The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1027 JOHN WAYENBERG. John Wayenberg was a representative of that Holland community that has contributed so largely and beneficially to the upbuilding and development of the Yakima valley. He was born in Holland, December 31, 1862, a son of Tennis and Grace (Van de Braak) Wayenberg and is a brother of Henry Wayenberg, who is mentioned at length on another page of this work. he acquired a public school education and thus became well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. When his schoolbooks were put aside he took up farming and later purchased land from his father. He followed agricultural pursuits in Iowa until 1901, when he came west to Yakima county and made investment in forty acres of land, which was then entirely wild. He cleared this and placed improvements upon it, erecting a fine home, large and commodious barns and also putting up good fences. Later he bought four acres more and his landed possessions then comprised a valuable ranch property of forty-four acres. Of this he planted nine acres to fruit, the four which he bought having already been thus planted. He made a specialty of raising apples, pears and grapes and annually produced large crops. The remainder of his land was devoted to general farming and his labors were attended by substantial success. He understood the nature and condition of the soil, the demands of his crops in this particular and the best methods of propagating his grain and fruit. His labors were followed by very gratifying results and he became known as one of the substantial agriculturists and horticulturists of his district. He was a member of the Yakima County Horticultural Union and he did everything in his power to bring about improved conditions for the fruit raisers. On the 19th of January, 1888, Mr. Wayenberg was married to Miss Dina Hulshof, a native of Holland and a daughter of Herman and Cornelia (Endendyk) Hulshof. The father died in Holland and the mother afterward became the wife of Herman Naberhauis, who brought the family to the United States in 1885, settling in Iowa, where the wife and mother passed away in 1916. Mr. Naberhauis, however, still survives and yet makes his home in Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Wayenberg have been born four children. Grace is the wife of Charles Van Wechel, who cultivates the old homestead farm, and they have two children. Cornelia is the wife of Frank Gerritson, a rancher living on the Moxee, and they have one child. Peter is a member of the Aviation Corps of the United States army and is now in France. Lawrence Henry, eleven years of age, completes the family. The death of John Wayenberg occurred March 23, 1917. He was a loyal and devoted member of the Reformed church to which his wife also belonged, but Mrs. Wayenberg has since joined the Presbyterian church. Mr. Wayenberg was a stanch republican in his political views and his worth as a man and citizen was widely acknowledged. All who knew him esteemed him for his many sterling traits of character and his active and useful career constitutes an example that others may profitably follow, for his record shows what can be accomplished through individual effort, not only in the way of building up a successful business but also in the way of building up character and winning the good name that is rather to be chosen than great riches. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.