserve any. Another said, "You can't make me believe it is free. I tell you that a bird has got a tail somewhere."
The Oldest Patrons
Of the heads of families served by Mr. Kersbergen when he began as a rural carrier, only four are left. They are Pete Van Domselaar, Jacob C. De Bruin, Mrs. Abe Grandia and Mrs. A, De Haan. Of course other families served then are represented in the daily delivery of mail, but only four of the original names appear on the list.
Another change which Mr. Kersbergen observes is in the feeling toward rural carriers. He says their service is appreciated more, but there are still a few who think the carrier is a high-salaried man and has an easy time, forgetting the effort required and the expense in getting over the route every day. But he enjoys the work or he would have found another job long ago.
Iowa, Pella, The Pella Chronicle, Thursday, October 13th, 1932
My Great Grandfather
This was taken from an obit. H.Roy now of San Mateo, California and Murray of Pico Rivera, California have since passed and are listed on find a grave.
********************************************
H. KERSBERGEN ROUNDS OUT 30 YEARS SERVICE
Roads, Duties and People Have Changed Since Oct. 1, 1902
_____________________
FOUR FORMER PATRONS
_____________________
1,800 Pieces Of Mail Monthly Then, Now There Are 8,000.
Likes the Work
Thirty years ago, or to be exact, Oct. 1, 1902, a young man went out to the barn, harnessed a team and hitched it to a buggy and entered upon a new adventure.
That young man was Henry Kersbergen, who just recently celebrated, with the help of his friends, the 30th anniversary if his service as a rural mail carrier on route 3.
Reads Then and Now
When Henry Kersbergen drove out on that frosty October morning 30 years ago, his horses did not set their feet on concrete or even gravel. There weren't no such things in those days, not in these parts, at least. To use his language, "Some of the roads were not roads at all, but pig paths." There were no ditches to hold one in the main road, he asserts, and he often drove along the side of the fences to avoid rough and muddy places.
The above was the picture ub 1902. Thirty years gave made many changes, so that there is today no similarity between road conditions now and then.
Paved and Gravel Highways
Today Oct. 11, or any other date, Mr. Kersbergen drives, not a buggy, but an automobile, over almost 20 miles of graveled and paved roads, having only 9 miles of dirt roads.
Thirty years ago practically a whole day was consumed in making the trip around the route, while today the route is covered in about three hours or less time.
Team To Motorcycle
Discarding the horse and buggy means of travel, Mr. Kersbergen purchased a motorcycle, which he used for four years. Then he took to the automobile, his first car being a Ford, the kind that was started by standing in front of it and going through a number of good-sized muscular movements.
The duties of a rural carrier are heavier than of that period, For a long time Mr. Kersbergen delivered about 1,800 pieces of mail a month, while today he delivers 8,000 pieces over the same period. Then the circulation of a daily paper in the rural sections was hardly know, now there are a few who do not take at least one daily paper and one or more weeklies, and there is more let (unreadable)
Advent Of Parcel Post
Asked if the parcel post system had not added considerably to his daily luggage, Mr. Kersbergen said it did for several years, but the depression of the last year or so had a different effect with the falling off of the mail order business.
Mr. Kersbergen says that at first the farmers were skeptical of the rural free delivery system. They could not believe that it would be free and that they would have to pay for it in some way. One would-be patron objected to it, saying that if a man was too lazy to come to town and get his mail he did not deserve any. Another said, "You can't make me believe it is free. I tell you that a bird has got a tail somewhere."
The Oldest Patrons
Of the heads of families served by Mr. Kersbergen when he began as a rural carrier, only four are left. They are Pete Van Domselaar, Jacob C. De Bruin, Mrs. Abe Grandia and Mrs. A, De Haan. Of course other families served then are represented in the daily delivery of mail, but only four of the original names appear on the list.
Another change which Mr. Kersbergen observes is in the feeling toward rural carriers. He says their service is appreciated more, but there are still a few who think the carrier is a high-salaried man and has an easy time, forgetting the effort required and the expense in getting over the route every day. But he enjoys the work or he would have found another job long ago.
