Notes |
- BIOGRAPHY: From Batavia (Illinois ) Herald, 3 March 1893
~
The Late John Van Nortwick
Brief Sketch of His Life. One of the Early and Most Successful Citizens of Batavia.
~
The late John Van Nortwick, was born in Washington county, N.Y. in 1809. At an early age he began the study of mathematics, preparatory to becoming a civil engineer and when nineteen years old was employed in that capacity, on the canals of the state of New York, where he soon became recognized as one of the ablest engineers on the State work. His father, Wm. Van Nortwick, settled in Batavia in 1835, and the following year his son made him a visit and was so well pleased with the location, and his father's investments, that he became a partner in the enterprises. In 1846 the State of N.Y., having stopped all the public works, he was thrown out of employment, but Gov. William Marey, then Secretary of War, had recognized the marked abilities of the young man, and gave him employment on the government work at Brooklyn dry docks.
Subsequently the projection of the Glena and Chicago Union Railway opened up a new field of enterprise in the west and the late J.H. Turner, being in want of a chief engineer, made Mr. Van Nortwick an offer to go to Illinois and accept the position, which he did, settling with his family in this city in 1846. He then began railroad building in the west. The C.B. & Q. was being constructed from Turner Junction to Aurora and .... (large section of paper is missing here)..... retired from public work.
At that time various milling enterprises engaged his attention, which under the efficient management of himself an sons, having become large successes. While building the mill in Batavia, he interested a number of Eastern capitalists, forming a company under the name of Baker, House and Co. On the completion of the mill, they began the manufacture of flour on a large scale, and for some time, Chicago depended largely on this city to support its demand of this necessary article. In 1842 the company dissolved and the property was divided. He erected the first grist mill ever built in Batavia, near where the Challenge factory now stands.
Mr. VanNortwick was a large stockholder and one of the founders of the Batavia paper company, of which he became sole owner in 1869. It was made a joint company in 1870, and is one of the largest paper manufactories in the West. In addition to the Batavia mills, he was a large owner in various other paper and pulp mills and other valuable water power property on the Fox River in Wisconsin.
During his younger days he traveled extensively in Europe, giving much of his attention while abroad to some of the Old World's best engineering works.
He was a man that did much for the prosperity and advancement of our beautiful city, as well as the surrounding country and was permitted to live to see it grow and flourish beyond all precedent in history, all of which was largely due to his thought, foresight, labor, public spirit and liberality. He laid the foundation of the great railroad system that now so interlaces the upper Mississippi valley. He amassed a fortune an was interested in numerous banks and other enterprises.
He hated shams and appreciated and loved solid worth of character, an was a man of exceptional honor and rectitude. The beautiful Episcopal church on Batavia avenue was built by him and presented to the church society.
Source: http://genforum.genealogy.com/vannortwick/messages/8.html - 2 Jul 2012
BIRTH: Born 5 Apr 1809 - from Family Bible records in 'The VanNortwick Genealogy' .
Source: Ann Simpson documents - 3 Jul 2012
DEATH: Illinois Statewide Death Index
Name: John Van Nortwick
Date: 16 Apr 1890 (1890-04-16)
Age: 81
Vol:
Page:
Cert No: 7357
City: Batavia
County: Kane
Source: http://www.ilsos.gov/isavital/deathsrch.jsp - 3 Jul 2012
BURIAL: West Batavia Cemetery, Batavia, Kane County, Illinois, USA
Plot: Lot 33, Grave 13
"John Van Nortwick: Died 15 Apr 1890, Aged 81 years."
(headstone image onsite)
Source: Gary King @findagrave - 3 Jul 2012
Memorial# 16848528
CENSUS: 1850 US Federal Census - Illinois, Kane, Batavia, Page 144A. *[22 Oct 1850]*
#20/15.
John Van NORTRIC age 38 born New York. C Engineer. Real Est=$18000
Mariah Van Nortric age 25 born New York.
William Van Nortric age 13 born New York.
Eliza J Van Nortric age 10 born New York.
John Jr Van Nortric age 4 born Illinois.
CENSUS: 1860 US Federal Census - Illinois, Kane, Batavia, Page 634. *[24 Jul 1860]*
#7042/4215 (Post Office = Batvia)
John VANORTWICK age 52 born New York.
Mariah H Vanortwick age 50 born New York. Wife
Wm Vanortwick age 21 born New York. Clerk (Clk)
Eliza J Vanortwick age 19 born New York. At Home
John S Vanortwick age 13 born Illinois.
Mary E Vanortwick age 8 born Illinois.
#7043/4216
Martha Vanortwick age 74 born New York. Widow.
Sarah Thompson age 70 born Ireland. Widow
+ 2 workers
(** NOTE - I am unsure if the census enumerator has placed the second dwelling/family numbers on the wrong line OR if mother Martha Flack Van Nortwick is in a seperate dwelling. My guess would be she is in the same dwelling as her son John, but I put the comment here just in case.**)
CENSUS: 1870 US Federal Census - Illinois, Kane, Batavia, Page 70. *[22 Jun 1870]*
#536/536 (Post Office = Batvia)
John VanNortwick age 61 born New York. Real Est=$135,000, Pers Est=$80,000.
P Maria VanNortwick age 58 born New York.
John S VanNortwick age 22 born Illinois.
Mary E VanNortwick age 18 born Illinois.
CENSUS: 1880 US Federal Census - Illinois, Kane, Batavia, ED 77, Page 34. *[16 Jan 1880]*
#364/378
John VanNortwick (head) age 71 born New York.. Retired R/Roader. F=NY, M=NY.
P Maria VanNortwick (wife) age 67 born New York. F=CT, M=CT
|