The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-12-20
An Ola Veteran.


Oh the l4th OF November. He belong
ed to an old Dutch family, and raise,
the flag on the Battery on Evaouatio,
Day. ii
The Van Arsdale family traces III
gen1alogy back to Jan Van Arsdale. 9
Knight OF Holland, who f0urished IL
1911. The family was a notable one
and there is quaint old fortress in the
Netherlands to which 1t has given ,
name. Synlon Jansen Van Arsdalen. {
descepdant OF the knight, emigrated t.
the New Netherlands in 1868, and set
tied at Flatlands, becoming the progen
1tor OF numerous race. which inter
married. with ALI the leading families o.
Long Island. His grest.great. grandson
John Van Arsdale, was the famout
holster Of the flag. He was born in
1766, and with his father and four
brothers he took the field under Wash.
ington and fought with bravery through
the war for Independence. He was
wounded at Fort Montgomery, and was
held prisoner of war for nine months
in Now York, obtaining his release
through an exchange OF prisoners III
1778. Alter this he was empIoyed
against the Indians in the northern part
Of the State, and it is related that he
was once again made prisoner by the
savages, and with two companions es.
capped from torture and death only
through the drunkenness of his CAP.
| tors.
John Van Arsdale remained in the
service until 1882, when he loft witt, the
rank OF sergeant. On June 10, 1888,
he married Mary Crawford, the daugh-
tor OF q Scotch Presbyterian settler On
Long Island. On November Is, follow
ing he raised the flag while the British
hoats retreated to their ships. The de-
teated soldiery, before leaving the oity.
had gratltied their spleen by last 1u-
suit to the Americans. They had cut
she flag halllards attached to the tall
staff on the Battery, they had detached
all the cleats from the pole, and lest
any agile fellow might succeed in Climb
Ing it, they had covered the surface
with sludGe to render it slippery. Van
Arsdafe, who had been a SAILOR boy be-
fore he entered the Revolutionary army.
went with hundreds OF other citizens to
the Battery to see tho flag raised after
tho evacuation. When the difficulties
OF the situation were realized he at.
tempted to climb the poe, but after
two or three attempts was forced to give
up the endeavor. According to the
common story, wood and a saw were
procured, cleats We're mado, and the
young soldier-sallor made his ascent.
mailing on the steps one by one and then
climbing on Them until he reached the
aon 4 Ills IL thssr hssr4faa@afyehth b aK Eet tta 5a
father saw, a ladder near by, fetched it
RI "A 0E },n 1orJ
the top OF it, carrying the flag halliards
fastened to his waist. Whatever dispute
there may be as to the MINOR oiroum-
stances, there ls no manner of doubt as
to the broad fact that John Van Arsdale
reeved the new goar, aud ran up the
flag on the morning OF the first Evacua-
ton Day. He lived for many years
after, making his livelihood by sailing
packet boats in the waters ABOUT Now
York. He died in 1886, and on many
anniversaries he repeated his actions OF
November as, 1888, in the presence of
appiauding crowds.
David Van Arsdale, who died on the
14th, was the third son OF the old Reyo-
lutionary hero. He was born Septem-
ber l, 1896. In country house on
grassy knoll situated where SCANNED
street now runs. EARLY in life he fol.
lowed his father into seafarinS lite, aud
Tor many years he found al occupation
III the ooasting and inland trade. In the
War OF 1912 be proved that he was not
unworthy Of his father.
In 1924 he married Mary McGarv,
and it may be mentioned ~ charaetar-
htio that from that time to the day OF
hls death he lived In only two houses.
1t appears that Miss MuGary's father
hao built himself q country house ON
the site which III later days became No.
262 Rlvnlgton street, near Columbia
street.. 1t had brIck front and side
and rear walls of frame construction,
after the style OF the day, aud 1t was
surrounded with beautiful shade trees.
Young Van Arsdale before his marriage
Lived where Ludlow and Broonle streets
intersect, and it 1s told that his sweet
heart was very much xeiolsed as to his
safety Whenever ne came TO sec her, 30
wild and so trequented py roughs were
the rocks and woods that lay between
their dwellings. The old man often
told his daughter that no had carried
home ''oord of wood" he was sure.
i'll stioks gwen him as weapons of de-
Tense by his betrothed AZ he left after
an evenings visit. One night she had
nothing but all old spade handle, whloh
she insisted on his taking for want OF a
better weapon. He resisted, but the
lady carried her point. It was fortu-
nate she did, for that night, indeed, the
young man was beset near his home by
two or three highwaymen, whom be
with difficulty routed.
After his Wedding David Van Aradale
went to live at the Rlvlngton street
house. He stayed there for forty years,
and then moved to No. 442 East l2lst
street, where his body now lles. For
the past forty-seven years Mr.. Van Ars.
dale had been On empioye OF the Barge
Office, having been appointed under
Martin Van Buren,. His wife dled
twenty-three years ago, but ne is sur
vived by two sisters, respectively eighty
six and eighty.two years old. His
daughter and his grandchildren have
Ealyayg lived with him. He was very
Efel1g gioas iiaan being q member OF the
! |tlSf1asty Methodist Episcopal; Cnuroh,
fofRsS ,shs SECOND Avenue Churoh.
~ 81 -. = :, :, =, ta =, {.
rs TAh, ,bsst ginget. cookies that I eve,
ttested had III piaco of the usual cupful
SSfiyater "a clpful o9 sweet milk. This
al Oa 40