Twelfth Generation

109. James Baker VANDERVORT Jr. was born on 30 March 1841 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.^{16,31,76,91,137,183,184} From the notes of Charles F. Vandervort, a great-grandson, 28 August 1982: "James B. born Schoharie County, N.Y., 3-30-1841. The family moved to Buffalo 1845 and then on to Oconomowac, Wisc. James enlisted Co. A 16th Wisc. Volunteers during the Civil War. He was involved in a lot of War engagement service. He was at the battle of Vicksburg, Miss. and other battles throughout the South. He was part of Sherman's "drive to the sea," which included the sac of Atlanta.

James was the only man in the company to have a watch. According to Ernest, this watch changed many times for whomever was on guard duty. James was discharged at the Fort Prarie du Chein, Wisc.

He married Anna M. Mcintyre of Tomah. They farmed LaGrange, Wisc. for 25 years, then moved to Tomah. They are buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery [should be Oak Grove] in Tomah. James had one brother, Cornelius, of Tomah and two sisters, Mrs. Maria Kinne of Tomah and Mrs. John Johnson of Washington State."

From a letter from Edna (Horel) Griffin to her niece Dorothy (Ellis) Van Roosenbeek in 1982: "James B. Vandervort was born March 30, 1841 in Scoharie, N.Y. He died March 23, 1916, in Tomah, Wisconsin.

He married Anna McIntyre, born October 26, 1846, in the state of Maine.

Her father was a sailor for many years, and he later moved to Wisconsin and worked for the railroad. After living near Milwaukee for some time he was moved to Prairie du Chien.

They had two daughters, Anna and Josophine. James and Anna became my dear grandparents. Their children were Sarah Louise (my mother), Dora, Charles, Otis, and Ernest.

After serving four years in the Civil War they were married and they bought a farm in Monroe County. Grandpa's two older brothers [Issac & Cornelius Vandervort], who also served in the war, bought adjacent farms. So there have been many Vandervorts near Tomah.

Grandpa's parents had come to Wisconsin when he was very young and lived near a suburb of Milwaukee [Summit Twp in 1850 & Oconomowoc Twp in 1860 of Waukesha County]. They were farmers.

Aunt Dora was married first, followed by my mother, Uncle Charles, and Uncle Otis. Grandpa [James Vandervort] sold that farm and had a very nice house built in Tomah. Uncle Earnest was much younger. He got to go to Tomah High and graduated. Uncle Charlie went to Milwaukee and became a boilermaker for the Milwaukee Railroad. Uncle Ernest became an engineer and Uncle Otis a farmer.

My mother married William Alfred Horel. The Horels lived near Tomah but they all belonged to the La Grange Methodist Church, which was near the cemetary where your mother and father, and my father and my Horel Grandparents are buried [La Grange Twp Cemetery].

My Grandfather Elishia Horel was born in Scotland I was told, and grandmother [Mary (Orr)] in England. She was only one year old when they came to America. It seems they all settled in Humbird, Wisconsin, which is a small town about 70 or 80 miles north of Tomah. I do not have any dates of the ages of either of them, but my grandparents and their children moved down to Monroe County and bought a good farm.

My father Alfred [William Alfred on marriage certificate & Gravestone] was their first born, followed by Uncle Arthur and two younger boys, quite a bit younger, Herbert and Sidney. Mamma told me papa bought a farm and had a new house built on it before they were married.

There our sister Maudie was born and your mother [Alice] (very close together). Maudie became very ill and died when only one year old.  So it wasn’t long after that that papa decided to sell his farm and buy a grocery store in Tomah. All was going very well and when Alice was two years old I was born.  They were having a house built.  

In the fall of 1893 papa began having sick spells but they all gathered at Grandpa and Grandma Vandervort's for Christmas. Aunt Dora [(Vandervort)] and Uncle Will [Root]were there with their two children [Helen & James Root]. Everyone seemed to be feeling fine except for papa. Still he went to his store the next morning and got worse.  His helper took him home and the doctor came, but on December 27th he died [1893). He was only 27 years old.  Grandma Horel told me he probably could have been saved if the doctors had known about surgery for appendicitis. It was called peritonitis, A very sad case.

