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.



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