Twelfth Generation

107. Isaac VANDERVORT (+) was born on 9 September 1834 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.^{16,31,57,58,74,76,82,150} (His gravestone lists his birth date as 9 September 1833.)

"The Biographical Histories of La Crosse, Monroe and Juneau Counties," published in 1892, contains the following article: "Isaac Vandervoort, a well-known farmer in Monroe County, Wisconsin, was born in Schoharie County, New York, September 9, 1834, a son of James R. and Mary (Baker) Vandervoort, also natives of the Empire State. The parents emigrated to Monroe county in 1866, where they passed the last days of their lives; the father died at the age of ninety-two, and the mother at seventy-five years of age. They reared a family of five children, losing two in infancy: Cornelius; Isaac, the subject of this notice; Maria, wife of E. G. Kinnie; James B.; and Phidelia, wife of Mr. Featherly. The father was three times married; there were no children of the first union, but seven were born of the second marriage, and one, Jacob Vandervoort, resides in Monroe County. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a carpenter by trade.

Isaac Vandervoort was nine years old when his family removed to the West, and settled in Waukesha, which was then known as Prairieville; two years later they went to Merton, and thence to Summit Centre, where they remained two years. Our subject was then fourteen years old, and he and his brothers purchased forty acres near Oconomowoc, which they opened, improved and added to until they had one of the best farms in that section. He continued his residence there until 1860. He was married March 22, 1859, to Laura A. Foss, who died April 28, 1885, at the age of forty-four years. After his marriage he spent one year on the home farm and then bought forty acres, which he began to improve; he made additional purchases but in 1866 sold the entire tract and removed to Monroe County. Here he bought 160 acres and erected the necessary buildings at once. He now has a good dwelling-house, and barns for stock and grain. Since his fourteenth year he has been engaged in threshing a portion of each season, and for twelve years he was interested in a sawmill.

When the Civil War broke out Mr. Vandervoort at once offered his services to his country, but was rejected; the spirit of patriotism was not quenched, however, although he made a third application before he was received. He enlisted in July, 1864, as a member of Company L, First Heavy Artillery, and served one year. He affiliates with the Republican party, has been chairman of the Board, has served as Assessor and as a member of the School Board. He belongs to the G.A.R., Henry W. Cressy Post, No. 42. He has been a member of some temperance organization since he was fourteen years of age, and has never tasted an intoxicating drink; he has also discarded the use of tobacco.

By his first marriage Mr. Vandervoort had eight children: Alvin J., Edwin J., Frank E., George, O.D.Y., Mary J., Roy I., and Lulu B. He was married February 20, 1887 to Naomi Hoag, a native of Monroe County, New York. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is chairman of the official board. He has always taken an active interest in the elevation of the moral and educational standards in the county, and merits the esteem in which he is held."
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He appeared in the census in 1840 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.⁵⁷ He appeared in the census in July 1850 in Summit Township, Waukesha County, WI.⁵⁸ Isaac appeared in the census in 1860 in Oconomowoc Township, Waukesha County, WI.⁵⁹ His occupation was listed as "Farming." He served in the military between July 1864 and July 1865.^{53,114,137,150} in the Civil War. He served as a Private in Company 1 of the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillary. In May 1879 was awarded a pension of $6 per month for "chr. diarr. & result dis. of abdominal viscera."

He was pictured with the Civil War Veterans of Tomah, WI, in 1890. He lived on his 160-acre family farm in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI after 1866.^150,151 Isaac appeared in the census in 1870 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹¹ He appeared in the census in 1875 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁹ His household consisted of 6 males and 2 females. Between 1880 and 1900 he was a farmer and sawmill operator in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^{46,116,138,152} He owned a 160-acre farm in Sections 5 and 6.

An article in the 17 March 1900 issue of the Tomah Journal reports: "Isaac Vandervort's mill shut down for repairs on Friday of last week. The guide worked loose and turned and the saw, struck it and sawed it and broke it. No one was hurt but the saw was in bad shape."

