376 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



he settled in the town of Howard with his family of wife 

 and two children,— Charles H. and Catharine (deceased). 

 In 1846 he settled in the town of Prattsburgh, on what is 

 known as the Jared Pratt farm of three hundred and ten 

 acres, and in 1876 purchased the place where he now resides, 

 near the village. Besides his farm interests, he has dealt 

 quite largely in real estate in the town of Prattsburgh, as 

 also in the town of Howard ; and in all his business transac- 

 tions Mr. Van Housen has acted with that successful saga- 

 city and common sense often found among men who carve 

 out their own fortune. 



The children born in the town of Howard were Edward 



and is a man of correct habits. In the days of slavery he 

 stood strongly intrenched againt human bondage, and during 

 the late Rebellion supported the Union cause, and one son, 

 Israel A., was for nineteen months a soldier of that war. 



It is a fact worthy of note here, that while a resident of 

 the town of Howard, although not worth altogether one 

 hundred dollars, Mr. Van Housen borrowed fifty dollars 

 and assisted in the erection of the first Presbyterian church 

 of that town. To such men churches, schools, society, law 

 and order owe their existence, and the sketches of the lives 

 of such men may prove lessons of profit to their progeny and 

 the rising generation who enjoy the results of their labor. 



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H. and Israel A. The mother died Oct. 7, 1841. For 

 his second wife he married xideline, daughter of Beriah 

 Hotchkin, of Prattsburgh, Aug. 2, 1843. Of this union 

 was born, in the town of Howard, also one daughter, Mrs. 

 Dr. Warren Stewart, of Savona. 



After moving to Prattsburgh the mother died. May 12, 

 1846, and for his third wife he married Mrs. P. W. An- 

 drews, daughter of Joseph H. Williams, of Rushville, 



Yates Co. 



She was born May 10, 1805, and is a lady of fine 

 intellectual attainments. Mr. Van Housen has ever been 

 a strong advocate of temperance principles before the people, 



He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since he 

 was fifteen years of age, and all of his wives have also been 

 connected with the same religious body. 



Mr. Van Housen, now in his seventy-seventh year, is 

 known as one of the most active men in the community, 

 and shows a well-preserved constitution and active mental 

 faculties ; and in the interests of the agriculturist, he has 

 taken an active part in the spread of the platform adopted 

 by the " Patrons of Husbandry ;" was one of the charter 

 members of the grange for the town of Prattsburgh, and 

 has been prominent in its councils, and liberal in time and 

 money to place before the people its principles. 



