PAGE 4
www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
THE LAND — MARCH 4/MARCH 11, 2022
A grateful owner and the dog who saved his life Last week the weather forecast was for a warm day. Consequently, my farmer and I made plans to work outdoors after dinner. It was January, so any day warm enough to get work done outdoors is extra special. This year, without any snow cover, there are a few different jobs that can be worked on. The day began with sunshine. There was no wind, so the heat of the sun felt very good. At noon I was beginning to think maybe my insulated coveralls might not be necessary. The sun was so bright I just had to remark on the loveliness of it.
As quickly as those words were out, I glanced to the north. It showed a very different sky. Dark clouds were moving in. Although very beautiful, they had an ominous look at the same time. As if to draw my attention away from the sky, the wind picked up. One could imagine the furious wind chased the sun right out of orbit. With the sun’s disappearance, the 40-degree temperature plummeted to single digits in a matter of hours. My insulated coveralls did not provide enough protection. The only thing missing was snow com-
weather to fill in holes in the elevator’s stable. He did not want to see snow on the flax seed which at that time was an important crop for the area. The elevator was full of flax seed. Later in the day, Draayom went over to the train depot to write out his report for the day. The depot also served as his office, as the elevator had no stove to provide any heat. FROM MY While at the depot, the telegraph was busy transFARMHOUSE mitting warnings of an incoming storm. Because KITCHEN Draayom was concentrating on error he found in the day’s report, he wasn’t paying attention to the By Renae B. warnings. The numbers were not adding up and Vander Schaaf that was enough to worry about. ing down. Mr. Orton of Maurice, Iowa, a If it had been snowing, this cattle buyer, came in to the day would have been similar to a depot and told Draayom he had day in the life of Gerrit Draayom planned to return to Maurice, on Jan. 12, 1888. but changed his plans when some of the older people who Two days earlier, Draayom had were at the depot talked about just celebrated his 37th birthday. the fury of past storms. He had grown up in Diepenveen, The Netherlands. His mother had Mart Ingold, a carpenter, died when he was just a young stopped at the depot to let lad of 10. Because he had to earn Draayon know it was snowing. his living, his formal schooling The wind was blowing 60 miles was very limited. per hour, but Draayom stayed right on working. His two dogs, Draayom was 18 when he Hector and Watch, were still sailed to America, first settling Photo by Renae B. Vander Schaaf there. in Alto, Wis. A few years later he The marker stone for Watch the Hero Dog relocated to Hospers, Iowa. In Finally, the howling, shrieking 1872 Hospers was just a water- now guards the Hospers Community Center, winds caught his attention and Libaary and Museum complex. ing stop for the Sioux City and he felt he should be getting St. Paul Railroad. home on his 10 minute walk. His dog Hector quickly ran ahead on the familiar trail. Watch stayed by Draayom was poor. He had to get along with the Draayom’s side. He couldn’t see his hand before his cheapest oxen, horses and implements — in other face. The wind seem to come from all directions. It words, the stuff no one else really wanted. He had didn’t take very long for Draayom to become disorimarried Loetje (Susie) Beukelman in 1874. Their ented in the extremely cold, dark night. son was born in October of 1875. Susie died before the year’s end. He walked for several more hours before he finally collapsed in a snow bank. He thought if he took a Draayom then married Egbertje Libbes short nap, he would be refreshed and would be able (Elizabeth) Dijk in 1877. They were blessed with a son and daughter before she died of typhoid fever in find his way. Before long, Watch became impatient 1881. He married Jeltje (Julia) Dyjk (Elizabeth’s sis- with his master. He barked and whined, tugged at his coat sleeve, began jumping in his face, even ter) in 1883. She lived a good long life. Seven chilscratching with his sharp paws. Watch would not dren were born to this wedded couple. leave Draayom alone. Possibly to support his farming habit, or perhaps it Draayom’s legs were numb. He knew death would became his only job, Draayom became a grain buyer. come soon. Unable to walk, he followed Watch on his The Alton Democrat newspaper reports he was buyhands and knees. In a short time, he could walk again. ing grain for H. B. Wyman in 1884. The Oct. 31 issue states that Hospers had already shipped more To his surprise, he found himself at the F.H. flax that fall than during the whole last season. Peavey grain bin. This building was in close proximity to the depot, where Watch and he returned. The In 1888, Draayom was the manager for an elevafire still held some warmth. tor which later was owned by Hubbard and Palmer from Mankato, Minn. While he was wandering in the storm, Draayom promised himself he would do several things if he Jan. 12, 1888 was just a beautiful day that hardly survived. First of all, he would move to a warmer required a winter coat. Draayom and an employee, Johan Waanders, took advantage of the warm See FARMHOUSE KITCHEN, pg. 6
