Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-06-02

The New York state legislature has
passed the measure appropriating So,
900 for the erection of suitable mon
ument in Undertook in memory OF
Martin Van Buren,, eighth president OF
the United States, and the first presi
dent of the nation chosen from New
York state. He was also the first OF
the presidents born after the United
States became an independent nation.
If the bill becomes law, as seems
| probable, the governor will appoint a
commission of five residents of Column
bia county to select site in the vii
lage of Undertook, probably in the
village park, choose the design and
superintend the erection of the memo
rial
President Van Buren, was born in
Undertook December 5, 1882, made
his home there during a major part
of his life, being Familiarity denoted
In his later years as the Sage of Kin
derhook," and died there July "a, 1852,
almost an octogenarian. His grave in
the village cemetery is marked only
: by small monument.
Many evidences of his life in the
staid old Dutch village still remain.
At the side of the village street stands
a remodeled dwelling pointed out as
/ the birthplace of Van Buren,, although
what remains of the original building
is an addition to the present main
structure, the old hand-hewn timbers
and the walls bearing every evidence
of their antiquity "Lindenwald," the
estate just south of the village, where
Van Buren, lived, in dignifed retire
ment during the declining years of his
life, is more closely associated, per-
haps, with the man whose memory the
state now seeks to honor. The hos
/ pitable residence, fronted by great
trees, and surrounded by fertile
farm, remains to-day very much as it
was when Van Buren, died there. The
! property is now occupied by Adam
Wagner, the present owner.
The life history of Martin Van Buren,
is one of rapid progress to place OF
prominence in his state and in the
nation. The son of a farmer, he at.
tended the academy at Undertook in
his youth, and at IA years of age be.
gan the study of law, finishing in the
office of William P. Van Ness in New
York and being admitted to the bar in
1903. Before reaching his majority he
was active in political affairs, and in
1903 was made surrogate of Columbia
county, the youngest surrogate that
county has ever had. He was elected
to the state senate in 1912, from 1915
to 1919 served as attorney-general, and
was again sent to the senate. The re.
organization of the Democratic party
in 1918 was directed by him, and he
was leading member of the Albany
regency. In 1921 he was chosen
United States senator from New York,
and in the same year was a member
of the convention for revision of the
state constitution. In 1927 he was re-
elected as United States senator, but
resigned in 1928 on being elected gov
ernor of New York state. In March,
1929, he was appointed secretary OF
state in President Jackson's cabinet
and resigned in April, 1881. In Sep
TENDER of that year he went as min
lister to England, but in December the
United States senate refused to ratify
the appointment chiefly on the ground
that while secretary of state he had
introduced domestic party matters
into foreign diplomacy. This petty &C
ton made Van Buren, more popular
than ever, and in May, 1882, he was
nominated by the Democratic party
for vice-president, and elected in No.
vember. In 1886 he was elected
! president, receiving 10 to 73 electoral