Abel Nicholas Dyksterhuis part 5

1940

1940 Census age 41

1940 Census, Lawrence, Whatcom County, Washington

Lived on Goshen Road (no house number) in Lawrence, Whatcom County Washington, on his own farm.  He completed 2 years of high school, living with wife and all five children.  He is 44 years old, wife Reka is 34 years old and completed 8th grade.  The oldest child completed 7th grade so far.

I would like to have some yearbook images, but I cannot find any available online.  Do you have a yearbook I could scan?  Let me know using the contact form on the right

Historical Insight -- World War II on the West Coast

When the Japanese attacked the West Coast during World War II, Abel Nicholas Dyksterhuis was living in Lawrence, Washington near the enemy targets.

September 10, 1942, Canada. Credit: Toronto Star Archives/Toronto Star/Toronto Star
via Getty Images – Ancestry.com Historical Insight

Canadian Forces teamed up with U.S. soldiers to defeat the invading Japanese. Before the enemy surrendered, the Allies suffered almost 1,500 casualties. – Ancestry.com Historical Insight

Hoping to bring the conflict home, the Japanese carried out a series of attacks on the West Coast during World War II. The first assault took place on February 23, 1942, when just north of Santa Barbara, California, a Japanese submarine torpedoed the Ellwood Oil Field, virtually missing the target. That summer, the Japanese regrouped, launching a ground invasion of the Aleutian Islands in the Alaskan Territory on June 3. The diversionary offensive designed to lure U.S. troops away from the Battle at Midway, failed to prevent an American victory in the Pacific, but because of the harsh terrain, it took U.S. Forces almost a year to recapture the islands. Until the war’s end, assaults from the seas and skies continued—fighter jets dropped bombs over Oregon and launched 10,000 fire balloons toward North America. Surprisingly, the attacks caused minimal damage and received little coverage in the press, but became an influential justification for the internment of Japanese Americans. – Ancestry.com Historical Insight 

Historical Insight -- Washington During World War II

Abel was a resident of Lawrence Washington, and likely helped produce vital war materials during World War II

April 5, 1943, Seattle, Washington. Credit: Getty Images
  – Ancestry.com Historical Insight

Thousands of Washingtonians served in the military. More than 6,200 lost their lives, and 25 were awarded Medals of Honor.   – Ancestry.com Historical Insight

Throughout World War II, the people of Washington played a significant role in Allied victory. Thousands of aircraft were manufactured at Boeing plants, and 15 shipyards produced an unprecedented number of ships, including freighters, transports, escort carriers, destroyers, minesweepers, and tugboats. Life changed dramatically for Washingtonians of every age as each and every one was effected in some way by the war. Family members and friends left for military service, and women took up jobs that had previously been denied them. Washington became the third-largest producer of aluminum by the end of the war, having never produced the substance before the war began. Military bases abounded, and the Army and Navy purchased nearly all fish canned by Washington’s large industry. As 250,000 people, including thousands of African Americans, flooded into the state in search of war jobs, the social makeup of Washington was significantly altered.  – Ancestry.com Historical Insight

Did Abel Nicholas Dyksterhuis also register for the WWII draft?  I can't find any indication that he did, not on Ancestry.com, not on Fold3.  If you have any information, please let me know using the contact form on the right.

In Other News --

The first black general in the United States was appointed in 1940, as well as the development of the first colour television sets (OurTimelines.com, 2018)

1941 age 43

Death of Father Geert Edsko (GE) Dyksterhuis, 20 May 1941, Lynden, Whatcom Washington.  His Find A Grave Memorial is here.

abel dyksterhuis 1941 directory

Here we again see A. Dyksterhuis, RD3, box 489.  I cannot for the life of me find out where this may be in today's terms, and could use some help.  I suspect this is our Abel Nicholas Dyksterhuis, but it is hard to be certain, with just one letter of the first name.

The Humboldt Republican, Humboldt Iowa
5 September 1941 page 5
downloaded 4 September 2017 from
Newspapers.com

Historical Insight -- The United States enters World War II

Abel lived in Lawrence Washington when the United States declared war on Japan just one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor that killed 2,400 Americans

December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Credit: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
--  from  Ancestry.com Historical Insight

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor shook the nation. Today it remains the second worst attack on U.S. soil—second only to September 11, 2001.  --  from  Ancestry.com Historical Insight

1942 age 44

Death of sister Flossina S. Dyksterhuis.  She was born 1892 in South Dakota, died and is buried in Washington.  View her Find A Grave Memorial here

Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago Illinois
28 February 1942 page 9
downloaded 21 March 2017 from
Newspapers.com

1945 age 46

Historical Insight -- First Inauguration of Harry S. Truman

Abel Nicholas Dyksterhuis of Lawrence, Washington, was likely shocked when Harry S. Truman suddenly became president of the United States in 1945.

