Van Doren, Charles 1845-1940

VAN DOREN, JACK, YOCUM, YORK, KLAGES

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/30/2012 at 21:03:21

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Sept. 30, 1940

DIED QUIETLY AT HIS HOME 4 P.M. SUNDAY
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Was Grinnell's Last Resident Civil War Veteran.

Charles Van Doren, Grinnell's last resident veteran of the Civil War, died at his home Sunday afternoon at 4:00 o'clock. He had celebrated his 95th birthday on Sept. 13.

Funeral services will be held at Mr. Van Doren's home on East street at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Never was there a more conscientious patriot than Mr. Van Doren. He was extremely proud of the small part he was privileged to play in saving the Union and always felt that its preservation was of even greater importance than emancipation of the slaves.

REMAINED ACTIVE.

Remarkably active for one of such advanced years, Mr. Van Doren had enjoyed good health until the past summer. Even during the past few months he was able to get around and work for brief periods in his garden, which was always a source of pride to him.

He suffered from hardening of the arteries and had been bedfast since last Tuesday. However, he remained in good spirits and members of his family did not consider his condition serious. His son, Herbert, was with him when death quietly overtook him.

BORN IN ILLINOIS.

Born in Delphi, Jersey county, Illinois, on Sept. 13, 1845, he was the son of Abraham and Delia Jack Van Doren. He spent most of his early life in Illinois and began farming for himself near Clinton, in that state, shortly after the Civil War.

He enlisted in Co. B, 155th Illinois Infantry Volunteers in February of 1865 and was discharged from service in September of that year.

In 1873 he abandoned farming and for several years traveled as a map salesman for Rand & McNally. He moved to Pella, Iowa, in February of 1879 and the following April was united in marriage with Polly Lorena Yocum. He moved to Grinnell in the early 1920's.

THREE CHILDREN.

Three children were born to this union. Two daughters, Loveda and Edna, preceded him in death. His son, Herbert, lived with him here in Grinnell. Mrs. Van Doren died in February, 1936.

Mr. Van Doren's father became well acquainted with Abraham Lincoln when the family lived for several years in Sangamon county, Illinois. One of Charles Van Doren's fondest memories was of a time, just before his 13th birthday, when he had the privilege of shaking Lincoln's hand.

FATHER KNEW LINCOLN.

This incident is told in Mr. Van Doren's own words in papers he left:

"It was in the summer of 1858 that Abraham Lincoln came to Clinton (Illinois) to make a great political speech. I went with my father and we stood near the platform. I remembr how Mr. Lincoln looked at that time. He mentioned the trouble they were having in Kansas and talked about slavery and the Union and the liberties of the people.

SHOOK LINCOLN'S HAND.

"At the end of his speech he stepped to the rail and reached over and shook hands with my father. He said, 'Mr. Lincoln, this is my boy Charley,' and I reached up my hand and shook hands with Abraham Lincoln."

Besides his son, Mr. Van Doren is survived by four grandchildren, Charles M. Van Doren of Grinnell, Mrs. W.N York, Herbert Klages and Earl Klages, all of Des Moines; and two great grandchildren, Romaine and Marilyn York of Des Moines.

Grinnell's only remaining Civil War veteran, now is Judge T.J. Noll, whose duties as state adjutant of the G.A.R. have kept him in Des Moines the past several years.