Iowa, Pella, The Pella Chronicle, Thursday, October 13th, 1932
My Great Grandfather
Henry, son of Bert (Bart) Kersbergen and Antje Post Kersbergen, was born on December 2, 1879 in Onderkeerk (Ouderkerk aan de amstel), North Holland, the Netherlands. In 1887 he came to America with his parents and family settling at Otley, Iowa in the Galesburg-Bethel neighborhood. Later they moved to Pella where on November 21, 1901 Henry was united in marriage with Catherine Wichhart on Married Nov. 21, 1901. To this union 5 sons were born: Bert H Kersbergen, who in 1925 was killed at the age of 23 years; one infant son, Chris, who died at the age of 3 monthes, 10 days, cause: Hydrocepholus; Chris W Kersbergen, who passed away in 1954; Henry Leroy Kersbergen (H.Roy) now of San Mateo, California and Murray Kersbergen of Pico Rivera, California. Mr. Kersbergen worked on the railroad section for 2 years following his marriage and became a rural mail carrier in 1903. He continued this occupation in the Pella rural area until 1933 at which time he retired. Surviving besides his 2 sons Roy and Murray, are one brother, John Kersbergen of Knoxville, Iowa; a sister Gertrude, Mrs. Ardie Bloem of Chicago, Illinois; 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Preceding in death beside his parents were his wife who died November 9, 1946; 3 sons and 2 brothers. Mr. Kersbergen was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella all his life and a long-time member of the Marion County Rural Mail Carriers and Auxiliary. He died Febuary 16th, 1965 at age of 85 years, 2 months and 14 days.
This was taken from an obit. H.Roy now of San Mateo, California and Murray of Pico Rivera, California have since passed and are listed on find a grave.
********************************************
H. KERSBERGEN ROUNDS OUT 30 YEARS SERVICE
Roads, Duties and People Have Changed Since Oct. 1, 1902
_____________________
FOUR FORMER PATRONS
_____________________
1,800 Pieces Of Mail Monthly Then, Now There Are 8,000.
Likes the Work
Thirty years ago, or to be exact, Oct. 1, 1902, a young man went out to the barn, harnessed a team and hitched it to a buggy and entered upon a new adventure.
That young man was Henry Kersbergen, who just recently celebrated, with the help of his friends, the 30th anniversary if his service as a rural mail carrier on route 3.
Reads Then and Now
When Henry Kersbergen drove out on that frosty October morning 30 years ago, his horses did not set their feet on concrete or even gravel. There weren't no such things in those days, not in these parts, at least. To use his language, "Some of the roads were not roads at all, but pig paths." There were no ditches to hold one in the main road, he asserts, and he often drove along the side of the fences to avoid rough and muddy places.
The above was the picture ub 1902. Thirty years gave made many changes, so that there is today no similarity between road conditions now and then.
Paved and Gravel Highways
Today Oct. 11, or any other date, Mr. Kersbergen drives, not a buggy, but an automobile, over almost 20 miles of graveled and paved roads, having only 9 miles of dirt roads.
Thirty years ago practically a whole day was consumed in making the trip around the route, while today the route is covered in about three hours or less time.
Team To Motorcycle
Discarding the horse and buggy means of travel, Mr. Kersbergen purchased a motorcycle, which he used for four years. Then he took to the automobile, his first car being a Ford, the kind that was started by standing in front of it and going through a number of good-sized muscular movements.
The duties of a rural carrier are heavier than of that period, For a long time Mr. Kersbergen delivered about 1,800 pieces of mail a month, while today he delivers 8,000 pieces over the same period. Then the circulation of a daily paper in the rural sections was hardly know, now there are a few who do not take at least one daily paper and one or more weeklies, and there is more let (unreadable)
Advent Of Parcel Post
Asked if the parcel post system had not added considerably to his daily luggage, Mr. Kersbergen said it did for several years, but the depression of the last year or so had a different effect with the falling off of the mail order business.
Mr. Kersbergen says that at first the farmers were skeptical of the rural free delivery system. They could not believe that it would be free and that they would have to pay for it in some way. One would-be patron objected to it, saying that if a man was too lazy to come to town and get his mail he did not deserve any. Another said, "You can't make me believe it is free. I tell you that a bird has got a tail somewhere."
