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The Gary J. and Matilda Vermeer Farmstead is a historic building located east of Pella, Iowa, United States, in Mahaska County. Gerrit "Gary" Vermeer was born on a farm outside of Pella on September 29, 1918, and was educated in the local schools. He married Matilda Van Gorp at her parents’ farm on February 14, 1941. They farmed a 120-acre (49 ha) farm that had been given to them by his parents. They built this modest house on that farm in 1953 and lived here the rest of their married life. Gary invented a wagon hoist that made it easier to unload corn. It became so popular that he and his cousin, Ralph Vermeer, started the Vermeer Company to manufacture the device as well as other agricultural implements. In 1971 Gary developed the Vermeer round hay baler, "an invention that revolutionized agriculture." In addition to his business and farming, Gary was involved in the Pella community and The Christian Reformed Church in North America. He died in Pella on February 2, 2009. Matilda, who was born near Pella on February 14, 1920, died on July 19, 2014. They are buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. The farmstead was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
References
- ↑ "Ex-Garst seed president dies; he 'fed the world'". The Des Moines Register. January 11, 2006 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Tribute". Lincoln Journal Star. January 23, 2006. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "A lifetime of selling seeds". The Des Moines Register. February 4, 1990 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "2015 Top 100 Founders" (PDF). University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.