The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-26


night at 1890 at his home in Carbon
dale, age 72 years. Mr.. Van Bergen
had been for years one of the most
prominent men in the upper valley
and was for some time Mayor of Car
bondale. He also served a term as
county treasurer. He is survived by
his wife and two sons, DR.. Harry Van
Bergen, of Los Angeles, Cal, and Rob
ert Il. Van Bergen, who was associat-
ed with his father i'm conducting n
foundry and machine shops at Carbon
dale. No arrangements have yet been
maze about the funeral.
Joseph b. Van Bergen, the head cf
the Van Bergen company, limited, one
of the leading manufacturing enter
prises of Carbondale was born i'm
cambridge. Chenango county y. V,
Feb. 2S, 1928. His father. who was
born in Catskill. Greene county, ". Y,
in July, 1900, engaged in the mercan-
tile business in cambridge until 1922,
when he came to Carbondale and be-
gan as merchant and in the lumber
business. After four years he lc-
moved to Cincinnati. Ohio, where he
was interested in the lumber trade un-
til 1888 From that place he went 10
New York city, afterward to Newark,
n. j., and until his death in 1877 was
connected with the Delaware and Hud-
son Canal company as sales agent.
CAME FROM HOLLAND.
AS the name indicates, the Van Ber-
gen family originated in Holland. It's
representatives We're among the ear
liest settlers along the Hudson River
in New York, and from that day to
this they have been known as honor
able, energetic people, a credit to any
community in which they may reside.
The grandfather of William Van Ber-
gen was a native OF Catskill. ~ Y,
and kept the first hotel in the now
famous Catskill mountain region,
where he remained until his death. He
was regular attendant at the Dutch
Reformed church.
The mother of Mr.. Van Bergen, whose
maiden name was Emma l.. Benjamin,
was born in South Egremont Berk-
shire county, Mass, in 1900, and died
in Cincinnati. Ohio, in 1899. Her broth
er. Joseph Benjamin, for whom her son
was named, engaged in the foundry
and mercantile business in Carbondale
| for many years, and after retiring from
active labors went to New York city,
where he died. At the time of his de-
mise he had interests in Carbondale
and Scranton.
In the schools of Cincinnati and at
Marietta college, Ohio, Joseph b. Van
Bergen received good education.
| From 1916 until 1850 he was clerk in
Laurel, Ind, where his father had busi-
ness interests. but in the latter year
he returned to Cincinnati and entered
| the insurance business with Samue
| T. Mack. In 1856, he went to Daven-
port, Iowa, and was engaged in busi-
ness for two years, but returned to Gin
cinnati and accepted a position ten
| dered him in the Ohio Valley bank
Jan. /. 1850, he became a partner in
the foundry and machine works with ]
Benjamin & Co. in Carbondale. Out OF
that then small business the establish.
ment that bears his name grew. Fol-
thirty-eight years he was the leading
| factor in it's management.
| Aside from business Mr.. Van Berger
was interested in matters affecting the
welfare of Carbondale. and filed many
positions Of trusts. For eleven years
he was a member of the school board
|
the city council and for four years
was mayor. In 1886, he was deputy
collector of United States internal rev.
enue for this district of Pennsylvania
NATIONAL DELEGATE.
In 1876 he was a delegate to the Ma
tional Republican convention which
nominated Hayes for the presidency
He was elected treasurer of Lacka
wanna county in 1856, and served fol
one term. In the Republican party III
was an active worker.
He was "A Knight Templar Mason
master Of the blue lodge. high prizes
of the chapter and commander of th'
Knights Templar. In the order of Ode
Fellows he was a past chief patriarch
In religious belief he was a Presbyter
ian.
In October. 1851, Mr. Van Berger
married Miss Mary f. Boal, daughte
of retired merchant of Cincinnati
Five children were born TO them, thre'
of whom died in infancy. The othe
two, both sons, are Robert f., associ
ated in the business, and Henry, {
graduate of Hackettstown COllegiat
institute and the Homeopathic Medica
college of New York city The moth
er of these children died in June, 1885
and in August. 1890. Mr.. Van Berger
married Mrs. Mary Helen Watt, widow
OF the late Andrew Watt.
Mrs. Van Bergen is a daughter o
Mr.. and Mrs. James Dickson.
Deceased was interested i'm many o
the local enterprises of Carhondale an
was for some time president of tn
Crystal Lake Water company, haVin
l.,