Biographical Sketch of

Jacob Henry Van Wagenen

Transcribed by Suzanne Folk for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 401 - 402


Jacob Henry Van Wagenen, now deceased, was numbered among the honored pioneers of Green Lake County. He was for many
years a resident of the town of Brooklyn, where he settled in 1850. He was a descendent of the Huguenots, who emigrated 
to New England in the early colonial days of this country. On the father's side he was from Holland Dutch, and on the 
mother's from German ancestry. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Snyder) Van Wagenen, who were both natives of the 
Empire State. Our subject was born in Sullivan County, N.Y., on the 4th of July, 1821. He was reared to farm life, and 
in his native county received such educational advantages as the common schools of his time afforded. He was third in 
order of birth in a family of seven children. As his father died before Jacob H. had arrived at manhood, the 
responsibility of cultivating and improving the farm, and providing for his mother and the younger members of the 
family devolved upon him and his older brother. He remained on the old homestead until about 1847, and then worked for 
an uncle for three years. In 1850 he concluded to try his fortunes in the then "far West," and with the tide of 
emigration that was then flowing Westward he drifted into Wisconsin. He located in Brooklyn Township, and soon after 
his arrival bought eighty acres of land in section 2, on which his widow now resides. The land consisted of oak openings 
and prairie, and was in a wild and uncultivated condition. With that energy and industry that were characteristics of 
his nature, he set to work to clear, improve, and cultivate his land and make for himself a home. On the 31st of 
December, 1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy E. Sleeper, a daughter of Hiram and Nancy (Davis) Sleeper. 
Mrs. Van Wagenen was born at Stanstead in the Province of Quebec, (then called Lower Canada) and when four years of 
age removed with her parents to Erie County, N.Y. Mr. Van Wagenen was an intelligent, public spirited, enterprising 
man, and an ardent supporter of the Republican party. He felt a lively interest in public affairs, both local and 
national, and kept himself well versed upon the current topics of the day. He was a friend of education, and took 
especial pride in assisting to advance the best interests of the public schools, serving several years on the school 
board. Though at all times patriotic, he was not a seeker after political preferment. He never sought nor desired 
public office, choosing to devote his entire time and energies to the more congenial pursuits of farm life. As an 
agriculturist he was methodical, painstaking, and successful. He erected good buildings, and made other substantial 
and useful improvements that attest thrift and enterprise. Assisted by an industrious, intelligent and frugal wife, 
who has ever been a true helpmate he succeeded in acquiring a competence, leaving his family a good home provided with 
all the comforts of life. After a busy and useful life he passed to this final rest in March, 1884. For upwards of a 
third of a century he had been a respected citizen of Brooklyn and by his honest, upright life had endeared himself to 
a host of friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Wagenen were the parents of three daughters. Elizabeth Nancy, the eldest, was born Nov. 3, 1852, is 
now the wife of Gustave H. Leudke, and living on the home farm. They have one child, a son, Henry B., born Oct. 30, 
1888. Clara Mabel, born April 18, 1858, wedded L. D. Patterson, a prominent farmer of Brooklyn, and has three children, 
one son and two daughters, viz: Emeline M., Willie D., and Katie I; and Jane Amelia, born Dec. 4, 1862, who is the wife 
of Warren A. Batson, a farmer of Green Lake Township. They have two children, Neva Jane, and Marion Arabella.






Transcribed by Suzanne Folk for the Marquette Co WI Pages






This site is maintained by Joan and was last updated April 2004

Click here to send Joan an e-mail


Back to the Marquette pages Menu