Johannes "J.H.P." Van Zee, son of Peter M. Van Zee (1820-1899) and Nella (DeBruyn) Van Zee (1820-1890), was born Sept. 10, 1860 in the Pella, Iowa area. He was the seventh child of a family of seven sons and two daughters. His parents emigrated to Pella, Iowa from Holland with oldest daughter Nellie and three sons: Gerrit, Kryn, and Case. The rest of the children were born in the Pella area: Arie, Dirk, Johannes "J.H.P.", John, and Mary (De Haan).

On Oct. 21, 1885, J.H.P. was united in marriage with Bijke Bensink. Bijke, daughter of Henry Bensink (1825-1898) and Geertje (Beintema) Bensink (1837-1907), was born Apr. 17, 1865. She was the second child of a family of four, the others being: Elizabeth (Bensink) Grandia, Gradus, and Henry.

J.H.P. and Bijke started farming northwest of Pella on a farm close to Battle Ridge School. Their 12 children were born there:

1. Henry H. (1886-1962),
2. Peter M. (1888-1932),
3. Geertje Van Zante (1890-1955),
4. Dick J. (1892-1963),
5. Gerrit H. (1893-1968),
6. Peternella "Nellie" (1895-1969),
7. Elizabeth "Lizzie" De Wild (1898-1978),
8. Gradus (1900- 1984),
9. Marie Ver Meer Menning (1901-1974),
10. Rebecca "Becky" (1904-1944)
11. John A. (1907-1978),
12. and a daughter who died in infancy.

The farm near Battle Ridge was purchased by J.H.P. While living there he fed a lot of cattle, taking them by train to Chicago Stockyards to sell them. When his sons became older, one of them would accompany him. He also had a lot of horses. The Van Zee family attended the Bethel Church while living on the farm.

In 1925, with the marriage of Gradus and the marriage of Marie, they retired to 936 Main St. in Pella, la. with 21-year-old Becky and 18-year-old Johnny.The family farm had two farmsteads where Gradus and his wife and Marie and her husband lived. J.H.P. and Bijke lived the remainder of their lives in retirement, having the ideal retirement home one block from the city square. They attended Third Reformed Church in Pella. J.H.P. died Oct. 27, 1932, and Bijke died Dec. 14, 1936. Both are buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella, lowa.

The following relates how the Van Zees acquired the front center plots of Oakwood Cemetery immediately at the front entrance. J.H.P. and his brother John purchased a lot together. J.H.P. understood that all of his family could be buried on the plot. John, having no children, wanted the plot only for himself and his wife and J.H.P. and Bijke. The total plot had space for 30. Due to the misunderstanding, J.H.P. purchased the adjoining pie-shaped plot and John placed an exceptionally large Van Zee marker on his plot. In 1988 the J.H.P. Van Zee plot has his children and spouses and grandchildren and spouses buried with him — 25 total. Immediately adjoining, on the same size plot, are John and his wife alone with the large VanZee marker and no other descendants buried along side to this day.

J.H.P. and Bijke (Bensink) Van Zee had nine grandchildren. Their children:

1. Henry H. (Aug. 21, 1886- Jan. 8, 1962) married Jennie Van Peursem
(Apr. 2, 1891 - Aug. 10, 1959) on Feb. 25, 1915. They had no
children.

2. Peter M. (Dec. 2, 1888 - Jan. 2, 1932) married Maggie Van Veen (July 15, 1889 - Feb. 7, 1971) on Feb. 22, 1912. They had no children.

3. Gertie M. (Sept. 10, 1890 - Feb. 24, 1955) married Benjamin Van Zante (Dec. 18, 1887 - Apr. 11, 1951) on Feb. 10, 1913. They also had no children.

4. Dick J. (Feb. 29, 1892 - Oct. 27, 1963) married Margaret Marie Vander Garde (Aug. 16,1893- May 3, 1965) on Feb. 21, 1917. They had four children:
1. Gerald J., Apr. 30, 1918-June 2, 1982;
2. Betty Vander Peut, born Oct. 14, 1919;
3. Mildred Erma Poortinga, Sept. 13, 1922 - Feb. 18, 1987;
4. Marvin Merle, born Nov. 2, 1925.

5. Gerrit H. (Sept. 25, 1893 - May 19, 1968) married Bessie Vander Garde (Oct. 11, 1895- June 10, 1968) on Nov. 26, 1919. They had one daughter,
1. Marcile, born July 18, 1933.

6. Peternella Johanna (July 17, 1895- Sept. 22, 1969) did not marry.

7. Lizzie M. (Apr. 8, 1898 - July 19, 1978) married John De Wild (Aug. 28, 1894 - Apr. 3, 1988) on Feb. 8, 1921.

8. Gradus C. (June 6, 1900 - Jan. 2, 1984) married Martena Ver Meer
(Oct. 9, 1901 - Feb. 17, 1984) on Feb. 19, 1925.

9. Marie A. (Nov. 4, 1901 - Feb. 18, 1974) married John Ver Meer (Feb. 22, 1900- Mar. 12, 1928) on Feb. 19, 1925. They had two children:
1. David John, born Jan. 28, 1926;
2. Leroy, born Apr. 8, 1927.

Marie's second husband was Rev. Gerrit Menning (Aug. 8, 1883 -
Oct. 15, 1967). They married on July 30, 1942.

10. Rebecca Van Zee was born June 6, 1904 and died Jan. 17, 1944.

11. John A. (Jan. 31, 1907 - Nov. 9, 1978) married Mary Ella Kranenberg (Apr. 22,1907- May 5,1988) on Feb. 3, 1932. They had two children:
1. Kenneth, born Oct. 26, 1935;
2. Judith Faye Hanson, born Apr. 22, 1942.
by Betty (Van Zee) Vander Peut

Source: History of Pella, Iowa 1847-1987; Vol 1 & Vol 2; Copyright 1989 @ Curtis Media Corporation
VAN ZEE, J. H. P. AND BIJKE (BENSINK)
vol 2; F661 page 637-638

[Contributed by FAG user kj.]