Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Van Dolson, John Tunis 
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Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

JOHN TUNIS VAN DOLSON.

More than sixty years ago the subject of this sketch, then a lad of six-years, 
came to Grundy county, and he is entitled to rank not only with those who have 
lived long in the county but as well with its oldest citizens in point of 
years.

John Tunis Van Dolson was born in Albany county, New York, April 5, 1822. He 
is descended in both the paternal and maternal lines from Holland ancestry, 
that entered into the famous Dutch colony of New York, the history of which 
constitutes an interesting part of the colonial history of the Empire state. 
The old Dutch spelling of the name was Van Dalfsen. Descendants of these old 
Dutch families may well be proud of their ancestry, for no class of American 
citizens can boast of a mote worthy and honorable lineage.

Mr. Van Dolson’s father was Tunis Van Dolson and his mother’s maiden name was 
Elizabeth Ten Eyck.  The latter died when her son was but a child of six or 
seven years, he being the youngest of five children,— three daughters and two 
sons. The daughters, who are now all dead, became residents of Illinois. They 
were Charlotte Amelia, who became the wife of Ephraim Bronk; Garritie, who 
married Theron Collins and died in Kansas many years ago; and Elizabeth Ann, 
who became the wife of William H. Perkins. The subject of this biography and 
his brother Conrad Van Dolson are the only surviving members of the family. 
The latter, now ninety years old, is a resident of Chicago. A son, however, 
James W., was born of the second marriage of the father, and he lives in the 
state of New York.

John Tunis Van Dolson lived in his native state until he was sixteen years 
old, and in 1838 came to Illinois with his sister, Elizabeth Ann, who had 
before that time married Mr. Perkins. They came directly to Au Sable township, 
Grundy county, and Mr. Van Dolson remained at the home of his sister till the 
following spring, when he went to Kendall, Kendall county, Illinois, where his 
brother-in-law, Ephraim Bronk, was living, and staid with him about a year and 
a half, when he returned to Au Sable and for seven years worked on the farm of 
his brother-in-law, William Perkins. In the meantime he had purchased the 
quarter section of land on which he now lives, and rented the same to another 
party, not having sufficient capital to farm it himself, and for a time he 
worked as a hired hand for the man to whom he rented the place.

December 7, 1848, he was married to Miss Rachel Widney, who died September 11, 
1858, leaving two children: Mary E., born September 16, 1849, now the wife of 
William Smith, of Gardner, Illinois; and William, born May 11, 1857, who 
resides near the home of his father. The Widney family, of which Mrs. Van 
Dolson was a member, trace their Dutch ancestry back several hundred years. A 
remote ancestor, as a colonel, accompanied the army of William III, Prince of 
Orange, from Holland to Ireland in 1688.  The grandparents of Mrs. Van Dolson 
were John and Mary Widney, who emigrated to America and settled in 
Pennsylvania, and removed thence to Miami county, Ohio, Febniary 4, 1864, Mr. 
Van Dolson was married to his present estimable wife, who was Miss Elizabeth 
Ross, born in Ohio, April 1, 1835, a daughter of Charles and Sarah Ross, 
natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively, and examples of trite 
American nobility.  Immediately after his first marriage, Mr. Van Dolson 
settled on his farm, and there he has since lived. He has prospered 
financially and is numbered with the solid citizens of the county. He has 
always taken a commendable interest in the moral and material growth of the 
community in which he lives and has ever been held in the highest esteem. He 
was a member of the hoard of county commissioners for many years, and during 
his service in that capacity his acts were ever characterized by honest 
conviction of duty and the best interests of his township and county.

Politically Mr. Van Dolson was by birthright a Democrat, and in his earlier 
voting days affiliated with that party. Since the Republican party came into 
being, however, he has been identified with it. He possesses strong 
prohibition principles, opposing the sale of liquor in all forms. While 
connected with no church organization, he aims to be governed in his daily 
walk of life by Christian principle, and is liberal in his support of 
religious work. Mrs. Van Dolson is a member of the Congregational church.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Dolson have a pleasant home and are surrounded by all the 
comforts of life, and are everywhere recognized as highly esteemed citizens of 
Grundy county. Their farm is well improved and well stocked and is supplied 
with all modern devices for successful cultivation. Everything about it is 
strictly up-to-date and the place gives evidence everywhere and in every way 
of being in the hands of a careful and skillful farmer.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p570-572

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