Van Der Meuen, Egbert B.

The following data is extracted from Illustrated History of Union and Wallowa Counties, Oregon.

EGBERT B. Van Der MEUEN, Deceased. It is quite within the province of this work to add a memoir of the faithful and capable gentleman whose name is at the head of this page, since he was one who labored assiduously here for the advancement of the interests of Union county, demeaning himself, meanwhile, with exemplary wisdom and the characteristic energy and progressiveness that were part of his development and which also aided him in the accomplishment of the success that he carved out here by labor and skill, both worthy and good.

In the noted little Anglo Saxon kingdom of Holland, is the birthplace of our subject, Friesland being the spot, and 1833 being the date. There he was educated in the common schools and spent his boyhood days until 1849, when he came with the balance of the family to Marion county,Iowa, remaining as a member of the parental household until he was twenty years of age and then started for himself. He rented land and also wrought some for wages, but continue steadily in progress until 1870, when he came west, to take part in the upbuilding of the country and also to make for himself and his family a home. They came by rail toKelton, Utah, and thence by horse teams to the Grande Ronde valley. In the following spring he rented a farm andone year later bought eighty acres, where the family reside at the present time, one and one-fourth miles north of Island City and three-fourths of a mile east of the same. In 1882 he bought one hundred and sixty acres and in 1891 he bought another quarter section for stock purposes. This gave him the fine estate of four hundred acres,w hich he handled in a skillful and good manner.

In 1863 Mr. Van Der Meuen married Miss Anna, daughter of Robert and Hilche (Feandermeer) Roelsma, of Marion county, Iowa. To them were born the following children: Angeline, Otto, Robert, Lillie, John, Jake, Martin. Robert died on December 28, 1900, and his wife on June 15, 1901, leaving one little girl, who is with her grandmother. In 1897 Mr. Van Der Meuen was called from the labors of life to the rewards of the world beyond, and it was known that a good man had passed away and the county was deprived of stanch citizen. He had been a faithful member of the Methodist church and his life showed the graces of the Christian, while all held him as a man to be esteemed. His widow has taken the added burdens of life in a gracious manner and is fulfilling the responsibilities by commendable achievement in managing the interests that devolve upon her.

Source: Illustrated History of Union and Wallowa Counties, Oregon

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