The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-11
LAFAYETTE SQUEEZED HER HAND.
Mrs. Van Zandt, Mother of Army of
the Potomac, Aged 1913.
Troy Letter in New York Press.


Most remarkable of all the old women in
the State of New York, if not in the United
states, is Mrs. Rebecca Amelia Van Zandt.
OF Auburn, who is visiting a grandniece at
NO 134 First street, Albany. 1t is Mrs.
Van Zandt's proud boast that she is the
mother of the Army of the Potomac She
was initiated last April and wears the in
sigma of the order on her bosom.
L didn at first want to go into the or
der said Mrs. Van Zandt, but the MEM
bers OF the Society of the Army OF the Po-
tomac would not listen to my proteStationS,
and so l had TO join. Why did they initiate
me? Well, l guess It was for the reason
mat my brother, Abraham 5. thornton,
fought so bravey with the Army of the
Potomac, and because my boys fought by
his side. Then, again, they took my eX-
IRENE old age into consideration. Anyhow
l was initiated and named the mother of
the Army of the Potomac.
Mrs. Van Zandt will be 1913 years old on
Aug. 5, having been born Aug. D. 1894. She
doesn't look her age by thirty years. Sac
is bright eyed, sews nimbly, delights in
making artificial flowers and fruits and
talks VivaciouslY on almost any topic. She
reads the newspapers every day and is
well informed as to current topics.
Il have shaken hands with every Gov
ernOr of New York for fifty years, she
told the correspondent, laughing gayly,
"and l guess if they were all here now they
would want to shake hands again." she
1t affords Mrs. Van Zandt great pleasure
to tell how she met General Lafayette on
the occasion of his second visit to New
York about seventy years ago.
Il was living in Schenectady at that
time, said Mrs Van Zandt, and l hadn't
been married so very long. My husband
was Jacob Van Zandt. He was the captain
of the regiment that was detailed to receive
General Lafayette. A very handsome man
my husband was, too. All, me! Just think
of that! Nearly three-quarters of a CEN
fury! But l must tell you about General
Lafayette. When | was introduced to him
he took my right hand and shook 1t with
great warmth. l blushed dreadfully; [
couldn't help it. 1 invited him to visit at
my fathers house the next time he came
to Schenectady.
L shall he delighted, replied the mar
But" said Mrs: Van Zandt, ruefully, Il
never him after that day. He was a
very handsome and distinguished man"
At that time Mrs. Van Zandt had a mil
linery shop in Schenectady. The hats of
seventy-fve years ago as worn by the bellies
of northern New York, she says, were
enormous creations. They We're intensely
gaudy, but none the less popular. Large
hats used to delight the eye of the critical
Captain Van Zandt. The larger the hat
the greater his qualification. The dashing
captain was a judge of feminine headgear.
Captain Van Zandt died of consumption
in lS43 Nine children had been born of his
union with pretty Rebecca Thornton, six
daughters are dead. All of the rest of the
children are living. After living in Sche-
nectady for number Of years Mrs. Van
Zandt moved to Cayuga, Onondago coun-
ty, where she soon became well known.
Every summer Mrs. Van Zandt visits her
favorite grandchildren, -grandchildTe
and other descendants, of which she has
many. These annual jaunts give her much
delight. She instructs the rising generation
of her progeny in the art of making arti-
fetal fruits and flowers with rare skill and
deftness. Mrs. Van Zandt has many Speci-
mems of her clever handiwork with her.