ROELOF "RALPH" B. NYMEYER The qualities which have made R. B. Nymeyer one of the prominent successful residents of Delta township have also brought him the esteem of his fellowmen, for his career has been one of well directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods. It would be hard to find in this section of the county a more progressive and industrious agriculturist and dairyman than he, and his record has been such as to gain for him the unstinted praise and commendation of all who know him. Mr. Nymeyer was born in Holland, on the 10th day of April, 1866, and is a son of Berend and Anna Maria Nymeyer, also natives of the Netherlands. In 1885 the family came to the United States, locating at Hull, Sioux county, Iowa, where the father rented land, on which he successfully carried on farming operations until 1898, when he retired to a comfortable home which he had bought in Hull, and there spent his remaining years, dying in May, 1908. His wife preceded him in death a number of years, having passed away in 1891. They were the parents of six children, five of whom are now living.
R. B. Nymeyer secured his education in the public schools of his native land and in 1884, at the age of eighteen years, came to the United States, settling in Iowa. He learned the carpenter trade, in which he became an expert, and followed that occupation for sixteen years. In 1900 he came to Lynden, Whatcom county, near which place he bought twenty acres of land, partly cleared, and at once proceeded to clear the remainder and get it under cultivation. He built a house on the place and lived there four years when, in 1905, he traded that property for forty acres of land in Delta township, four miles northwest of Lynden. This was burned-over land, covered with fallen cedar timber, and this he at once proceeded to clear up and burn. He was successful in the operation of this place and in 1908 bought forty acres across the road in Lynden township, which he has also cleared, being now the owner of eighty acres of splendid and well improved land, in the operation of which he is meeting with pronounced success, being a man of industrious habits and good judgment. His main crops are hay and grain, for which the land is particularly well adapted, and he also keeps twenty good grade Holstein cows and about two hundred laying hens. In 1907 Mr. Nymeyer built a good barn and remodeled the home, while everything about the place indicates the owner to be a man of ability and discrimination. He is a member of the Whatcom County Poultry Association and the Whatcom County Dairymen's Association. Religiously, he and his family are members of the First Christian Reformed church at Lynden, to which he gives generous support. He was for twelve years president of the Christian (Ebenezer) school and has always been deeply interested in education and an earnest advocate of good roads.
On August 5, 1893, Mr. Nymeyer was married to Miss Jane Heeringa, daughter of Peter and Sarah (Siebesma) Herringa, who were born and reared in Holland, where the father died in 1880. His widow is now living in Lynden, at the age of eighty-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Nymeyer have been born eight children, namely: Ben, born May 27, 1894, is married and has four children, Marie, Ralph, John and Jeannette; Peter, born July 22, 1896, died November 7, 1907; Martin, born September 27, 1898, is married and has four children, Irene, Jeanette, Clarice and Ruth A.; Mrs. Sadie Brink, born December 16, 1900, is the mother of two sons, Arend and Ralph; Marinus, born March 1, 1903, Anna Marie, born August 11, 1905, Ralph, September 19, 1907, and Pieternella, April 3, 1910, are the younger members of the family. Marinus and Ralph operate the home farm for their father and are ably assisted by their sisters, Anna Marie and Pieternella. In every relation of life Mr. Nymeyer has been true to the highest principles of honor, has been an earnest advocate of the best things in community life and his influence has ever been exerted on the right side of every moral issue. He is a man of broad views, is generous in his giving to worthy objects, is friendly in his social relations and enjoys to a notable degree the esteem and confidence of all who know him.
