The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-06-18
Mr.. VAN REYPEN DEAD.
For Eighty-seven Years He
Lived In the Old
Homestead.

Jersey City lost one OF her oldeSt anu
best known citizens yesterday morning IN
the death of Cornelius c. Van Reypen
This venerable resident, who mas seen
Jersey City grow from its infancy, passed
away at the old homestead No. 20l
Academy street, in his eighty-eighth year.
Old age was the cause of his death. Even
to the time of his last hours on earth ne
was wholly conscious He had been ailing
for months and he was taken Ill some
time ago. The best medical attendance
procurable in the city was obtained, but
death, had set his stamp on this aged citi-
zen and he succumbed early yesterday
morning.
The life of Cornelius Van Reypen is
most interesting story. Born here when
the present city was composed of few
towns, he has lived to see it grow to great
proportions. All of the eighty-seven years
of his remarkable career he resided in the
home of great-grand parents. This plot,
where the antiquated rough old stone
structure rests, was the first plot DUR
chased in the town of what was then Ber-
gen and Buyten Tuyn. This was in 1868.
Somewhere among the papers of the fam
ily is to be found a record of the pur-
chase, which was made from the Indians.
This plot was a most extensive one, COW
ering acres.
The ancestors of Mr.. Van Reypen came
from Holland. landing here in 1862. These
lands purchased from the Indians were
converted into farms. For two genera
tions these farms were worked with sue
cessful results Cornelius's early life was
spent on these farms, and up to the time
he reached the age of fifty he continued
his work there. Gradually the city became
more thickly populated property grew.
dearer, and the big farms were cut up
and sold. Today here are not more than
four acres Of the property used for pro-
ducing garden truck. All about the old
homestead residences of a. more expensive
nature have been erected, but the quaint
rude building lost none of it's attractions.
Today it stands there, as firm as the day
it was erected.
For a great many years, Cornelius van
Reypen spent his life quietly. Surround
ing the home is a beautiful orchard, and
in the centre of the rear yard stands
pump. 1t is konwn for miles around,
for the splendid water it produces.
Scarcely a day passes that dozens do not
.partonize Mt Thet small boy of the
neighborhood, and there are many, for
Public School No. II, stands not far away.
often go to the pump ostensibly to secure
the water but the result of the visit Is
usually a raid on the fruit trees. There
are many, perhaps not boys now, who can
well remember this remarkable resident.
His words to boys then were:-
"Do not steal the fruit but ask for it
and you may have it,
Cornelius c. Van Reypen was born on
April 8, 1873 He was educated in the old
Columbia Public School, known now as
NO. II. 1t still stands on Bergen
Square On this same square in 1868,
public we'll was built, and every resident
was called upon OF assist. This was used
for more than a century and a half. In
1912. the we'll was covered over and there
are perhaps not a half dozen men alive
todaw who could point out the spot where
the well was located.
Cornelius was married to a Miss Cath
crime Van Horne on May s. 1882. One son
was born to them. After twelve years OF
happiness Mrs. Van Reypen passed away.
The second marriage of Mr.. Van Reypen
took place in 1885, when he married Miss
Christina c. Van Allen of New York.
Three sons and three daughters were
born. One son, the only one remaining,
William H, is Surgeon General in the
United States Navy. Two daughters also
survive. In 1910 Cornelius Van Reypen
ran for the office of Sheriff, being ths
first Whig candidate. He was beaten by
one vote. He was member of the Hol-
land Society of New York, and Demo-
crat.
The funeral will take place Wednesday.
The Rev. Cornelius Brett, ID, of the
Bergen Reformed Church, of which Mr.
van Reypen was the treasurer for quar-
ter of a century, will officiate at the ser
vices.