| WILLIAM H. VAN DYKE, photographer, Edinboro,
was born at Castile, Wyoming Co., N. Y., April 27, 1827, and is a son of
Henry and Nancy (Weller) Van Dyke, who settled in Crawford Co., in 1834.
The latter was a daughter of William Weller, of Schenectady, formerly of
Holland. The former was a son of Peter Van Dyke, of Germany, who located
in Dutchess Co., N. Y., about 1795, subsequently moving to Schenectady,
where he died. Henry moved to Ashtabula, Ohio, about 1867, and departed
this life July, 1879. The subject of this sketch came to Erie Co. in
1850, locating in Elk Creek, and engaging in farming, which he continued
until 1870, when he came to Edinboro and bought out a photograph
gallery, which business he has since successfully conducted. He has been
thrice married, first on Dec. 25, 1851, to Cynthia, daughter of Hiram
and Elizabeth (Colton) Bradley, of Crossingville, Penn., by whom he had
one child -- Cynthia, who married Asa Sturtivant, and lives in Crawford
Co. His second marriage, on Jan. 4, 1854, was with Jane, daughter of
Reuben Tower, of Crossingville, Penn. Two children blessed this union --
Inez, wife of Arthur Hopkins, and lives in Warren Co., Penn.; and Izora,
wife of Ferdinand Hall, who resides at Chicago. Mr. Van Dyke was united
Jan. 27, 1859, to his present wife, Alfreda, daughter of John Smith, of
Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and six children have crowned this union, three
living, viz., Lizzie (wife of Charles Lloyd, living in this county),
Henry and Frank. Mr. Van Dyke, wife and son, Henry, are members of the
Presbyterian Church. He has been a Trustee of the Normal School for the
past nine years. He is a Republican politically. Source: Samuel P. Bates, History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, (Warner, Beers & Co.: Chicago, 1884), Part VI, Township Biographies, Washington Township, p. 215. |
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