Van Dyke article by Karen Cucinello, Archives Clerk
John C. VanDyke
By Karen Cuccinello
John C. VanDyke,who was often referred to as “J.C.” in newspaper articles, spent most of his life in Stamford but was brought up in Roxbury. He started out as a farmer, then in short order became involved in the mercantile business. John also served his community by holding positions in numerous organizations.
John was born in Roxbury January 6, 1839 to Abram and Hannah VanDyke. He was residing in Stamford by 1862 when he married Miss Nancy Jane, daughter of Seymour W. Older of Roxbury, on January 28, 1862. John and Nancy, who was also referred to as Jennie, had three children: Grace, who was born 1863, became Mrs. E.C. Hanford; Clarence E. died at the age of seven in 1876 and Clara, born 1872, married Rev. W. R. Hunt.
Business affairs- He was a merchant in Roxbury before moving Westward about 14 miles. In 1865 J.C. VanDyke of Stamford and Andrew J. Corbin, of Roxbury, purchased the “Farmer’s Store” adjoining the Mirror office in Bloomville. In 1867 VanDyke & Churchill, of Stamford, are selling Lewis Eury’s Medicines intended for livestock and in 1873 J.C. is on his own selling feed and Dr. Kennedy’s Favorite Remedy. January 1876 (Windham Journal)- J. C. Van Dyke is building an addition to his store. July 1887 (Delaware Gazette)- New telegraph line from Stamford to Jefferson will be built by J.C. and Wm Whitney. December 1894 (Jefferson Courier)- President Cleveland appointed J. C. VanDyke postmaster of Stamford (during his tenure of four years there was an attempted robbery, the 1st at Stamford post office). The 1905 Stamford census lists John C. as a pharmacist and about the same time he is the general manager of the Stamford Cooperative Creamery, a position he held for 14 years. He was in business with his son-in-law Erwin C. Hanford for 34 years and at the time of his death in 1918 he was considered to be the oldest man in business having passed almost 55 years in active business life. The 1916 tax rolls list his residence as being on Main St.
Civic affairs- VanDyke was a staunch and faithful Methodist and Democrat. He was a delegate to the Democratic Conventions numerous times. In 1870 he umpired a baseball game and in 1875 he is elected Vice President of a newly organized temperance society. The March 1879 Stamford Mirror listed J. C. Van Dyke as a member of a Lunacy Committee that was appointed to decide the sanity of widow Eunice Taylor. They decided that Mrs. Taylor was sane. In 1880 & 1881 John C. was the Stamford Supervisor and was appointed a Notary. In 1888 John ran for NYS Assembly and in1910 he was a director at the Stamford Water Company.
February 1912 (Delaware Gazette)- The Golden wedding anniversary of John and Nancy was celebrated with friends. Three years later, August 1915 (Delaware Gazette)- Mrs. J.C. VanDyke who has been ill a long time, is still in bed most of the time and under the care of a nurse.
July 27, 1916 (NY Times)- Died- Van Dyke- Nancy J. Older, wife of John C. Van Dyke, at Stamford, N. Y. on July 25, 1916, in her 74th year. Washington. D. C. papers please copy.
John C. VanDyke passed away November 28, 1918, after a year-long illness. His daughter Clara died 1943 and Grace died 1948. They are all buried in section F-32 at the Stamford Cemetery.
The December 4, 1918 Stamford Mirror states at the end of his glowing obituary that it is with great sorrow that the news of the passing of another of the “Men of the Old School” is received.