An article in the Tomah Journal in 1949 commemorating its 50th Anniversary: "There was a Bee at the Isaac Vandervort saw mill in Pleasant Valley on Wednesday of this week for the purpose of sawing into lumber the logs donated by neighborhood farmers for the building of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church. The Good work of sawing, hauling to the site,and piling the lumber was done by six Purdys, John, Eddy, Byron, Fred, Rupert, and Ed; five Vandervorts, Isaac, Frank, Roy, Ed, and Ode; N. and O. Oakley; Vaney and E. Johnson; Frank and Leslie Hart; Ernie Hatch, John Burnham, Elmer Blackwood, W. R. Griffin, and Harry Hoag. The Ladies Aid of the Valley met at the Vandervort's home and served meals for 82 people.
The church thrived for many years along with LaGrange and Diamond Valley. When disposed of, they were purchased by our late citizen, Chas. Hamilton, and the material went into residences on East Monowau Street. The church was built in 1899."

Isaac appeared in the census in 1880 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁶

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An article in the 30 July 1887 Tomah Journal reported that "Isaac Vandervort's portable engine dropped through the bridge near Wilton and was badly broken and damaged. He was moving it to a job of sawing, which he had taken to do before threshing time."

. He appeared in the census in 1900 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁸ He appeared in the census in 1905 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁵⁴ He was living with his daughter Lula and her family and his occupation was "Farmer." Isaac appeared in the census in 1910 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁹ (He was living with his daughter Lula Belle and her family at the time of the 1910 Census.) He died on 3 September 1912 at the age of 77 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^16,60,74,155

Obituary Notes: "Isaac Vandervort, an old resident and prominent farmer of the town of LaGrange, died at the home of his son Frank on Tuesday morning, Sep. 3, at the age of 78 years. Isaac Vandervort was born in the town of Blenheim, Schoharie County, New York, Sep. 9, 1834. He resided in that state until the fall of 1844 when the family came to Wisconsin, settling in Waukesha County.

He was married to Laura A. Foss on March 22, 1859, with whom he lived until her death on April 28, 1885. On Feb 20, 1887, he was married to Mrs. Naomi Hoag who died Dec. 14, 1903.

Mr. Vandervort enlisted in the Union Army in 1864 and served until the close of the war. After the war he resided near Oconomowoc until the spring of 1867, when he came to Monroe County and settled on a farm in the town of LaGrange which was his home until a few months ago. Following a stroke of paralysis which left him helpless he was take to the home of his son Frank where he was cared for until his death.

He is survived by seven children, E. J. Vandervort, F. E. Vandervort, O.D.Y. Vandervort, Mrs J. Trapp and Mrs C. Dickinson, all of whom live in or near Tomah; G. P. Vandervort of Sayner, Wis., and R. I. Vandervort of Osseo, Wis. His eldest son Alvin died 15 years ago. Two brothers also survive him, Cornelius and James B. Vandervort of Tomah; and two sisters, Mrs E.G. Kinne and Mrs J. Johnson of Tomah, besides many other relatives.

Mr. Vandervort was an intelligent and successful farmer, prominent in the affairs of his town and held in high esteem by many friends. He was a member of the M.E. Church, also of the G.A.R., and the Knights of Pythias. These two orders attended his funeral which was held Thursday afternoon from the LaGrange Church, the services being conducted by Rev. J. G. Smith of this city. A very large number of friends and relatives attended the funeral and followed the remains to their last resting place in the LaGrange Cemetery."

His cause of death was listed as "heart failure due to senile dementia, following a fractured hip. (Vol 7, Page 192, Monroe County, WI.)

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He was buried on 5 September 1912 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^73,74,156 in the LaGrange Township Cemetery.

