Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/252

 VAN ALLSTYNE

VAN BUREN

Sons of the American Revolution. He is the author of: Life of Clement L. Vallandigham; (1ST2): Evils of Intemperance, and several con- tributions to the "Delaware Encyclopetlia." in- cluding History of Head of Chistiana Church and liistory of all the Presbyterian churches in Delaware. In 1903. although in his ninety sec- ond year, he was still active and vigorous, and an •ccasional prpacher in neigliboring pulpits.

VAN ALLSTYNE, Frances Jane (Crosby), liymn writer, was born in Southeast, N.Y., March 24. 1S20. When an infant she became blind tlirough maltreatment of the eyes for somesliglit atfection. Slie was graduated from the Institution of the Blind, New York city, in 1844; remained in the institution as a teacher of English grammar and rhetoric, and Greek, Roman and American history, 1847-58, and was married in 1858, to Alexander Van Allstyne, a music-teacher of New York city, who was also blind. She herself was a proficient performer on the guitar and piano. Her gift for rhyming showed itself at an early age. and while engaged in teaching, she wrote words to many songs for George F. Root, the well-known composer, " Tliere's Music in the Air " l)eing one of the most popular. In 1864, at the request of William B. Bradbury, composer of sacred music, she began to write Sunday school hymns, and in this occupation found her real life work. Her first hymn, "We are going, we are going. To a home beyond the skies,"' appeared Feb. 5, 1864. and in 1903 the total number of her hymns was estimated at 5000, for some of which she composed the music. She wrote a poem of welcome to Henry Clay, on the occasion of his visit to the Institution for the Blind, New Y''ork city, and was selected to read a poem in the sen- ate chamber, being the first woman to speak there in a public capacity. Her earlier work in- includes: 77ie Blind Girl and Other Poems (1844); Monterey and Other Poems (1849); A Wreath of Columbia's Floicers (1858), and the cantatas, Floicer Queen, and Pilgrim Fathers with George F. Root (1854). Among her hymns, many of which have been translated into various lan- guages, some of the most notable are: Safe in the Arms of Jesus; Rescue the Perishing (1869); Jesus. Keep Me Sear the Cross; Keep Thou My Way, O Lord: The Bright Forever (1871); Close to Thee (1873); O Come to the Saviour (1874); Saviour More thayi Life to Me (1875); lam Thine O Lord; So Xear to the Kingdom; O My Saviour, Hear Me. She published: Bells at Evening and Other Poems (189^), and was residing in Bridge- port. Conn., in 1903.

VAN BOSKERCK, Robert Ward, artist, was born in New .Jprsf^y. Jan. 15, 1855; son of Lucas J. an<l Catharine Zabriskie (.\ndersf)n) Van Bos- kerck: grandson of John (1791-1855) and Elea-

nor (Banta) Van Boskerck and of John Zabriskie and Harriet (Meyer) Anderson; great-grandson of Lucas (1760-1831) and Hannah Van Boskerck and of John and Catherine (Zabriskie) Ander- son, and great-'gi^andson of John (1730-1791) and JIary Van Boskerck. His first ancestor in America came from the Netherlands in 1645. He was graduated from the school of mines, Columbia university, C.E., 1877; studied art under R. Swain Gifford and A.H. Wyant, and first exhibited at the National Academy of De- sign in 1880. He was elected a member of the Society of American Artists in 1877, and an associate of the National Academy of Design in 1897. He received a silver medal at the Pan- American exhibition, Buffalo, N.Y., 1901. His later pictures include: A Rhode Island River (Paris exposition, 1889); Hackensack Meadow (World's fair, Chicago, 1893); Looking Eastward, Tower Hill, Narragansett (Paris exposition, 1900); Forest of Fontainebleau (National Acad- emy, 1901): Cham}} de Ma7's, Nemours (Society of American Artists, 1903). His pictures are owned by the Milwaukee art gallery, the Hamil- ton club, Brooklyn, and the Union League club. New York city.

VAN BUREN, James Heartt, first bishop of Porto Rico and 209th in the succession of the American episcopate, was born in Watertown, N.Y''.. July 7, 1850; son of James S. and Harriet A. (Stebbins) Van Buren; grandson of Peter and

Abigail (Mudge) Van Buren and of and Ruth

(Allen) Stebbins. He was graduated from Yale college, A.B., 1873; ordained deacon, 1876; priest, 1877, and held the successive charges of Milford and Seymour, Conn., Englewood, N.J., Newbury- port, and Lynn, Mass., in which latter city he was rector of St. Stephen's church, 1890-1901. , He was married, April 11, 1877, to Annie M., daughter of Asa and Emma (Hands) Smith of Norwalk. Conn. He was appointed resident missionary to Porto Rico in 1901; elected mis- sionary bishop of that jurisdiction in April, 1902, and consecrated the following June 24, in St. Steplien's clmrch, Lynn, Mass., by Bishop Peterkin, assisted by Bishops Lawrence, Hall, Brewster, Codman and Vinton. Bishop Van Buren made his residence in San Juan, his dio- cese consisting of 4 clergy, 3 parishes and mis- sions and 175 communicants. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from Berkeley Divinity scliool in 1902.

VAN BUREN, Martin, eighth President of the United States, was born in Kinderhook, N.Y., Dec. 5, 1782. son of Abraham and Mary (Hoes) Van Buren. His father was a farmer and tavern-keeper, and Martin attended the district schools and Kinderhook academy; entered the law office of Francis Svlvester in 1796, and in