The Holland Society of New York - Yearbook (New York, NY)

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' 1o6 there was no more conspicuous figure in New Gr- leans. ln his later years he developed a genius for finance, and his many deals, evolved with rare judg- ment, were always executed with success. Watson Van Benthuysen was born at Bedford, L. l., which is now part of the city of Brooklyn, sixty-eight years ago. His father was Watson Van Benthuysen, and his mother Catherine Van Cuppen. He was educated at Middletown College, Connecti- cut, and went to New Orleans with his parents about the year 18 5o. His father was interested in the old Commeafczkzl Bullefzkz, a newspaper of those days, and young Van Benthuysen thus started off his career with a newspaper experience. 'When the Civil War broke out, and the Confederate govern- ment was organized, he cast his lot with the people of his new home, and was soon placed in several responsible positions in the civil government. He was given charge of the Tax and Kind department, and went to Richmond, to perform his duties. When the Confederate government was menaced at Rich- mond, and it became necessary for the president and cabinet off1cers to leave the city, Mr. Van Ben- thuysen was placed in charge of the wagon-train which escorted President Davis out of Richmond. It was after Mr. Davis left the wagon-train that he was captured. The wagon-train found its way to Florida. When General Butler took possession of New Orleans he had lVlr. Van Benthuysen arrested, and he was conhned on board ship for some time. Returning to New Grleans after the conclusion of hostilities, Mr. Van Benthuysen went into the wholesale tobacco business and was very successful. While still conducting this ,business he became in- terested in the Crescent City Railroad, and was elected its president. He built the Coliseum line, belonging at that time to that road. He then be- came interested in the Carrollton Railroad, and served two terms as its president. His 'experience with the street railroads convinced him that he had found his true vocation, and he abandoned mer- Chaflf POW englll handf ef1lZCI' tional 3 long any for tl? YO1'k1 the P of 55: across Van W comp: He leans, York In 1 Scott, the ur Benth Mr. Episcf 'Jost ried ai Mr. devote club s memb his me

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.I3I5. llblllg- 111 his l lieu. point. lilg in QHS in III the St the f1Ct as ilitaiy ns he facon, iltrie, to be with lar in ng ol iudia, noted istant 1847. li the ed in egon itva- nade I Cll' Cl' gr Ofllly Civil l3,jOl' l HP' 11016 105 He was chief quartermaster of th , Potomac from August 20, 1861 until? :lrml of the . . 1 U ' I , 86 be1ng then asslgned to duty at New Yorlc fbuzinislii ing supplies and transportation to the armies i h field. While with the army in the field hentifa: present at the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Williamsburg, F air Oaks, Gaines Mill, White Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hill. After the war he w the regular establishment and assigned as depot quartermaster at Baltimore. Later he was Chief quartermaster of the division of the Atlantic of th , , , , e department of Missouri and IH char e of th - . r g C qLl8.I' termaster depot at Philadelphia. In 1875 he came to Washington as inspector of the quartermaster's department and remained there until his retirement january 22, 1881, having attained the rank of colonel and assistant uartermaster q -general june 6, 1872. He received the brevets of lieutenant-colonel, colonel, brigadier-general, and major-general for most faithful and distinguished service in the quar- termaster's department during the Civil war General Van Vliet left a wife and two sons- Captain R. C. Van Vliet of the 10th United States Infantry, now on duty at Fort Crook, Nebraska, and Dr. F. C. Van Vliet, of Shrewsbury, New Jersey. 1 General Van. Vliet's death was due to an acute attack of valvular heart disease, being ill but thirty- six hours. He became a member of the Society june 25, 1885, and was elected the first Vice-President, rep- resenting the United States Army, in April, 1890. as made lieutenant-colonel in WATSON VAN BENTHUYSEN died at his residence in New Orleans, March 30, 1901, Hftel' Hnillness ex' tending over a long period, but which became aggra- vated within the last two months. . Little had been heard of Mr. Van BeHl2hUYSefl In the past ten years, for he had pl'-HQYICQHY feflred from active life, but while in the Whlfl 0fb11S1HCSS Q s

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ays Or. for ldg. ard, lyn, Van ICH Cll- lout old u I his the mple al He hen ent 21111 he 1 of the IO7 chandizing for the Held of Hnance, among large CO,-, porations. He had a peculiar talent forfzl nance, and engineered several deals which neu d e him uite handsome results. He left the street railroads to enter upon a telephone venture or ani ' , g zing the Na- tional Improved Telephone Company, and then had a long controversy with the Bell Tele h C . ' p one om- pany over patent rights, which resulted in a victory I th B ll or e e company. In 1886 he went to New York, and was next heard of as the or ' . . ganizer of the Poughkeepsie Bridge Company, with a capital of S5,ooo,ooo. This company built the great brid e across the Hudson River at Poughkezepsie Mi Van 'Benthuysen retained his connection with this company for several years, and then retired. H h d l e a a Ways retained his residence in New Or- leans, though much of his time was spent in New York and in travel in his later years. J' In 1853 he was married to Miss Amelia Elizabeth Scott, of New Orleans, and three children blessed the union, of Whom only one survives, Walter Van Benthuysen, also a member of the Holland Society. Mr. Van Benthuysen was a communicant of the Episcopal Church. . Joseph Davis, brother of Jefferson Davis, mar- ried an auntrof lVIr. Van Benthuysen. Mr. Van Benthuysen was a successful man, and devoted to his family. He spent little or no time in club sociability, though he was one of the charter members of the Pickwick Club, and still retained his membership in that institution. , N . -W. f' t' 1' S 'Qbk Q X -7 441' ' .- ,,-v N cg:-is BS AX if df x F-ij,u 1-.. 1--Jer,-n- -. f'f fzF f.- 'Wkf' ' 'M' T.-ftiiv' 'fig fi-f -F' :'31'4?Q'if!, Vffa.-4' 1 . ff - l N-554 15? N Qg rgesf ig. '?1f14' 2,39 Assy?- 2' ' fib- , 1' 3, - .