Middletown transcript., 1902-05-03
HARVEST
1hMxs N. vANDHaRrrr

u. VaHdeeriit alter brief III
Liz home, Elm Grange, z neal
Though, died Monday evening q
1870 o'clock, assd 50 years His death
follows closely after several others 81 the
most highly respected citizens oi tlis
community, all If them occasions ol
great regret General debility aaa the
csuse II lis death Thus TIE cruel hand
Of time parka out tho changes; II being
but I'm years ago since the subject Of
this brief notice Was an active force in
the busy life around him. The funeral
took place Thursday afternoon at one
o'clock. from bis late residence, inter.
meht being made in st. Georges Gene
terry.
Jaines Al. handegrift was born June
10Th, 1873, near tile spot wiieie he uled.
| Ills father MAS Jacob anuegfitI, q prunl-
lnent lafmer Ut this county, anu i man
Of great integr1ty aud ndehIy, member
0f tise fresby terrain Church, AND q trusted
representative Of nls tetIoW-citizens for
years III the State Legislature. He died,
tCtl<f<A1 - AaAf 4<t41f
In tiie SD year of his age. 4he Nande-
gFifts we're originally irJm Holland, and
came to this country among the earliest
settlers. The grandfather was Christo-
pher Vandegrift, farnler pt this hum.
dred, and has ancestors were owners OF
land from their earliest history in Amer
ica. dis mother was Jane McW horter,
of this county. She was devoted Uhris-
tian and member of the Presbyterian
Church. She died November 2Uth, 1929.
leaving five surviving children. Mr.
Vandegrift received bis education at VIII
mington and ia this town, having tue
benefit of select school iirst at Middle
town, taught by Rev. Joseph Wilson, and
afterwards under the tutorship OF Prof
Belknap, for two sessions in Wilmington.
At the age of eighteen he returned home
and engaged in farming for two years
with his father on the home place. He
then began agricultural life on his own
account at the patefnal homestead known /
as Retirement farm of some two |
hundred acres of land near McDonouRh. 1
He followed, quite successfully, the busi- /
ness of farming until 1861, when he /
removed to the town Of Odessa. In /
1860 Mr.. Vandegrift removed to Elm
Grange an estate containing more than |
two hundred acres of fine land, just be-
yond the town of cDonough, where be
has lived ever since and where he died.
He rebuilt the house and completed .
beautiful and substantial residence for his
family. He devoted his energies chiefly
TO the raising of cereals and stock, but
had given some attention to fruit culture.
He owned some of the best improved
Iands in this county, and was the owner
Of large amounts of real estate. Mr.. Van
iegrift never aspired to political position,
and, althoughh he held well defined Il
opinions, was not partisan He Joined /,
she Presbyterian Church at st. Georges
ID 1912, under the pastorate of Rev. James
9. Howe. He had been for many years
IN elder IN the church, and sustained I,
That relation until the time of his death.
He served as trustee of the same church
or many years. Mr.. Vandegrift was
married August 2lst. 1874, to Miss Mary
4. E, daughter Of John Cochran, who
vas member of the Presbyterian Church
rom early life, and devoutly pious
woman She died December 14th, 1888,
n the forty seventh year of her age,
eaving the following children: Olivia G.,
wife of George w. Dennison, merchant !
n Little Rock, Arkansaa; Lena, wife Of
Jol. B. s. Johnston, also of Little Rock,
Arkansas, who Is associated with part
Ter, Mr.. Dodge, counsellor for the Iron
Mountain Railroad; and Margaret p,
wife of William P. Mifflin, now Of Phila-
Ielphia. Mr.. Vandegrift was married a
econd time, October 3lst, 1872, TO Miss
Angeline c., daughter of Mr.. Joseph i!
yeaver, prominent merchant of Port
'enn, and q sister of Mr.. Henry Cleaver,
Vho succeeded his father in the business
nd Of Mr.. Joseph Cleayer, who is en- :
aged in agricultural pursuits, near Port : :
'enn.