Mamma was a very good seamstress and she got plenty of work, so we lived quite happily in the house papa had had built. But sadness struck again the next winter. Grandpa [Elisha] Horel died [14 Feb 1895] of a heart attack. Grandma was heart-broken— you know how the English seem to favor their first born, and then to lose a husband!

Uncle Art [Horel] was married and had become a barber. She got him to come and take over her farm. The other boys were too young. She had a sister who was married and had a family in Osage, Iowa-—she had died and the husband needed help, so she took her boys and went and lived with them until the girls got older. It seems her folks had left Humbird [Wisconsin] and were living in southern Iowa, so she went there also.

Her youngest brother had become a lawyer. She lived in College Springs near Clarinda, so the boys got to go to college. When I was 12 years old that fall, mamma married Frank Brown (with 4 young children). Well, it changed our lives a great deal. Your mother [Alice (Horel) Ellis] didn't get along with him. Mamma's brother, Uncle Otis [Vandervort], lived on a farm near Tunnel City and he said Alice could come and live with them. Aunt Nettie [wife of Otis Oliver Vandervort] needed help since she had 4 or 5 children close together [she would have a total of 12], but I think when that school year was over Alice went to live with Grandma [James Baker] Vandervort. Grandpa had bought a small farm near Tomah. They had taken a state school boy years before. I stayed with mamma [Sarah (Vandervort)] and Frank [Brown]. Mamma wrote to Grandma Horel and asked her if we could come and live with her. She wanted us to be together. Grandma agreed, so at the Thanksgiving break at school we went to Iowa. It was my eighth grade year.

Uncle Art [Horel] decided that year that he wanted to live in Iowa, so they sold the farm and gave his brothers and Alice and I our inheritance. So mamma paid grandma some for our keep, but by spring your mother was dissatisfied and didn't get along very well with Grandma Horel. So she wrote that to mamma. So we packed up and went back to Wisconsin.

Grandpa [James Baker] Vandervort met us and took us to his home. While we were gone, mama sold her home and they had rented a farm near Tomah. We were told mamma was expecting a baby. Willie, the boy that lived with grandpa and grandma took me to mamma's. It was quite a distance from grandpa’s in the horse and buggy days.  So I stayed and helped mamma.  The baby was born in early August [1906], but he didn't live very long.  So he was buried beside mamma's first baby [Maud Horel 1888-1889].

That fall I didn't get to start school. Frank [Brown] said he would find me a place where I could work for my board in Sparta, which was the nearest high school, but he didn't find one. Grandpa and Uncle Earnest [Vandervort] came to the farm to see us and grandpa [James Baker Vandervort] insisted on taking me home with them so I could go to school. I had lost three months, but I made it up and lived with them [618 Pearl St., Tomah, WI] until in my senior year I quit at the Thanksgiving break and went to work. I thought I could take a test the next summer and become a country school teacher many girls did, but when I went for the test I had forgotten many things that I had learned in the grades and I gave up (l needed a refresher course).

I went back to my job. I was working in the employee's dining room at the Indian School. Late that fall Leo [Griffin] and I were married. I was just past 18 years of age. He had passed a test and got a chance to go to Carlille, Pennsylvania Indian School as a dairyman. But that only lasted six months. As I look back it seems he had many unusual disappointments.

Your mother [Alice (Horel)] lived with grandpa and grandma until she was married. She didn't go to school as long as I did, but she took a sewing course and I guess that helped fill her need.

Your father [Charles Ellis] had no brothers or sisters and neither did Leo [Griffin]. Leo's father died when he was four years old. His only uncle, Uncle Ebon, lived with Leo and his mother until he died. He was a very dear man and he loved our children so much. His health wasn't very good though, and he died at 63 years. So you and the others are the only cousins on both sides.

