| Notes |
- Appleton Post Crescent, October 7, 1921, page 16.
Julius Peerenboom, 84, pioneer retired merchant, died at 4:15 Friday morning at his home, 904 Seventh St. He suffered a stroke of paralysis five weeks ago. He came to Wisconsin in the early '50's, making his early home at Little Chute. Later he engaged in drygoods business in Appleton in the firm of Peerenboom and Kober. He was a member of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin.
Decedent is survived by his widow and seven children, Morris, George, Evelyn and Belle, Appleton; sister Inez of the Dominican order, James, Fond du Lac; Mrs. Nolan, Bremerton, Wash., and 11 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 8:30 Monday morning in St. Mary churh. Burial will be in St Mary cemetery.
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From the Commemorative Biographical Record of the Fox River Valley - Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago, published by J.H. Beers & Co, 1895, pages 900 & 901.
JULIUS PEERENBOOM. This leading dry-goods and clothing merchant of Appleton, one of the most enterprising business men of Outagamie county, is conspicuous not only as such, but as one of the best known and most widely-respected citizens in this portion of the State.
He was born April 25, 1837, in the village of Valburg, Holland, a son of Gerhart and Lydia (Johnson) Peerenboom, natives, the father of Prussia, the mother of Holland, where they were married in 1835. They had nine children, six of whom are now living, Julius being the eldest in order of birth. Grandfather Peerenboom was accidentally killed when Gerhart was very young, and the latter then moved with relatives to Holland, where he learned the trade of carpenter, afterward carrying on contracting and building. In 1858 the family came to America, settling on a farm in Little Chute, Outagamie Co., Wis., where the mother died in 1864 the father in 1874.
Julius Peerenboom received part of his education in Holland, and part at night schools in the neighborhood of his new American home at Little Chute. At the age of fifteen he commenced working with his father at carpentry, in Holland, and continued with him till he was twenty-four years old, assisting in the support of the family. After that he frequently worked for other contractors until he was twenty-seven, when having married, he commenced business for his own account contracting and building in Appleton. In this line he continued till the fall of 1869, at which time, having saved some $1500, he embarked in mercantile trade, in company with his brother-in-law, Anton Vanstratom, buying out this partner at the end of two years, and in January, 1874, associating himself with Jacob Kober, with whom he remained in partnership for sixteen years. They then dissolved, Mr. Peerenboom continuing the business alone, as sole proprietor of one of the most complete dry-goods and clothing stores in the county.
In 1864 Mr. Peerenboom was married, in Appleton, to Miss Wilhelmina Speel, who was born in The Hague (Gravenhage), Holland, in 1838, and came to America with her parents in 1846, Father Vandenbrook accompanying them. They were the first settlers in the woods at Little Chute, Wis., to come from the capital of the Netherlands, and here the father, Michael Speel, who had been a cabinet maker in Holland, followed farming; he died on his farm in Buchanan township, Outagamie county. They were wealthy people in the old country, accustomed to refined living, and coming as they did to the wilds of Wisconsin, they found the contrast far from pleasant, their experiences as pioneers in the forest being both extremely novel and severe. To Mr. and Mrs. Peerenboom were born eleven children, three of whom died in infancy, and eight are yet living, as follows: Morris S., Gorege H., James A., Frederick J., Lydia, Marv. Minnie and Isabel, of whom George H. is the only one married (he is teller in the Commercial Bank at Appleton), and Morris S. is in business with his father. In his political associations Mr. Peerenboom is independent, having voted both the Republican and Democratic tickets, and in local elections he invariably votes for the best man. He has served as alderman of his ward and as supervisor, two terms. In religious faith he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. A typical self-made, thorough business man, and strictly honorable in his dealings, he ranks among the best. He takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the city of Appleton.
(From the Commemorative Biographical Record of the Fox River Valley - Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago, published by J.H. Beers & Co, 1895, pages 900 & 901)
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1837 - 1921 (84 years)
