The first Dommisse in South Africa was Jan Dommisse (1838 – 1895) who left his home in Vlissingen, Holland at the young age of 20. He was a carpenter by trade and found work on farms in the Swartland. He married Maria Habig and worked for Mr JJ Eksteen on the farm Dezehoek for a few years before starting a General Dealers business in Piquetberg, which was a great success then and later in the hands of his son Johannes. The shop was sold to Ben Klein in 1913 and later to Gert Burger.

Johannes Dommisse was born 1869 in Piquetberg, where his father owned a General Dealers Store, which was attached to their home (see attached picture). He was educated at Mr Wilson’s school. This consisted of one room alongside the Post Office and in front of the Magistrates Court. He often spoke of Mr Wilson with fear and awe but had great admiration for his learning. Mr Wilson would arrive at school dressed in his red gown and brandishing his cane! After finishing school he qualified to attend the Normal College in Cape Town where he took his intermediate examination.

His father, Jan, died at the age of 57 in 1895 and his mother decided that Johannes should return to run the shop. He was then aged 26. Before taking on this responsibility she sent him to Europe to visit the family in Holland. He ran a very successful business, which he sold to Ben Klein in 1913. He then took on agency work and became an Auctioneer.

Johannes Dommisse, like his father, took an active interest in local affairs, education and the Dutch Reformed Church. He became a Town Councilor and was Mayor of Piquetberg for twenty years.

He was Chairman of the Divisional Council, the School Committee and the School Board. He was an Elder in the Church and Treasurer of the Mission Church.

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Jan Dommisse en sy vrou Matja (gebore Habig) het hulle te Piketberg gevestig, waar die ,stigting van die familie in Suid-Afrika werklik begin het. In hul huis het die tradisies van die familie in Holland voortgeleef. Hul gelukkige huwelik is met tien kinders bekroon waarvan ses families gestig is en die Algemene Handelaarsbesigheid wat Jan gedryf het, het hulle in staat gestel om elke kind ‘n goeie opvoeding te gee.

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Johannes Dommisse (geb. 4.9.1869), die oudste seun, het die handelaarsbesigheid op Piketberg, van sy vader oorgeneem. Hy het ’n groot rol in die samelewing van Piketberg gespeel en het op talle openbare liggame gedien.

Hy het met Elsie Maria Heyneman Russouw, die dogter van die magistraat op Malmesbury, in die huwelik getree. Na haar afsterwe gedurende die 1918-epidemie is hy met Catharena Theodora Botha, ‘n weduwee, getroud. Op die ouderdom van 67 jaar is hy oorlede nadat hy die skemerjare van sy besige lewe in totale duiternis deurgebring het, want hy het blind geword.

Johannes se broer, Jan, ‘n mediese dokter van Piquetberg, was met Dorothy Mary Dunn getroud, oudste dogter van George Herbert Dunn, die oorspronklike eienaar van Dunn’s Castle, net buite Piketberg. Dorothy en Johannes se eerste vrou het vier dae uitmekaar gesterf gedurende die griep-epidemie van 1918.

Die skinkbord (Piketberg Museum) is geskenk deur Marletta van der Westhuizen (nee de Villiers) van Moorreesburg. Dit het behoort aan haar moeder, Margaretha Johanna de Villiers (nee Mouton) getroud met Pieter Jan Albertus de Villiers woonagtig te Heerenlogement . Sy het dit op haar beurt ontvang het van haar moeder, Martha Elizabeth
Jacoba Mouton (nee van der Merwe) wat getroud was met Gideon Johannes Mouton van die Groot Keerom Porterville vroeër van die Pikertberg distrik.

Soos oorgedra het hulle dit ontvang as ’n tipe bedankings-/promosie-item vanaf Dommisse Algemene Handelaars op Piquetberg se rond-reisende waens wat by die plase aangedoen het vir sake.

Die skinkbord lees:

Johannes Dommisse
Algemeene Handelaar
Piquetberg
Kaap Kolonie