Grandma Horel left Iowa after her mother died at 93 years. Uncle Herbert [Horel] and a friend went to Wyoming when he was real young and became a rancher. Uncle Sidney [Horel] became a dentist after college, then he also went to Wyoming. So grandma followed them and lived with Herbert for some time. Both married very late in life and neither had any children of their own.

Uncle Arthur [Horel] stayed in Iowa. His wife had passed away earlier. In April of 1927 Grandma [Mary] Horel went to Iowa and visited Uncle Art and family. In late April she came to visit us. Genevieve was my youngest that year. Well, we had a great visit and grandma enjoyed some of her old friends.

She went to Milwaukee and spent a week or so and a few days with our mother. While there she got sick but seemed to recover quite well but she asked Leo to take her to a doctor when she got back to our house. The doctor told her she must take it a bit slower because her heart was giving out. So she would rest every afternoon and seemed to be well. She wanted to visit relatives in Humbird before going home. So we took her to a train on June 1st for Humbird, but after the excitement of meeting a number of old friends etc. she died of a heart attack.

She [Mary (Orr) Horel] died in the first week after leaving us. We got the word from some cousins of our father. So arrangements were made to have her buried next to her husband and our father in the La Grange cemetary. She was 80 years young.

Harold got mixed up about college. Uncle Sidney was the only one to go to college. After finishing in College Springs where they lived he went to Ames, Iowa, and became a dentist. In later years he gave that up and became a forest ranger in Wyoming. He loved the outdoor life. Herbert [Horel] and Sidney and Uncle Art [Horel] all came to my house after the services at the cemetary for grandma." He appeared in the census in July 1850 in Summit Township, Waukesha County, WI.⁵⁸ Between 1860 and 1870 he was a farmer in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.^59,91 James appeared in the census in 1860 in Summit Township, Waukesha County, WI.⁵⁹ He was living with his parents. He served in the military before July 1865.^{53,137,185,186} in the Civil War. He served in Company A, 18th Wisconsin Infantry, and in November 1880 he received a pension of $12 per month for "disease of eyes."

From the research of Kathy Looser: "James was the next to the last of five children born from second marriage of both James Robert Vandervort and Mary Baker Moon.  Both of his parents were born and married in New York State. Before he was 10 years old his family  moved to Wisconsin and when he was 19 and living in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin the Civil War began.

James Baker Vandervort enlisted as a private in Co. B, 16th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin on Oct. 18, 1861.   At that time he was described as having gray eyes and brown hair, 5'7" tall and worked as a Farmer in Waukesha county.  A typed and transcribed newspaper article (no attribution) said that he was discharged on Jan 4, 1864 at Treadbone [likely Redbone], Mississippi. He then reenlisted with Company A 16th Wisconsin Volunteers.  

During his four years in the service, he apparently was involved in Siege of Cornish, MS; Bumpkin's Mills, GA, Chattahoochee River, GA, Siege of Atlanta, GA; Decatur, GA, Jonesboro, GA, Lovejoy's Station, GA, Siege of Savannah, GA; Pocatalico, SC; Whippy Swamp, SC; Orangeburg, SC; Columbia, SC; Bentonville, NC; Capture of Atlanta and the March to the Sea.  The newspaper article  noted that when asked about his time in the War, he felt his most important service to the country was at the battles of Shiloh and Bald Knob and the capture of Atlanta. 

He was in the Civil War for most of it's duration and near the end came down with a fever (Yellow, Malaria, Dengue, Encephalitis?? -- no idea). He was hospitalized and ended up convalescing at the Swift Hospital facility associated with Fort Crawford at  Prairie du Chien.  The Swift hospital was one of three hospitals in Wisconsin to care for wounded and ill Civil War soldiers. It opened in the fall of 1864 and closed September 1865. In the one year that soldier's convalesced there, the hospital served 1468 men from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.  

