- SAMUEL CLARKE VAN GALDER, a general farmer and stock raiser,
residing on section 32,
- La Prairie Township, was born in Middlebury, N.Y., March
22, 1535 [1835], and is a son of Jacob and Rhoda (WILSON) VAN
GALDER. The father, a native of Vermont, was descended from Holland
ancestry, and the mother was born in New York of English parentage.
The paternal grandfather emigrated from Holland to this country
and lived to the ripe old age of ninety-seven years.
- Jacob VAN GALDER, the father of our subject, was one of the
leading men of the county in
- which he resided, being prominently identified with its educational
and political interests and also with the work of the Church.
To him and his wife were born a family of eleven children, seven
sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to mature years, but
only four now survive; Jacob O., who is a resident of Janesville,
Wis.; Michael O., a prosperous farmer of La Prairie Township;
Edwin R., who served three years in the 4th Wisconsin Artillery,
and engaged for some time in the lumber business, is now a commercial
traveler, residing in De Pere, Brown County, Wis.; Phoebe married
U. L. PHELPS, and both are now deceased; Fannie P. became the
wife of G. PEAK, and both are now dead, they leaving one son,
who is living on the old homestead in Wayne County, Ohio; Truman
wedded Miss Mary PHELPS, and died in Sycamore, Ill., where his
widow is still living; Henry W. married Dorcas SCHENCK, and died
in Mexico, Mo., after which Mrs. VAN GALDER became the wife of
Rev. John WAYMAN, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church;
Amos F., a member of the 4th Wisconsin regiment of artillery,
died in the service at Portsmouth, Va.; Mary J. became the wife
of Hugh APJOHN, and both died in La Prairie Township, their remains
being laid to rest in the cemetery at Turtleville; Mercy E. became
the wife of Lewis JAMES, and died in Wayne County, Ohio.
- In the winter of 1851-2 Jacob VAN GALDER, accompanied by
his family, came to Rock County
- and purchased 480 acres of land on sections 31 and 32, La
Prairie Township, the greater part of which was in an uncultivated
condition. With that indefatigable energy so characteristic of
him, he at once turned his attention to the improvement of the
farm, but was permitted to enjoy his new possessions for only
the short period of three years, when death claimed him in June,
1855. In early life he was a Democrat but in later years he acted
with the Whig party, assigning as his reason for the change of
his political views that it had become a question of North and
South, and his patriotism prompted him to support the North.
This love of country was transmitted to his sons, for at the
breaking out of the Rebellion two of them entered the service,
and one yielded up his life on the altar of his country. Mr.
VAN GALDER was an exemplary Christian and a member of the Freewill
Baptist Church. His excellent wife, who died in Medina County,
Ohio, in 1848, was also a consistent Christian and a member of
the same Church.
- Our subject began his school life as a student of the district
school in Medina County, Ohio, and
- in 1849 came with his family to Michigan, remaining until
1852, when in consequence of the ill health of some member of
the family again removed and located in Rock County, where Samuel
completed his education. He was reared to manhood in this community,
and in 1858 led to the marriage altar Miss Eliza HEALD, a daughter
of Lewis and Harriet (OLNEY) HEALD, who were numbered among the
pioneers of 1844. At that time Mr. HEALD preempted land in La
Prairie Township, and in connection with the occupation of farming
followed his trades of mason and carpenter. He erected many of
the fine buildings of La Prairie Township, which on his arrival
contained but one house, and many of the structures which he
built still stand as monuments to his skill. With his family
he experienced many of the hardships incident to frontier life
but bore all uncomplainingly. He was not a member of any church,
but always took an active part in religious affairs, giving freely
whenever and wherever he thought good would be accomplished.
The cause of education found in him a ready supporter. To him
belongs the credit of erecting the first school-house in La Prairie
Township, for he did not rest until he saw the completion of
a school-house and a teacher installed therein. For forty-four
years Mr. HEALD was a leading citizen of La Prairie Township,
where he died Sept. 13, 1888. He was charitable in his judgment
of the action of others, gave freely to the poor, was kind, hospitable
and generous to a fault. He remained an ardent supporter of the
Republican party from its organization until his death. His widow,
now in her seventieth year, still lives on the old homestead,
patiently waiting the call of her Master to meet the loved ones
gone before.
- Eight children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs.
VAN GALDER: Alice, born Feb. 23,
- 1859, is now the wife of John HOWARD, a farmer residing on
section 28, La Prairie Township; Clarke T., born March 22, 1864,
died Feb. 20, 1884; Louis, born Feb. 17, 1866; Charles R., April
13, 1870; Lester G. and Gracie A., twins, were born April 3,
1872, but Gracie died March 21, 1874, of lung fever; Ernest and
Ervie were born March 24, 1874, but the former died Feb. 17,
1877. Mr. and Mrs. VAN GALDER have given their children good
educational advantages, eminently fitting them for responsible
and useful positions in life.
- Our subject is engaged in general farming, and now owns and
operates in one body 400 acres of
- land, all under a high state of cultivation. Upon the farm
will be found a good grade of the different kinds of stock, together
with the latest improvements necessary to a model farm. Mr. VAN
GALDER has filled various offices of trust in the township, and
has been prominent in the promotion of religious, educational
and social interests. In early life he was a Whig, and a great
admirer of the leaders of that party, but when the Republican
party sprang into existence as an organization designated to
prevent the further extension of slavery, he enlisted in its
ranks and under its banner has since continued to fight. In the
days when Rock County was but sparsely inhabited, when the land
was in a wild state and few improvements had been made, when
its brilliant prospects were hidden behind the veil of the future,
Mr. VAN GALDER became a resident of La Prairie Township. He has
been identified with its growth and progress since that day and
is now one of its prominent and prosperous citizens.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 620-622.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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