Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-19
VAN wYcks IN NEW Yoak POLITICS.


There have bene four branches Al
the Van Wyck family in the polite,
| Of New York, the Van Wycks ~
Duchess. the Van Wycks OF Orange
the Van Wycks OF Fishkill and the
Van Wycks Of New York. Just now
with one OF the Van Wycks mayor Of
the Greater New York and another
Democratic candidate for governor OF
the state, the Van Wycks OF New
York are probably themost important.
but there are only one branch of the
family, which has had ONCE holders in
all the counties of the state Of Dutch
origin.
In 1850 Charles H. Van Wyck Of Sui
Ivan county was chosen district attor-
ney. Subsequently for two years he
was a member Of Congress, and then
after he was member OF Congress
and then, after a lapse of two years
more, was member of Congress again
from the Orange Sullivan district.
Then he went West to grow up with
the country, settled in Nebraska, and
was chosen a member of the United
States Senate from Nebraska City. He
served a full term of six years and re-
tired in favor of Senator Haddock in
1887. He was the Van Wyck to secure
the highest Federal distinction.
The Van Wycks of Duchess who en-
barked in the field of politics were six
in number. There was Isaac Van
Wyck. who was an Assemblyman for
five terms. There was John B. Van
Wyck. who was an Assemblyman for
one term. There was Stephen D. Van
Wyck, who served in the Albany Leg
islature and was afterward member
Of Assembly and sheriff of Duchess
county. There was Theodore Van
Wyck. who twice represented Duchess
county in the Assembly. and after
to New York city was Mon
roe elector.
One OF the Van Wycks Of Fishkill,
Richard c. Van Wyck by name, was
a member Of the memorable Albany
Assembly of 1912, and had among his
associates Horatfo Seymour. John A.
Dix. Saford e. Church and John A.
Lott of Kings. At that times Kings
county had only two members Of As
sembly and Duchess had three The
voters went to Otsego county for a
speaker. and Columbia county had as
large representation as Erie. Anoth-
er of the Van Wycks of Fishkill was
William w. Van Wyck. who was elect
ed from the district for two Con-
crosses.
The chief of the Van Wyck family of
Queens, Cornelius Van Wyck, enjoyed q
peculiar distinction. New York elected
delegates to the First Provincial Con-
gress and to the succeeding Congresses,
too, but in ;ne Second Queens was not
represented. 1t was Cornelius Van Wyck
who appeared at the head of the Queens
county delegation in the Third Provincial
Congress and the Fourth. too, and he had
in both of them TownsendS; James and
Samuel, as associates. The Van Wycks
and later political history of New York,
but it is a somewhat curious fact that no
members of this early and original Dutch
family have gained any political distinc-
ton in New York north of Poughkeepsie
or west of Albany, notwithstanding the
fact that the whole Mohawk valley shows
traces of Dutch colonization in the many
Dutch families that have been active in
public affairs. Justice Van Wyck, the
Democratic candidate for Governor, Is a
New Yorker and the first member of the
family to be an aSpirant for a state office.
The Dutch counties of New York are
those on the line of the udson between
New York and Albany, Kings and Queens
counties, from the latter of which Nassau
is about to be separated, and Sullivan and
Schoharie counties in the interior, but
adjoining those on the Hudson.