There he somehow met Annie McIntyre.  We can only conjecture how that happened.  Did she work or volunteer at the medical clinic?  Did their local church send parishioners to visit soldiers and comfort them while away from home?  Did they have mutual friends who introduced them?  No way to answer those, but we do know that on July 3, 1865 they were married in Prairie du Chien. 

He was discharged from the service on July 29, 1865 in Madison, Wisconsin. James and Annie moved to LaGrange, Wisconsin where his extended family then resided.  They farmed there for 25 years and then moved a short ways to Tomah, Wisconsin. They had six children together, five of which lived to adulthood.  They include Sarah (Brown); Dora (Root), Charles, Earnest and Otis.   Their last child, Clinton, lived less than a year."

. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹¹ His household consisted of James and his children Sarah, Dora and Charles L. James appeared in the census in 1875 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁹ His household consisted of 3 males and 3 females. He appeared in the census in 1880 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^46,116 His occupation was "Farmer." He owned a 120-acre farm in sections 7 and 8.
He appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁸ His residence was on Pearl Street. James appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁹ His residence was on Pearl Street. He died on 23 March 1916 at the age of 74 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^16,60,76,187

Obituary Notes: "James B. Vandervort, the son of James R. and Mary Vandervort was born in Schoharie County, New York March 30, 1841 and departed this life at 7:30 Thursday evening March 23rd at his home in this city.

During his early childhood in the year 1845 he moved with his parents to Buffalo, New York, and one year later they came west and settled first at Waukesha and then at Oconomowoc in this state, Wisconsin.

He grew to manhood and at the outbreak of the Civil War he volunteered at the first call of troops to put down the rebellion. He enlisted in Company A 16th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and after eighteen months in service, the time of his enlistment expired, he re-enlisted on Jan. 4, 1864 at Red Bone, Miss. to serve for three years or until the close of the war.

Some of the bloodiest battles of the desperate struggle were participated in by him, and he took part in the celebrated March to the sea and the capture of Atlanta. Sometime after this he was taken sick with fever and sent north to the military hospital at Prairie du Chien, Wis. On July 31, 1865 he received an honorable discharge from the service with a war record that might be coveted by any soldier. The experience of those troublesome times were indelibly stamped upon his memory and he loved to talk of the days of strife and turmoil which he had passed.

On July 3, 1865, he was married to Miss Anna M. McIntyre and they soon moved to a farm in the Town of LaGrange where they resided until 1890 when they came to Tomah, which place has since been their home.

Six children were born to this union, five of whom survive him, namely: Mrs. Sarah Brown, Tomah; Mrs. Wm Root of Grundy Center, Iowa; C. L. Vandervort of Enderlin, N. Dak.; Otis O. Vandervort of North Home, Minn.; and E. D. Vandervort of Thief River Falls, Minn. Besides his wife and children he is survived by two sisters and one brother, namely Mrs. Deal (John) Johnson residing in the state of Washington, Mrs. Maria (Ed) Kinne and Cornelius Vandervort of this city, and also a large company of relatives and friends.

The deceased was an honored member of the Henry W. Cressy Post and Knights of Pythias Lodge of this city.

During the pastorate of the Rev. O. A. Britton at LaGrange, he experienced religion and united with the Methodist Church at that place, and on Sept. 11, 1892 transferred to Tomah Church.

On many a bloody battle field he fought, the flag to save
To do the Master's will on earth, his strength he freely gave
The fainting cheered, the sick relieved all by the power of love;
A crown of life is his reward, in the Laud of Light above

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. L. E. Hoisington at the Methodist Church at 2:30 Monday afternoon and the remains were laid to rest in the family lot at Oak Grove Cemetery."

"Card of Thanks
We wish to thank the many friends, the members of the various lodges and societies, the choir and others who so generously extended us their help and gave us such beautiful flowers and the obsequies of our beloved husband and father.
Mrs. J. B. Vandervort and Family"

His cause of death was listed as "apoplexia followed by La Grippe."

