VAN VALKENBURG, Amos

VAN VALKENBURG, BROWN, RICKER, NOBLE

Posted By: P. Bergmeier (email)
Date: 5/15/2005 at 13:10:51

Amos Van Valkenburg, cashier of the Union State Bank Of La Porte City, Iowa, secretary and treasurer of the La Porte Improvement Company, and also of the La Porte telephone system, one of the promoters and organizers of many of the leading business enterprises of this city, is both well and favorably known through this section of the State, in educational as well as business and political circles. He was born in the village of Sharon, Schoharie County, New York, on August 3, 1848, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Maria (Brown) Van Valkenburg.

John Van Valkenburg was born at Sharon, April 26, 1804, and spent his whole life in Schoharie County, engaged in farming, dying at the age of 52 years. His grandfather (the great-grandfather of Amos, John J., was a Revolutionary soldier, and served in the patriot army from the fall of 1775 until the close of the war. The founders of the family, Lambert and Annatie Van Valkenburg, were living in what is now New York City (then Manhattan) as early as 1643, and came from Holland. The early church records show the baptism of their children in Manhattan, or New Ambsterdam, as the town was then called.

Mrs. Elizabeth Maria (Brown) Van Valkenburg was born November 14, 1811, at Sharon, Schoharie County, New York. She came of old and distinguished ancestry, and was a descendant of Judge Brown, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. He was a man of parts and a true historian of Schoharie County, where he was a pioneer. He was the second judge elected in Schoharie County, and his records of the progress and development of the county formed the basis upon which later historians were able to build.

Amos Van Valkenburg remained in the State of New York until he reached his 23rd years, and then made a tour of the West. For eight years he followed the profession of teaching, in New York, Missouri, Minnesota and Iowa. He came to La Porte City, April 2, 1878, where after teaching the country schools for one year, he accepted the position of bookkeeper and assistant cashier in the City Exchange Bank, July 1, 1879 and was connected with that institution for five years, until it was closed in May, 1884. In June, 1884, he was one of the organizers of the Union State Bank, which opened for business July 1, 1884, and for the first nine months was its assistant cashier, and was then elected cashier, a position he has most capably filled ever since, so that on July 1, 1904, he had completed 25 years of actual banking experience in La Porte City.

Among the many successful business organizations with which Mr. Van Valkenburg has been closely identified, maybe mentioned: The La Porte Building Association, of which he is secretary and treasurer, and which, in 1891, erected a brick block of four buildings; and the La Porte Electric Light & Water Company, of which he was secretary for three years. All of these concerns he took an active part in organizing, and has also been a stockholder in the La Porte Canning Company and the La Porte District Fair Association. His excellent business qualifications, his quick insight into human nature, and his high personal standing, have all made his association with business combinations a matter of congratulation to those interested.

In 1876, Mr. Van Valkenburg was united in marriage, at Empire City, Minnesota, with Georgiana Ricker, a daughter of Albra and Elizabeth(Noble)Ricker, who moved to that State from Berwick, Maine, where Mrs. Van Valkenburg have but one child, their daughter, Irene.

In political attitude, Mr. Van Valkenburg has always been a Republican, and has taken a very active part in the various campaigns in city, county and State. It is a matter of pride with him that he was the first to introduce Congressman David B. Henderson, a favorite son of this State, to the people of La Porte City and vicinity, when he was campaigning for his first election to Congress. Mr. Van Valkenburg has served as city recorder for several terms, and was president of the School Board for nine years. In addition to his other numerous interests, he has been agent for four insurance companies for 23 years, and for two steamship lines. Fraternally, a Mason, he belongs to Trowel Lodge, No. 216, A.F. & A.M., and has served as senior deacon of the lodge nearly 15 years. He has always taken a prominent part in all benevolent and charitable enterprises.

History of lBlack Hawk County and It's People
1915