The VanDyke Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania

That the present name is Dutch is sufficiently evident on first aspect, and also well known to all, for the name has won distinction in Europe, in the person of the great artist. In America the most eminent of the name is Rev. Dr. VanDyke, preacher, poet, writer and professor. According to its tradition the ancestor of the present family came to America with Stuyvesant, but afterward lived in New Jersey. His name was Nicholas.

(I) Augustus VanDyke

Augustus VanDyke, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, was born in Pennsylvania, about 1824, died at Irvington, Warren county, Pennsylvania, 1874. A large part of his life was passed at Irvington; he was a bridge carpenter. Both he and his wife were Lutherans. He married Mary Sterner, who was probably born at Lancaster, about 1815, died at Irvington, about 1891. Children:

1. Hannah VanDyke. Resides at Petrolia, Pennsylvania; married Frederick Hinman, deceased; he was a manufacturer of nitro-glycerine; children, all living at Petrolia:
   1. Fanchon Hinman.
   2. Roy Hinman.
   3. Christine Hinman.
2. Abram VanDyke. Of whom further.
3. John VanDyke. Died in Peoria, Illinois; brakeman; married; children:
   1. Elizabeth VanDyke. Residing at Oil City, Pennsylvania.
   2. James VanDyke. Residing at Oil City.
4. Mary VanDyke. Died in Kansas; married (first) James Beaumont, of Paterson, New Jersey; married (second); one daughter by first marriage:
   1. Lillian Beaumont. Residing at Irvington.
5. Amanda VanDyke. Died young.
6. Sarah VanDyke. Died young.
7. William VanDyke. Died at Irvington, 1909; a car inspector; married Ida —-, deceased; two children, both residing in Washington:
   1. Maud VanDyke.
   2. Mary VanDyke.

(II) Abram VanDyke

Abram, son of Augustus and Mary (Sterner) VanDyke, was born in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, May, 1846, died at Bradford, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1908. He attended public school in his native county. By trade he was a machinist. At a later time he worked for the Standard Oil Company at Bradford for a period of thirty years. He was a Democrat. He married Marinda Jane, born near Smethport, September 17, 1847, daughter of Lyman and Mary (Aldrich) Stark. Her home is now at Bradford. Her father, who died at Tuna Creek, Pennsylvania, 1901, was born near Smethport; he is thought to have been descended from Philander Stark, a near relative of General John Stark, the victor at Bennington. Children of Abram and Marinda Jane (Stark) VanDyke:

1. Augustus VanDyke. Born at Kane, Pennsylvania, August, 1868, died at Smethport, 1870.
2. William Elmer VanDyke. Of whom further.
3. Irma Esther VanDyke. Born at Kane, October 25, 1872; married (first) Leonard Flagg, from Tuneassa, New York; he was a farmer; she married (second) Harry Campbell, of Tuneassa; there they live, he being a farmer; children, two by first, three by second husband:
   1. Mortimer Flagg. Child of the first marriage, born in November, 1896.
   2. Leonarda Flagg. Child of the first marriage, born in September, 1898.
   3. Josephine Campbell. Child of the second marriage, born July 25, 1905.
   4. Richard Campbell. Child of the second marriage, born April 10, 1907.
   5. Winifred Campbell. Child of the second marriage, born December 5, 1910.
4. Frederick VanDyke. Born at Oil City, October 30, 1874; foreman, at Olean, New York, for the Standard Oil Company; married Ethel Fee, of Bradford; child:
   1. Fannie VanDyke.
5. Mortimer VanDyke. Born at Oil City, November 2, 1876; foreman at Olean for the Standard Oil Company; married Minnie Shaffer, of Olean; children:The last two children, Bessie Elaine and Jessie Eileen VanDyke, were twins, born April 21, 1905.
   1. Irma Marinda VanDyke.
   2. Lawrence Donald VanDyke.
   3. Wava Audrey VanDyke.
   4. Bessie Elaine VanDyke.
   5. Jessie Eileen VanDyke.
6. Winfield Abram VanDyke. Born at Tuna Creek, October 3, 1883; resides with his mother at Bradford, unmarried.

(III) Rev. William Elmer VanDyke

Rev. William Elmer VanDyke, son of Abram and Marinda Jane (Stark) VanDyke, was born at Kane, December 25, 1870. He received a public school education in McKean county, and attended Limestone Academy, Limestone, New York. When he was eighteen years of age he took a position as clerk in the general store at Mount Alton, Pennsylvania, and there he remained until he was twenty-one. From 1892 to 1896 he was manager of the Helvetia Supply Company, at Helvetia, Pennsylvania, and assistant postmaster of Helvetia. Having, however, become a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and desiring to live a life of Christian devotion, he spent three years with the Order of the Holy Cross, while the Fathers were still at Westminster, Maryland. After this he studied privately for orders, and on April 23, 1903, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Whitehead at Ridgway, Pennsylvania. For two years he was in charge at Osceola Mills. Then he came to Smethport and was assistant for two years. During this period, September 16, 1906, he was ordained priest at Smethport by the same bishop. For a year and a half he had charge of the Episcopal church at Kane. For a year, thereafter, he was vicar of St. Mary’s Memorial Church, in Pittsburgh. In 1909 he was made rector of St. Luke’s, Smethport. He is a member of the Central Club at Smethport. He is a Republican.

He married (first) June 3, 1899, Blanche (Packer) Donnelly, born at Beech Creek, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1866, died at DuBois, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1901; married (second) June 25, 1907, Helen Eliza, daughter of Frederick Arthur and Leone (Huenerfeld) McCoy, who was born at Ellicottville, New York, April 1, 1878. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a communicant of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Her father was the son of Stephen and Eliza (Vinton) McCoy, and her mother was daughter of Peter Joseph Huenerfeld, a native of Germany.

Children of Frederick Arthur and Leone (Huenerfeld) McCoy:

1. Eugene McCoy. Died young.
2. Guy McCoy. Married Edna Dunbar.
3. Grace McCoy. Married H. H. Redfield.
4. Helen Eliza McCoy. Of previous mention.
5. Mary McCoy. Deceased.
6. Robert McCoy. Deceased.
7. Allen McCoy. Deceased.

Children of Rev. William Elmer VanDyke, one by first, two by second wife:

1. Howard Sutton VanDyke. Child of the first wife, born September 20, 1901, died at DuBois, September 25, 1901.
2. Jane VanDyke. Child of the second wife, born at Bradford, July 25, 1908.
3. Andrew McCoy VanDyke. Child of the second wife, born at Smethport, November 30, 1910.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content