Isaac VANDERVORT (+) and Laura Ann FOSS were married on 22 March 1859 in Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, WI.^{31,76,115,150,157} They are listed on the U.S. Census as living in Oconomowoc in 1865 and they moved to Monroe County in 1867. Laura Ann FOSS, daughter of Persons D. FOSS and Mary P. OLDS, was born on 20 March 1841 in Boston Township, Summit County, OH.^{6,46,74,138,157,158} (The 1900 Census record of her son ODY indicates that she was born in Vermont. Her gravestone lists her age at her death as 44 years, 3 months and 8 days, indicating a birth date of 20 January 1841; the calculation may have been in error.)
She appeared in the census in 1860 in Oconomowoc Township, Waukesha County, WI.⁵⁹ She appeared in the census in 1870 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹¹ Laura appeared in the census in 1875 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁹ She appeared in the census in 1880 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁶ She died on 28 April 1885 at the age of 44 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^{52,74,157,158} of heart disease Laura was buried in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^{73,74,157,158} in the LaGrange Township Cemetery

Isaac VANDERVORT (+) and Laura Ann FOSS had the following children:

Isaac VANDERVORT (+) and Naomi Erepta TAYLOR were married on 20 February 1887 in Monroe County, WI.^{76,150,151,159,160,161} (Her name was listed as Naomi Hoag, her married name, in the Monroe County marriage registration records.) Naomi Erepta TAYLOR¹⁶², daughter of Pascal Enos TAYLOR and Alzina TRIPP, was born on 14 June 1836 in Perinton Township, Monroe County, NY.^{46,60,160,161,163,164,165,166,167,168} (Her middle name may have been spelled "Erupta.") (The Oak Grove Cemetery records list her date of birth as 14 June 1836; an article in the Genealogical Branches lists it as 6 June 1836.) (She may have been born in Rochester, Monroe County, NY.) She appeared in the census in 1840 in Perinton Township, Monroe County, NY.¹⁶⁹ She appeared in the census in 1850 in Penfield Township, Monroe County, NY.¹⁷⁰ (The Census enumerator listed her as "Norman.") Naomi appeared in the census in 1860 in Sodus Township, Berrien County, MI.¹⁷¹ She appeared in the census in 1870 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹¹ She appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁶ Naomi appeared in the census in 1900 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁸ She died on 14 December 1903 at the age of 67 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^{60,160,161,164,166}

The following was extracted from a Hoag family genealogy page: "Naomi Erepta Taylor (Isaac Vandervort's second wife) was a widow when she married Philip Hoag. Because her sister Rebecca married Henry Hoag (oldest son of Philip Peter Hoag, Naomi's second husband) she actually was mother-in-law to her own sister. Philip Peter Hoag was a wagon maker in Walworth, Wayne County, New York, in 1850. About 1853 he moved to Michigan and lived for awhile at St Joseph. Then in 1855 he purchased land at Sodus, Berrien County, Michigan where he farmed and operated a saw mill.

In 1866 Philip Peter Hoag sold his land in Sodus, Michigan to his brother, Isaac. He then moved to Tomah, Monroe County, Wisconsin, where he purchased a farm south of town. He not only farmed but was a wheel-wright and logger. Shortly after his death in 1880 the family home burned to the ground and everything was lost. Bert and Avis the youngest children, hid behind a door and were nearly burned to death but were rescued before being badly injured.

A local farmer, Isaac Vandervort, took up a collection to help the Hoag family. Isaac Vandervort's wife had died in 1885, and in 1887 he and the widow Naomi Hoag were married. She moved to his farm in LaGrange Township, Monroe County, Wisconsin. She died there suddenly of a heart attack."

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She was buried on 17 December 1903 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{160,164,166,172,173} in the Oak Grove Cemetery (Her given name was listed as "Naoma" in the obituary of her daughter, Lena.)

Isaac VANDERVORT (+) and Auguste M. HUNT were married on 3 January 1907 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,119 They^2,119 were divorced on 26 July 1907 in Monroe County, WI.¹⁷⁴ Auguste M. HUNT was born in 1867 in Germany.¹⁷⁵ (Her surname may have been Mentzel. Or that may have been her surname from an earlier marriage.)

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