1945. Credit: Getty Images   --  from  Ancestry.com Historical Insight

For a time, President Truman continued in the same vein as his predecessor, but he eventually developed his own programs. 

Abel and Reka Dyksterhuis in the 1940s.  From Ancestry.com, originally shared by MichelleR_ on 7 April 2012.

Historical Insight -- V-J Day

At the close of World War II Abel might have taken part in V-J Day celebrations while living in Lawrence, Washington

August 14, 1945, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Credit: Ed Westcott/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
--  from  Ancestry.com Historical Insight

Residents of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, gathered to rejoice on V-J Day.    --  from  Ancestry.com Historical Insight

At 7:03 p.m. on August 14, 1945, the scrolling sign in New York City’s Times Square delivered the news: “Official—Truman Announces Japanese Surrender.” An estimated crowd of 2 million erupted in cheers. The War in the Pacific, and thus World War II, was over. “Victory over Japan,” or “V-J Day” was celebrated August 14 and spilled over into August 15 in the United States. As the news spread, people gathered in large celebrations. Dancing, singing, bonfires, and fireworks demonstrated the sheer jubilation of the American people. In Washington, D.C., crowds danced on the White House lawn and chanted, “We want Harry.” President Truman appeared briefly, declaring “This is the day we have been waiting for since Pearl Harbor.” After nearly four years of war and more than 400,000 lives lost, the United States looked ahead to the homecoming of its overseas servicemen and women, the release of POWs, and the return to life without rationing and air raids.    --  from  Ancestry.com Historical Insight

In Other News --

There IS no other news!

 Harry S. Truman President of the United States from 1945 to 1952 (OurTimelines.com, 2018)

(Wikipedia, Harry S. Truman, 2018)

1946 age 48



Both of these photos are from the same plaque.  Submitted to Ancestry.com by BaSchimmel in march of 2013.

The Bikini first developed; The Cold War began and lasted until after his death (OurTimelines.com, 2018)

1946 Frigidaire electric range

1948 age 50

Abel died 5 October 1948 in Clear Lake, Skagit County, Washington 

1948 death certificate

According to the death certificate, Abel N. Dyksterhuis died at his home in Clear Lake.  He'd only been here for a year.  His usual occupation is listed as laborer for Northern State Hospital, so presumably this is the reason he left his farm so he could work here?  Also, my presumption about his military career is correct, in that even though he had to register for the draft in WWI, he was never in any military.  Abel was only 50 years old, wife Reka was 42.  This is a tertiary source of birth for him, since the information came from his wife, but it is a source where otherwise we would have none.  

He died at 0730 in the morning of Acute Coronary Occlusion.  Given his young age, and the suddenness of the event, it may have been what is commonly called the Widow-maker.

According to Science Daily, brothers and sisters have a much higher chance of having a heart attack as well .  The study did not indicate sons and grandsons, but it is a good idea to watch out and to modify habits and diets if needed.  While Wikipedia is not a creditable source, it could be a good start to any research you want to do yourself -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterior_interventricular_branch_of_left_coronary_artery


He is buried in *** Cemetery, Sedro Woolley, Skagit County, Washington.  Visit his Find A Grave Memorial here.

Washington Death Index for Abel Dyksterhuis from Ancestry.com
sourced from Washington State Department of Health

Another death record from Ancestry.com, showing his parents
sourced from Washington State Death Records.

The third Ancestry.com entry is sourced from
Washington Select Death Certificates

Two photos of the gravestone, the sources are indicated on each photo; one from Ancestry.com, the other from Find A Grave.

Lastly, from Ancestry.com, the Family Data Collection listing Abel's parents, birth and death dates, and birth place.

I don't have an obituary for him.  Do you have a copy you would like to share?  If so, let me know so I can edit this blog.

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Resources:

Farnum, C. (n.d.). Flossina Hiemstra (1892-1942). Retrieved May 22, 2018, from Find A Grave Memorial no. 6831052: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6831052

Farnum, C. (n.d.). Geert Dyksterhuis (1862-1941). Retrieved May 22, 2018, from Find A Grave Memorial 6830818: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6830818

OurTimelines.com. (2018). TimeLines. Retrieved from OurTimeLines.com: http://ourtimelines.com/

Teresa. (n.d.). Abel Dyksterhuis 1898-1948. Retrieved May 21, 2018, from Find A Grave Memorial 120300147: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120300147

Wikipedia. (2018). Harry S. Truman. Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman

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