L. D. Van Gorder (1833 -1898)

VANGORDER, PACE, COX, COON

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse
Date: 4/8/2006 at 21:37:58

Levi D. Van Gorder was born in Orange County, NY, September 5th, 1833. In early life his parents moved to Pennsylvania, where in early manhood he was married to Miss Jennie Pace, and to them were born five children. Three of these are still living.

He moved with his family to Readbaugh, Wisconsin where his wife died in 1863. Two years later he married Miss Susie E. Cox and of this union there were born eleven children, and the wife and seven of these children survive to mourn their loss.

He moved to Iowa in 1868 and has lived in the vicinity of Luana and Hardin for thirty years, where he was well known and esteemed as a neighbor and citizen.

He was converted and joined the M. E. church in 1858, and has been a constant, and most of the time, an active official member til his death.

A fall in his barn, producing internal injury, was the cause of his death. He suffered intensely for three days, and fully realizing that his time of departure had come, he at last peacefully said goodbye to the family and passed to join loved ones on the other shore.

The funeral service in the Hardin church was conducted by Rev. B. C. Barnes of Luana, assisted by the pastor of the
U. B. church at Castalia, on Wednesday and a large assembly attested the high esteem of the deceased. He was interred in the Hardin cemetery.

Postville newspaper, October 1898

Note: Allamakee County probate records list children as follows; Peter W. Vangorder, Asa F. Vangorder, Mary J. Coon,
Frank L. Vangorder, Henry M. Vangorder, Hayes L. Vangorder,
Sankey G. Vangorder, Syrenus Vangorder, Hardie Vangorder and Charlie Vangorder. Also listed, Gertrude Vangorder, daughter of deceased son, Jason Vangorder