Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
DEATH OF WILLIAM VAN BEN.
THUYsEN OCCURS IN BROOK
liz L..l4--s..--4.s LYN.
HE WAS A NATIVE IOWAN
Was Born in Davis County, Where His
Father, Judge William Van Benthuy-
sen Now Lives-Rose Because Of
Ability to Top Of Journalistic Ladder

nTom saturdays Daily.
William Van Benthuysen, a native
of Davis county and one of the most
prominent and highly successful news.
paper men in the United States, pass.
ed away yesterday at his home in
Brooklyn, New York. He was the son
of Judge Van Benthuysen, who is now
living in Bloomfield, where the family
has made it's home for several years.
Mr.. Van Benthuysen Is one of the
newspaper men who began as an ap-
prentice printer and worked his way to
the top of the journalistic ladder by
means of sheer ability. At the time of
his death he was managing editor OF
the New York World, which position
he has held for five years. A dispatch
from New York conveys the intelli.
gence of his death and is as follows:
Suffers Relapse.
New York, June 20.-Will Van Ben
thuysen, managing editor of the World,
died at his home at 120 Buckingham
road, Prospect Park, South Brooklyn,
at o'clock yesterday afternoon. He
had been in declining health for more
than a year. For time his ultimate
recovery seemed assured, and he re-
turned to his desk in the World Office.
Four weeks ago he suffered recur-
renee of the malady and grew steadily
worse until death came.
Burial at Mt. Pleasant.
Mr.. Van Benthuysen. leaves a wild
ow, three sons and two daughters, all
of whom were present when he died.
The body will be taken to his old
home at Mt. Pleasant, Ia, for inter-
ment on Sunday night. Funeral SER
vices will be held at his late home
Sunday afternoon.
Born in Iowa.
Mr.. Van Benthuysen was born near
Drakeyille, Davis, county, Iowa, on
December 1, 1855. His father, who is
still living, is Judge William Van Ben
thuysen of Bloomfield, la. The family
is of Dutch descent. At the age of
Is Mr.. Van Benthuysen became a
printers apprentice in small country
office at Bloomfield. After thoroughly
learning the printers trade, he went
as compositor. Returning to Bloom
field after a few years absence, he pur-
chased the Bloomfield Commonwealth,
and then disposed of the property to
purchase the Observer at Carbonate,
Ill. In 1878 Mr.. Van Benthuysen solo
his newspaper interests and went to
Leavenworth, Kan, where he rejoined
| the editorial staff of the Press.
Came to Chicago.
After years connection with that
newspaper he attracted the attention
of Colonel d. R. Anthony, owner and
editor Of the Leavenworth Times who
invited him to join his staff 1t was
here that Mr.. Van Benthuysen's news
paper career practically began. Col
Anthony held the young editor in the
highest admiration, and soon placed
him in entire charge of the newspaper
When Colonel Anthony saw that he
could not offer to Mr.. Van Benthuyser
the inducements he deserved, he rec
commended him to Joseph Medill, own
ern and editor of the Chicago Tribune
Mr.. Van Benthuysen joined the Trib
unes staff as reporter on April 1
| 1883.
In Chicago Mr.. Van Benthuysen's
rise to prominence was rapid. Within
a year he became telegraph editor
Next, he was promoted to the night
editors desk, and within two years
took charge of the paper as managing
editor. In this position he remained
eight years, during which time the
| Tribune made the most rapid strides
in its history.
| Called to New York.
Mr.. Van Benthuysen was called tt
New York in March, 1898 to take thu
position of editorial manager of tn,