John Wissink, an exemplary and enterprising young farmer residing three miles east from Nez Perce, is one of the substantial citizens of the reservation country and deserves to have a position in the history of his County.
He was born in the province of Gelderland, Holland, on July 22, 1870, being the son of Bernard and Gerharda (Bongers) Wissink, natives of the same place. There he was educated in the common schools and in 1885 came with his parents on the steamer Weasland, of the Red Star line, to New York, whence they came direct to Lyon County, Minnesota, where the father bought a farm. Later they moved to several different places in the east.
On October 17, 1898, Mr. Wissink married Miss Antoinette Van Wychen, whose parents were natives of Holland. She was born in Little Chute. Wisconsin. In 1900 Mr. Wissink came with his wife to Uniontown, Washington, whither his parents had preceded them. The following spring Mr. Wissink came to the reservation and bought the relinquishment of his present place, which is about one hundred acres of grazing land and the balance is excellent for grain and hay. The farm is provided with plenty of running water and is improved with buildings, orchard, fences and so forth. Mr. Wissink handles some stock and does a general farming business. He is thrifty and industrious and has the good will and respect of all who know him.
Mr. Wissink and his wife are devout members of the Catholic Church in Nez Perce and he is always interested in the welfare and progress of the country.
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Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903