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Lawrence C. Van Alen

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Birth	:	5 Dec 1828 Perth, Fulton County, New York, USA
Death	:	26 Apr 1899
Burial	:	Dry Pond Cemetery, Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.1045700, -71.1314900
Description	:	LAURENCE C. VAN ALEN (or Van Allen).--Men of marked ability, forceful character and culture, leave their impress upon the world, written in such indelible characters that time is powerless to obliterate their memory or sweep it from the minds of men. Their commendable acts live long after they have passed from the scene of their early careers. Mr. Van Alen, who portrait appears on another page, is one of the strong characters who have become an intregal part in the life of York county, and by the exercise of his powers has not only advanced his individual prosperity, but has... Read More	LAURENCE C. VAN ALEN (or Van Allen).--Men of marked ability, forceful character and culture, leave their impress upon the world, written in such indelible characters that time is powerless to obliterate their memory or sweep it from the minds of men. Their commendable acts live long after they have passed from the scene of their early careers. Mr. Van Alen, who portrait appears on another page, is one of the strong characters who have become an intregal part in the life of York county, and by the exercise of his powers has not only advanced his individual prosperity, but has contributed to the welfare of his adopted county. Since coming to this locality in pioneer days he has made his home on section 4, Stewart township, and has there developed an excellent farm. Mr. Van Alen was born December 5, 1828, in the town of Perth, Fulton county, New York, and is a son of Cornelius and Margaret (Taylor) Van Alen, who spent their entire lives in that state. Both families were originally from Holland and were founded in New York at and early day, Johannes, being the first of the Van Alens to come to the new world, settling at Kinderhook, New York. Laurence E. Van Alen, our subject's grandfather, was a very prominent man of his community, was a well known squire, and also held office under King George, prior to the Revolutionary war. During his business career, our subject's father was interested in farming, merchandising and hotel-keeping, and met with fair success in his undertakings. Both he and his wife held membership in the Dutch Reformed church. In the family of this worthy couple were three children: Mrs. Christina Traver; L. C.; and Mrs. Mary Ann Brown. Losing his own father when quite young, L. C. Van Alen was reared by a stepfather, and grew to manhood in Fulton county, New York. He obtained an excellent education for those days, supplementing the knowledge acquired in the common schools by a course in a high school and also in the Johnstown Academy. At the early age of twenty-two years he was elected county superintendent of schools of Fulton county, but a year later resigned his position to go to California, traveling by way of Nicaraugua. He successfully engaged in teaching school in Stockton, that state, for three years, and then engaged in the book and stationery business for five years. During this time he was elected superintendent of schools in San Joaquin county, and creditably filled that office for four years. Returning to New York, he took charge of the old home farm, which he operated in connection with merchandising for two years. He then removed to New York City, but afterward returned to the old homestead and resumed farming. On the 13th of July, 1866, Mr. Van Alen married Miss Teresa F. Harris, of New York city, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 26, 1839, but was reared in the former city and was educated at Plymouth, New Hampshire. She successfully engaged in teaching school and also music, in New York city, prior to her marriage. Her parents, James and Mary (Chapman) Harris, were natives of Maine and Maryland, respectively, and made their permanent home in Baltimore, Maryland, where he served as cashier in the Susquehanna bank for some time. He was educated for the law, but at the time of his death, which occurred in 1844, was engaged in surveying. Mrs. Harris still survives her husband, at the age of eighty-seven years, and now resides with her daughter in Nebraska. She has only two children, the younger being S. V. Harris, proprietor of the Hotel Ryan, of St. Paul, Minnesota. He was a soldier of the Civil war. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Alen were born eight children, of whom seven are still living: Russell, Mrs. Maud Campbell, Ardell, Olive, Lowell, Una and Ethel. Until 1872 Mr. Van Alen continued to reside in New York and then came to York county, Nebraska, locating upon his present farm, where in June of that year he built a shanty and in the fall banked it with sod. At the end of a year he had it raised and put in a floor, making it what was then called a big frame house, 24X 12 feet. The first year he raised some sod corn and melons; in 1873 raised good crops, but the following year the grasshoppers destroyed all his corn. However, he has generally prospered and now has a fine farm of three hundred and thirty-two acres under excellent cultivation and well improved. His comfortable residence was built in 1885, and enlarged in 1894. For four winters after coming to this state he taught school in Polk county, and has been prominently identified with the early educational and religious welfare of this region. He helped to organize the first Congregational church in the county, served as one of its deacons, and the first Sunday-school in four counties of this section of the state was organized in his house, and he was chosen superintendent of the same. He and his wife are now prominent and active members of the Presbyterian church at Gresham, in which he has served as elder for several years, and also trustee. Mrs. Van Alen has contributed her share to the music of these organizations. Our subject has served as master of the Masonic lodge at Gresham, and is also a charter member of the Odd Fellows lodge of that place, having become identified with both orders while a resident of Stockton, California. Politically, he is a Democrat, has served as local school director and township treasurer, and has been the candidate of his party for the state senate twice, and also for county superintendent of schools. On the 17th of April, 1891, he was obliged to have his left leg amputated, after eighteen years of trouble from a felon on his finger, which had been badly treated by an overdose of strong lye, and the poison settled in his leg. Laurence E. Van Alen, the grandfather, had three sons and two daughters. Of the descendants of Evert Van Alen, one of these sons, three were ministers and two were physicians. A sister of Laurence E. became Mrs. H. L. Van Dyke. Of her sons, one was the Hon. H. H. Van Dyke, who filled the office of state superintendent of public instruction, also state bank examiner, and also superintendent of United States sub-treasury, of New York city. SOURCE: Memorial and Biographical Record and Illustrated Compendium of Biography Containing a Compendium of Local Biography ... of Butler, Polk, Seward, York and Fillmore Counties, Nebraska ... (Chicago: G.A. Ogle, 1899) http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/resources/OLLibrary/mbrcd/pages/mbrd0861.htm#lcvanalen Contributor: janicet (47361005)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Lawrence C. Van Alen's memorial?
Lawrence C. Van Alen's memorial is located at: Dry Pond Cemetery, Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA.
When did Lawrence C. Van Alen death?
Lawrence C. Van Alen death on 26 Apr 1899 in
Where are the coordinates of the Lawrence C. Van Alen's memorial?
Latitude: 42.1045700
Longitude: -71.1314900

