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- JAMES VANDERLYN, deceased, was a highly respected citizen
- of Rock County and one of its pioneer settlers. He was born
in Cortland County, N.Y., March 7, 1818, and was a son of James
and Nancy (GLENNY) VANDERLYN, who were of Holland descent, their
ancestors having emigrated from that country during the early
days of the history of New York, and settled in the Mohawk Valley.
Our subject never received the protection of a mother's loving
care, Mrs. VANDERLYN dying when he was only about seven months
old. His father soon afterward married again, and at the tender
age of eight years, he was placed adrift on life's great sea
to battle alone with its winds and tempests. From that time he
has made his way unaided, and though many would have given up
in despair he worked on with a brave heart, and at length his
efforts were crowned with success.
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- On the 3d day of January, 1841, Mr. VANDERLYN was joined
in
- wedlock with Miss Elizabeth CASE, their union being celebrated
in Cortland County, N.Y. Unto them were born two children, one
of whom is living at this writing, in 1889 - Elnathan, a prominent
farmer of this county. In 1848, accompanied by his family, our
subject, with the desire of bettering his financial condition,
emigrating to the West and settled in Rock County, locating the
land which is now owned by his son. With characteristic energy,
he began the development of a farm until he had the whole tract
highly cultivated and improved. As his income was increased,
he extended the boundaries of his farm until at one time it comprised
400 acres of valuable land, which paid a golden tribute to the
care and labor which he had bestowed upon it. Truly he was a
self-made man, whose successes were all the greater on account
of the difficulties which he had to overcome and adversities
to be met.
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- In early life, Mr. VANDERLYN was a Whig, and supported William
Henry Harrison, but on
- the dissolution of that party he joined forces with the Democrats,
ever afterward supporting that organization. He was never ambitious
in a political sense, preferring to devote his attention to farming
interests, rather than accept public office. He died at his home
in Clinton, on the 1st day of April, 1889, of heart disease in
the seventy-second year of his age; his death marked a sad event
in the history of Clinton, which had so long been his home and
his pride, and to the prosperity and growth of which he had so
liberally contributed. It may truthfully be said that in all
his long years of varied and extensive business experience, he
was never known to intentionally wrong anyone. Just and prompt,
courteous and considerate, he possessed the confidence and kind
regard of all with whom he came in contact, from the humblest
laborer on his farm to the highest official and wealthiest capitalist
of the city. In manner, he was plain and unassuming, free from
all ostentation or display, earnest in his devotion to his family
and friends, sympathetic and warm-hearted. The story of the life
of such a man as James VANDERLYN is both interesting and instructive,
and teaches a lesson that may well be studied by young men of
coming generations, as well as the present, encouraging them
to renewed efforts when reverses overtake them, and pointing
the way to success like a beacon star in the sky of the future.
- Mrs. VANDERLYN, who was a consistent member of the Baptist
Church, died on the 12th
- day of July, 1888, preceding her husband a few months. She
was one of nature's noble women and was beloved by all for her
many excellencies of character.
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- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 808-809; lithograph from
same book.
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- Courtesy of Carol
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