The Oldest Patrons
Of the heads of families served by Mr. Kersbergen when he began as a rural carrier, only four are left. They are Pete Van Domselaar, Jacob C. De Bruin, Mrs. Abe Grandia and Mrs. A, De Haan. Of course other families served then are represented in the daily delivery of mail, but only four of the original names appear on the list.
Another change which Mr. Kersbergen observes is in the feeling toward rural carriers. He says their service is appreciated more, but there are still a few who think the carrier is a high-salaried man and has an easy time, forgetting the effort required and the expense in getting over the route every day. But he enjoys the work or he would have found another job long ago.
Iowa, Pella, The Pella Chronicle, Thursday, October 13th, 1932
My Great Grandfather
This was taken from an obit. H.Roy now of San Mateo, California and Murray of Pico Rivera, California have since passed and are listed on find a grave.
********************************************
H. KERSBERGEN ROUNDS OUT 30 YEARS SERVICE
Roads, Duties and People Have Changed Since Oct. 1, 1902
_____________________
FOUR FORMER PATRONS
_____________________
1,800 Pieces Of Mail Monthly Then, Now There Are 8,000.
Likes the Work
Thirty years ago, or to be exact, Oct. 1, 1902, a young man went out to the barn, harnessed a team and hitched it to a buggy and entered upon a new adventure.
That young man was Henry Kersbergen, who just recently celebrated, with the help of his friends, the 30th anniversary if his service as a rural mail carrier on route 3.
Reads Then and Now
When Henry Kersbergen drove out on that frosty October morning 30 years ago, his horses did not set their feet on concrete or even gravel. There weren't no such things in those days, not in these parts, at least. To use his language, "Some of the roads were not roads at all, but pig paths." There were no ditches to hold one in the main road, he asserts, and he often drove along the side of the fences to avoid rough and muddy places.
The above was the picture ub 1902. Thirty years gave made many changes, so that there is today no similarity between road conditions now and then.
Paved and Gravel Highways
Today Oct. 11, or any other date, Mr. Kersbergen drives, not a buggy, but an automobile, over almost 20 miles of graveled and paved roads, having only 9 miles of dirt roads.
Thirty years ago practically a whole day was consumed in making the trip around the route, while today the route is covered in about three hours or less time.
Team To Motorcycle
Discarding the horse and buggy means of travel, Mr. Kersbergen purchased a motorcycle, which he used for four years. Then he took to the automobile, his first car being a Ford, the kind that was started by standing in front of it and going through a number of good-sized muscular movements.
The duties of a rural carrier are heavier than of that period, For a long time Mr. Kersbergen delivered about 1,800 pieces of mail a month, while today he delivers 8,000 pieces over the same period. Then the circulation of a daily paper in the rural sections was hardly know, now there are a few who do not take at least one daily paper and one or more weeklies, and there is more let (unreadable)
Advent Of Parcel Post
Asked if the parcel post system had not added considerably to his daily luggage, Mr. Kersbergen said it did for several years, but the depression of the last year or so had a different effect with the falling off of the mail order business.
Mr. Kersbergen says that at first the farmers were skeptical of the rural free delivery system. They could not believe that it would be free and that they would have to pay for it in some way. One would-be patron objected to it, saying that if a man was too lazy to come to town and get his mail he did not deserve any. Another said, "You can't make me believe it is free. I tell you that a bird has got a tail somewhere."
The Oldest Patrons
Of the heads of families served by Mr. Kersbergen when he began as a rural carrier, only four are left. They are Pete Van Domselaar, Jacob C. De Bruin, Mrs. Abe Grandia and Mrs. A, De Haan. Of course other families served then are represented in the daily delivery of mail, but only four of the original names appear on the list.
Another change which Mr. Kersbergen observes is in the feeling toward rural carriers. He says their service is appreciated more, but there are still a few who think the carrier is a high-salaried man and has an easy time, forgetting the effort required and the expense in getting over the route every day. But he enjoys the work or he would have found another job long ago.
Iowa, Pella, The Pella Chronicle, Thursday, October 13th, 1932
My Great Grandfather
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