Family Members:

Spouse

Theresa F. Harris Van Alen

(1839 - 1923)

Children

Clary K Van Allen

(1867 - 1883)

Lowell Van Allen

(1875 - 1966)

Ethelreda Van Allen Course

(1880 - 1905)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Dry Pond Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1045700, -71.1314900

2. Drake Cemetery
Sharon, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0915500, -71.1563900

3. Evergreen Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1160088, -71.0987473

4. Rock Ridge Cemetery
Sharon, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1116982, -71.1663971

5. Methodist Meeting House Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1316110, -71.1319770

6. Marshall - Bird Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0944000, -71.0950300

7. Pearl Street Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1281013, -71.1044006

8. Ichabod Manley Cemetery
North Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0855783, -71.0982226

9. Immaculate Conception Cemetery
North Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0749800, -71.1131300

10. Tisdale Burying Ground
Sharon, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0735500, -71.1452600

11. George Ferguson Burying Ground
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0719380, -71.1123400

12. Perez Packard Graveyard
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0684400, -71.1206100

13. Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1361008, -71.1053009

14. Village Cemetery
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0701100, -71.1072600

15. Capt Elisha Harvey Cemetery
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0714040, -71.1036850

16. Thomas Manley Cemetery
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0661400, -71.1132700

17. Gridley Cemetery
Canton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1444200, -71.1483400

18. Capt Jedediah Willis Graveyard
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0608000, -71.1323400

19. Washington Street Cemetery
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0741997, -71.0888977

20. Esty Cemetery
Sharon, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0874500, -71.1887500

21. Knollwood Cemetery
Canton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1463670, -71.1635760

22. Melrose Cemetery
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0931015, -71.0678024

23. Chestnut Tree Cemetery
Sharon, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1408005, -71.1753006

24. Old Bay Road Cemetery
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0556300, -71.1306000