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

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233 Pleasant Vane! N- I-, about one hundred and SGVGHW Yeafs 380 andfrom thence to ohio in the early part of the last century, Pay Director Schenck's term of service was lon and meritorious, beginning in his seventeenth yea? as Secretary of Legation at Rio Janeirg Where his uncle, the late Robert C. Schenck was United States Minister. At the beginning, of the Civil War he enlisted in the army, and aftgf three months' service was appointed Acting Assistant- Paymaster in the navy, receiving a regular gem- mission subsequently. During this war, while on the Qfuniata as Assistant-Paymaster, he vehm- teered for duty on deck in ,charge of a gun while attacking Fort Fisher. In the action he was severely wounded and was afterwards advanced twelve numbers for gallantry. While on the re- . tired list he twice volunteered and was assigned to active' duty, once at the beginning of the Spanish War and again in I902. He was still on active duty when he died. The date of his retirement was 1897. His widow survives him. ' WILLIAM KNICKERBACKER VAN ALEN was born at Defreestville, Rensselaer County, New York, January zo, 1818. His father, Evert Van Alen, was a surveyor and large landholder in the county. His mother was Deischa Knickerbacker, a daughter of Colonel John Knickerbacker, of Schaghticoke.. In early life he engaged in mercantile enter- rises in New York and in 1849 joined the army P 1 . . of gold seekers and landed in San Francisco vvilth a cargo of merchandise adapted tothe wants of t e pioneers. For the remainder of his life he 1'CSi'dGC1 in San Francisco and was identified with its growth ' ' d from active but and prosperity. After he retire . D11 ness his time was fully occupied in the manage? ment of estates and in positions of trust for whic he was selected, by virtue of his business capacity, ' bl mished honor his sterlinggnintegrity and his .un G t - On December 7, 1888, being at that tlme 8

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1' 14' - pf J, . 'I 'I :P-55. . - ' . A ' I 'AH 1 -N V' P-3 ' f s. , yy, fd, ry? Wes? ,F 5, Q . , Y f ' P' 1 K , , I V V- 4 Aff! . .1 ,. Ass f ff' - '- - Z , Q 3 A 'HEC' - . f ' - ' gag fgaft , fi if ffl 268 ' I I n V A 4 dnhwif gig? s 5' 4' MMI.. ' Q' ' 'IW' Y x J- , , 1, f. x r I I A ' I ' G I G j ' -55x 2 ' I Af I ' '. 1 X Z 4 nl, :J '. 25 is? 1 I Y IN MEMORIAM. CASPAR SCHENCK, a Pay Director in the United States Navy, residing at San Francisco, was elected to membership in the Holland Society, December 7, 1888, and died in the service at the U1 S. Naval Home in Philadelphia, on June 2 1, 1902. He was born at Nissequague, Smithtown, L. I., September 26, 18 35, and married Mary Seawell, at San Fran- cisco, November 17, 1868. He was elected Vice- President of the Holland Society for the United States Navy in 1895. His father was Rear-Ad- miral james F. Schenck, who married Dorothea Smith, at Smithtown, July 27, 1829, and died at Dayton, Ohio, in 1882. The earliest ancestor in this country Was Martin Schenck, who probably came here from the Nether- lands with his children in Die Valckner, reaching New Amsterdam June 28, 16 50. A son, Roelof, born at Amersfoort, Holland, in 1619, resided for a time in Breukelen and, in 1660, married Neeltje Geretsen van Cowenhoven and settled at Flat- lands, then called Amersfoort. On February 2 1, 1664, he was one of the magistrates of the f' Five Dutch Towns on Nassau CLongj Island, who joined in a request to the Director-General to call a meeting of delegates from the towns, because of the -English outrages, and in order to send a depu- tation to Holland. The meeting was held at Mid- wout on February 26, 1664, and a remonstrance voted, detailing the outrages committed under the English Captain Scott, of which they hadbeen eye-witnesses. The Schenck family moved to 232 . -

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234 1 t f the New York Life .Insurance gZ1EgEan?fe1wi elected to membership in the Hol- land Society, and continued an active member un- til his death in San Francisco, January 19, .I 903. His body was interred in the family burial plot at Fishkill, N. Y. 1 ' . D His wife and daughter had died before him, but his last days were comforted by the kind ministra. tions of relatives and friends. Dr. . W.. Knicker- backer Van Reypen, of Washington, is his nephew. JOHN BUTLER BREVOORT was a descendant of Hendrick Jansen Van Brevoort, who came to this country from Holland about 1646, having been born about 1630 in Bredevoort, Guelderland, Holland. 1 He was born at Poughkeepsie, Gctober 14, 1871, and on arriving at manhood studied for the bar, and practised his profession in New.. York City, residing at 225 West I3 5th Street. The Holland Society elected him to membership on Qctober 16, 1894. Some time before his death he was a resident of Johnsonburgh, Pa., from whence he moved to 57 Clinton Place, Hackensack, N. J. He died at Johnsonburgh, February 2 1, 190 3, leaving a wife, Susette T. Brevoort, and one infant daughter. His home life was exemplary and his death left many sad hearts. , 1 H 1 WILLIAM MEADON VAN ANTWERP, a member of the Holland'Society since October 25, 1886, and one of Albany's representative men, died at his home, 162 Washington Avenue, Albany, April 9, IQOS. 5 He was born in that city January 1, 1825. He attended a private school until the death of his father necessitated his withdrawal, and so began his business career at eleven years of age, as errand boy with the firm of Lasdell 85 Fassett.. He was nextassociated with John Schuyler in the grocery business and on Mr. Schuyler's death