He was buried on 27 March 1916 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{16,31,172,173} in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

James Baker VANDERVORT Jr. and Anna Mary "Annie" MCINTYRE were married on 2 July 1865 in Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, WI.^{2,31,76,184,186,188,189} (Her surname may have been spelled McIntire.) They are believed to have met in Prairie du Chien while he was in the Swift hospital recovering from wounds received in the Civil War. They were married 28 days prior to his discharge from the Army.

From the notes of Charles F. Vandervort, a great-grandson, 28 August 1982: "Anna McIntyre (of Tomah) Vandervort was according to Ernest and Maude a lady with a good sense of humor, the type with the twinkle in the eye."

From the research of Kathy Looser: "On their 50th wedding anniversary they had a celebration at their home which was attended by their children and his Grand Army of the Republic Post and her Ladies Relief Corps members.  At 8:00 in the evening their pastor of the Methodist Church, Rev. Mr. Hoisington, performed a ceremony repeating their vows and joined in celebrating this wonderful milestone.  According to the newspaper article, Annie was attired in a gown of tan silk poplin and carried a bouquet of yellow roses.  Their porch and lawn were "decorated in the national colors" as befits a celebration of a wedding brought together because of his service to help save the Union and their 50th anniversary taking place on the Independence Day weekend."

. Anna Mary "Annie" MCINTYRE, daughter of David MCINTYRE and Louisa HUFF, was born on 26 October 1846 in Troy, Rensselaer County, NY.^{46,91,137,138,139,186,187} She was listed as "Annie" in the 1870 Census and her birth place was listed as "Maine." In the 1880 and 1900 Census', her name was listed as "Anna" and her birth place was listed as "Mass." The 1900 Census listed her birth date as Oct 1845, with her father having been born in Massachusetts and her mother in Maine. In the 1910 Census for herself and for her daughter Dora, her birth place was listed as "Maine."

From the research of Kathy Looser: "Anna Mary's parents, David and Louisa (Huff) McIntyre were both born in Maine and married in Boston, Massachusetts.  After a three year whaling adventure, David joined the Navy and ended up on a ship that participated in the Mexican War.  When he got out of the Navy back in Massachusettes in 1849 he and his wife moved first to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and later to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. There they had two daughters and Anna was the eldest.  Her official name may have been Mary Anna, but everyone knew her as 'Annie.'"

. She appeared in the census in 1860 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Township, Milwaukee County, WI.¹⁹⁰ She lived at the home of her husband and children in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI about 1870.⁹¹ Annie 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 appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁸ Annie appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁹ She appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴⁰ She was living with her daughter Sarah and her family. She died on 26 December 1924 at the age of 78 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^60,187 Obituary Notes: "Anna M. McIntyre was born at Troy, N.Y. Oct. 26, 1846. When she was a small child she moved with her parents to Oconomowoc, Wis. A short time later they moved to Prairie du Chien, Wis. where she made her home until she married J. B. Vandervort in 1866 (Her husband's obituary states that they married in 1865).

They made their home on a farm in LaGrange Township, Monroe County, where they lived until 1891 (J. B.'s obituary states 1890) when they moved to Tomah. Mr. James Vandervort died in 1916.

To them six children were born. Clinton died in 1888. Those who survive are Sarah Brown, Tomah; Dora Root, Grundy Center, Iowa; Chas. S., Ironwood, Mich.; Otis O., Bergville, Minn.; and Ernest D., Superior, Wis.

She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and also a member of the Pythian Sisters and WRC.

She departed this life at the home of her daughter Mrs. Frank Brown at Tomah Dec. 26, 1924. Funeral Services were held at the Methodist Church of Tomah, Dec. 29, Rev. G. H. Willett officiating."

Her cause of death was listed as "chronic uefhitis and apoplexy."

Annie was buried on 29 December 1924 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^74,172,173 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

James Baker VANDERVORT Jr. and Anna Mary "Annie" MCINTYRE had the following children: