Biography of: John H. Van Culin Sr. McCracken County, Kentucky Source; Biographical Sketches from, "Kentucky, History of the State" Main Author; William Henry Perrin 1887 **************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net. Submitted by: Vera Burnham vburnham@metrocast.net Date: May 28,2002 **************************************************************************** John H. Van Culin Sr.,was born in 1821, in the town of Salem, Salem Co.,N.J. His parents were John Van Culin,of German descent, and Sarah (Ware)Van Culin. John H. was but a small boy when his father died, and his subsequent boyhood's days were fraught with a remarkably checkered experience. At the age of sixteen years, he decided to go west, and after reaching Pittsburg, Penn. he found his limited means exhausted. He succeeded in securing a Position as clerk in a dry goods store, and after three years of such employment he obtained a clerkship on a steamboat. About 1841 he went to Hopkinsville, Ky., and obtained a position as book-keeper for Gant & Kinkead, but at the end of one year was elected to a clerkship in the branch bank of Kentucky, next to cashier of that institution in which he continued until July 1854. He then went to New Orleans and there engaged in a general commision business, which he conducted with marked success, accummulating a handsome fortune which was mostly swept away by the results of the Civil War. In 1860 Mr. Van Culin removed from New Orleans to Paducah, Ky. and engaged in merchantile business. In 1876 he established his present book business, and is now located at No. 107 Broadway. In 1858 he married Miss R.E. White a native of Tennessee. They have a family of three sons, viz; John H. Jr., a traveling salesman; Nolan W., assisant cashier in the Bank of Madison, at Jackson, Tenn., and David L. Van Culin, of Paducah.