The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-03-18
JOHN h. VAN DYKE
DIES At RIPE AGE
GRADUALLY DECLINING HEALTH
FINALLY COMES TO CLOSE
IN DEATH.
FOUNDED INSURANCE CO.
In Spite of Heavy Business Cares He
Aided Charities, Hospitals and
Colleges.
MOE ST0DC EADJV cor 0NTSTC
FOUNDED INSURANCE CO
ANCESTORS EARLY COLONISTS.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. March TO-
John II. Van Dyke. one Of Nlwau-
KEGS oldest citizens, one of the founders
of the Northwestern Mutual Life lnsur-
ance company, and philanthropist,
died Tuesday evening, at $3.50 o'clock,
at his residence. J0S Marshall street. at
the age of 50 years. Mr.. Van Dyke who
had been i'll but ten days, was conscious
to the end and when he passed away his
physician and sons. George u. and Will
liam ID. Van Dyke, were with him 4
daughter, Mrs. J. Ii. Tweedy, Jr, is on
her way home from Maryland. where she
his been during the winter for her
health
Mr.. Van Dyke. although at his office
in the Wells building almost daily until
two weeks ago, had been for some
months in gradually declining health,
owing chiefly to his advanced age. lie
was one of the oldest attorneys IN Mil
waukee, but retired from active prac-
tice nearly quarter of a century ago,
since which time he had devoted himself
to his extensive private business at-
fairs and to philanthropic work, in
which he was deeply interested. lie also
was a close student of art and to this
he gave much of his leisure time.
Born in Pennsylvania
Mr.. Van Dyke was a native Of Mer-
cersburg, Franklin county, Pa. where
he was born October Il, 1893. His an
cestors were among the earlier settlers
in the new world and took a prominent
part in the colonial history of this COun-
try. His mother was Nancy Duncan
Van Dyke, of Scotch-Irish parentage.
After his graduation from Marshall
college at the age of IS, Mr.. Van Dyke
came west, locating first in Detroit,
Mich, where he joined his brother, Jo-
seph \. Van Dyke, then an attorney
there. He studied law in his brothers
office, and was admitted TO the bar in
1916. The same year he came to Mil
waukee, accompanied by Norman j.
Emmons, a young lawyer of Detroit.
They opened n law Office here under the
firm name of Emmons 4 Van Dyke,
and later G. A. Hamilton entered the
firm. which became that of EmmOns,
Van Dyke & Hamilton, for years one of
the leading law firms of the city.
Organized Risk Company,
Mr.. Van Dyke temporarily retired
from the law in 1870 and devoted him
self to various business affairs, He was
one of the men who took hold and
helped to organize the Northwestern
Mutual Life Insurance company. He
was member of the board Of trustees
for several yeats and served as presi-
dent of the company from 1860 to 1874.
He was interested in forming the Young
Mems Literary association, which he
came the nucleus of the milwaukee, Pub
lie library. He was also one Of the
founders Of the Milwaukee Young Mems
Christian association and its first pros-
dent He also assisted to organize the
Nenominee Mining company, the pio-
neer iron mining company on the Me-
nominee range i'll Upper Michigan ana
Wisconsin. He was interested in various
other mining companies in that district.
In his work of philanthropy, Mr.. Van
Dyke assisted in the organization of the
Passavant hospital, now Milwaukee hos
pital, of which DR.. Passavant of Pitts
burg, Pa, was the founder and head.
and he was a member of the board Of
visitors from 1864 until his death. He
succeeded the late Alexander Mitchell IS
president of the board of visitors
Assisted Other Institutions.
Among other public institutions in
which Mr.. Van Dyke was interested and
which he did much to promote were the
Milwaukee Orphan asylum, the Mlwau-
kce Female college, now Milwaukee,
Downer. and the Lawrence university
at Appleton. Wis.
in 1850 to Miss Mary Douglas of New
York city, who died in 1893. They had
four children, George ID. and William ID.
Van Dyke attorneys in the city; John
II. Van Dyke, who died three years ago,
and Mrs. John II. Tweedy, Jr. There
are twelve grandchildren. In religious
belief and association Mr. Van Dyke
was a Methodist and was for years
prominent in the upbuiding Of Grand
Avenue NJ. +. church. He took a deep
interest in the building of the new edi-
fee at Grand avenue and Tenth street.
Long a Bank Director.
Mr. Van Dyke for ffty-two years was
n director Of the old Bank of Milwaukee
and its successor, the present National
Exchange bank He was elected mem
Der of the original bank board a year
or two after the bank was founded, or in
1856. He made it point to attend ev-
cry meeting of the board, when in the
city and able to be present. He was at
the meeting for the last time three weeks
ago.
He became n member Of the chamber
of commerce in 1868 five years after
the formation Of the chamber.