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ARNOLDUS KUYPER.
No one has figured more prominently or honorably in connection with the business interests and upbuilding of Pella
than Arnoldus Kuyper and no history of this section of the state would be complete without extended reference to
him and the important work which he did along the lines of general improvement and advancement. He was born August
7, 1863, in Pella, a son of Peter and Jannegje (Doedyns) Kuyper, who emigrated from Holland to the new world. He
attended school only to the age of twelve years and was then compelled to put aside his studies and assist in the
support of the family by teaming. He hauled coal, ice and other commodities and afterward for many years worked
for H. Rhynsburger. He gathered cream and eggs all over Marion county and thus he formed a wide acquaintance which
proved of value to him in later years, for the public had come to know him as a reliable, energetic, industrious
business man, not afraid of work and employing progressive ideas in all that he did.
At length, through careful economy and industry, Mr. Kuyper accumulated a capital sufficient to enable him to engage
in business on his own account and he opened a lumber yard in 1893. From the outset the undertaking prospered.
He ever recognized that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement and he always adhered to the old axiom that
honesty is the best policy. In addition to conducting a lumber business he became a stockholder and vice president
of the Citizens National Bank and of the Garden City Feeder Company, a director in the Pella Creamery Company,
a stockholder in the Huttig Manufacturing Company at Muscatine, Iowa, a director in the Pella Overall Company,
and a director in the Pella Plumbing & Heating Company. In fact, there were few enterprises of importance at
Pella with which he was not identified to a greater or less degree. He had various smaller interests than those
already mentioned and he also owned considerable valuable farming land and timber tracts in Canada. His investments
were ever judiciously made and his unfaltering perseverance was a most salient factor in the attainment of success.
He brooked no obstacle that could be overcome by persistent, earnest and honorable effort and he builded his prosperity
upon the sure foundation of industry.
On the 27th of November, 1890, at Pella, Mr. Kuyper was united in marriage to Miss Mary Louise Neyenesch, a daughter
of Herman and Anne Maria Neyenesch, who came from Holland. Her father was for several years a schoolmaster and
later became proprietor and editor of Pella's Weekblad, a Holland paper, and The Blade, published in English. To
Mr. and Mrs. Kuyper were born three sons, Peter H., Julian A. and Louis A.
In his political views Mr. Kuyper was a democrat and supported the party at national elections, but on local questions
voted independently. He was serving as alderman at large of Pella at the time of his death and he was a trustee
of Central University. He passed away December 6, 1910, when in the prime of life, after a seven weeks' siege of
typhoid. Starting out in life with a very limited education and penniless, he became one of the prosperous residents
of his town, widely recognized as one of the leading and most highly respected men of his community. At the time
of his death he had amassed a considerable fortune and his life and conduct suffered no reproach. His path was
never strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes, for he always used constructive measures in the conduct of
his business and as the years went on gained the sure reward of earnest, honest effort, his native talent and ability
gaining for him the prominence which he enjoyed.
From:
History of Marion County, Iowa
And its People
John W. Wright, Supervising Editor
W. A. Young, Associate
Vol II
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Chiago 1915
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