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Source:
History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County
with
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of
Pioneer and Prominent Public Men
by C. W. Williamson
Columbus, Ohio
Press of W. M. Linn & Sons
1905
BIOGRAPHIES
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Jackson Twp. -
GEORGE VAN OSS, the subject of this
sketch, was born in Holland, Jan. 1st, 1844, and came to America
in 1856. His father, Theodore Van Oss, was a
brickmason by trade in his native country and emigrated to the
United States in the year mentioned, landing in New York City
after a voyage of thirty-five days. From New York the
family moved direct to Minster, Ohio. Here he resided for
thirty-six years. For the first few years of his residence
in the village his time was employed as a contractor and
builder. About 1860 he was employed as an expert in the
packing house of Stueve and Company.
Mr. Van Oss was a consistent member of the
Catholic Church. He was also a member of the village
Council at different times, and was universally respected for
his estimable qualities. He was the father of six
children, all of whom are living.
Mr. Van Oss died Dec. 10th, 1892, at the age of
seventy-four years.
George Van Oss, the eldest of the above
mentioned family, attended the common schools of Holland and
after coming to Minster received a good practical education in
that town, attending evening school for three years to get his
English education. While fifteen years of age, he began
working with his father, learned the trade of bricklaying, and
when twenty-one years of age entered into partnership with his
father. After this, the firm commenced contracting and
building and continued in partnership until 1882, erecting a
great many churches, etc., when at that date our subject was
elected County Commissioner of Auglaize county. He devoted
all his time to that position and filled it in such an able
manner that he was elected for the second term and also filled
two unexpired terms, making seven years and about seven months
in all. Besides locating a great many roads and ditches,
more than half the fine pikes in the county were constructed
during his administration. Many bridges were also
constructed, including two fine ones, spanning the St. Mary's
river at St. Marys.
One week from the expiration of his term as County
Commissioner, on the first Monday in 1890, he became a partner
in the Citizens' Bank at Minster, Ohio. He has since
occupied the responsible position of cashier of the bank and is
well fitted for his position. In the year 1865, he married
Miss Bernadina Albers, a native of Minster, Ohio, whose
parents died of cholera when she was but a child. Mrs.
Van Oss passed quietly away in the spring of 1867, leaving
one child, Theodore. In the fall of 1868, Mr.
Van Oss was wedded to Miss Caroline Bergman, who was
born in Minster, Ohio, and whose parents, natives of Germany,
were early settlers in this locality. To Mr. and Mrs.
Van Oss have been born ten children, as follows:
Mary, Henry, John, George, Stephen A., Catherine, Rosie,
Anthony, Amelia, and Julius. As a Democrat,
Mr. Van Oss is well known throughout the county and stands
high in the regard to his party. He has been a delegate to
county, district and State conventions, and has been a member of
the Minster council two terms. He was Clerk of the
township two years and is at present a member of the School
Board.
(From Portrait and Biographical Record.)
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize
County - by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of
W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905 - Page 844 |
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ALBERT
VONDERBROCK, JR., the subject of this review, was born in
Holland, September 24th, 1816, and is the son of Albert
Vonderbrock, Sr., who resided near The Hague. Albert
Vonderbrock is the father of thirteen children, of whom five
are still living.
Following the example of many of his countrymen, Mr.
Vonderbrock came to the United States in 1850; landing at New
York, April 5th. The vessel on which the family embarked
encountered heavy storms in the voyage of twenty-four days.
After landing in New York the family journeyed by way of Albany,
Cleveland, and Sandusky to Minister, where they arrived August
28th, 1850.
The desolation that prevailed, and the hardships
experienced by the citizens of the township after the cholera
epidemic of 1849, were startling conditions that confronted the
new arrivals in the depleted village. Notwithstanding the
discouraging outlook, a lot was purchased on which a house was
soon erected. Labor was in demand, and the family soon found
employment Albert Vonderbrock, Jr., was endowed by nature
with strong bodily and marked characteristics that have made him
efficient in the mission he was born to fulfill. He is at
present one of the oldest, as well as one of the best known and
most highly respected citizens of the township.
Mr. Vonderbrock is a brick mason by trade and has
assisted in the erection of the principal residences and business
buildings of the village.
In 1843, he was united in marriage with Martha Von
Speenberg, who died in 1855, leaving to his care six children:
Catharine, Albert, Antone, Johanna, John and Mary.
In 1856, he was again married; this time to Miss
Elizabeth Williams. Of this marriage seven children were
born: Mary, Helen, Rosa, John, Theodore, Frank and
Elizabeth, of whom four are living.
Mr. Vonderbrock has been an exemplary member of
the Catholic Church for over eighty years, and has always taken a
lively interest in the welfare of the community in which he
resides, and has, at different times filled responsible offices in
the church and township.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County -
by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn &
Sons - 1905 |
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