William L. Van Horn, Caldwell Parish, LA
Source: Biographical and HsitoricalMemoir of Louisiana, published ca. 1895
Submitted by Larry Van Horn
March 2002


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William L. Van Horn, M.D. Ph.M., of Columbia, Caldwell Parish, La., is the eldest
of ten children of T.D. and Margaretta (Law) Van Horn, and was born in the city of
New Orleans, La., October 28, 1857. His father was born in Port Gibson, Miss., and
his mother was a native of Missouri. When but a small boy T. D. Van Horn was taken
to Tallahassee, Fla., where he grew to manhood and received his early education.
During the year 1843 he married Miss Mary Ann Faust, who became the mother of four
children: James Faust, Thaddeus Damascus; Mary Permelia and Thaddeus Damascus; James
Faust and Mary Permelia now surviving. In 1851 T. D. Van Horn moved to New Orleans
and became the manager of the "New Orleans Crescent," the leading Whig paper of the
South. His first wife dying in 1853, he married Miss Margaretta Law, August 12, 1856. He was the manager of the "Crescent"
until the breaking out of war, when he was commissioned by Governor Moore as aid-de-camp on the staff of the Third brigade
of the state troops and was by him assigned to duty on Colonel Scott's staff, and afterward aid-de-camp on the staff of
General Wheeler. After the war he assisted in the re-establishment of "The
Crescent," of which he was business manager until the close in 1869. In 1870 he
organized the Lafayette bank of New Orleans and was elected cashier, which position
he resigned two years later, when he was elected cashier of the Metropolitan bank,
retained that position for sixteen years and a half, and then resigned. He is now
cashier and bookkeeper of the "New Orleans States," one of the leading persons of
the city. He is a very popular and highly respected citizen, and in one way or
another has been connected with many important interests and institutions in the
Crescent City. As a Mason, he is widely known having taken the thirty-second degree.
He has held all of the offices in his lodge of which he is a life member. Dr. William
 L. Van Horn began life for himself at the age of sixteen as an apprentice of the
drug trade in New Orleans, and at the same time began the study of medicine. He
became a student of medicine and pharmacy at the Tulane University, of Louisiana,
in 1876, and graduated there from in both branches in 1879, and during that year
began practicing his profession in New Orleans, La. A year later he removed to
Columbia, La., where he has built up a lucrative practice, in connection with which
he conducts a profitable drug business. He was married in 1880 to Mary Francis,
daughter of Judge R. D. Bridger, of Columbia, La., who bore him one son and one
daughter, both of whom are now dead. Mrs. Van Horn died at Pineville, La, in 1883,
the family having recently removed to that place. After her death the Doctor returned
to Columbia, La., and in January 1886, married Miss Mattie P. Mallory, of Panola
County, Tex. By this marriage he has four children: William L., Mattie R., Oliver H.,
and Marguerite Lillian. The Doctor has acquired considerable property, being the
owner of an elegant residence and a large store and business house in Columbia, and
of 160 acres of good land situated in a suburb of that town. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, of the Knights of Pythias and of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. His professional standing is first class, and his skill as a physician and
surgeon is recognized throughout north Louisiana. He is the leading practitioner of
Columbia and the parish of Caldwell. His skill and integrity have both been recognized by the parish and town by his
election twice to the office of coroner of the parish and councilman of the town of Columbia, also by the various insurance
companies. He was elected by the New York Life Insurance Company, the Mutual Life of New York, the Pennsylvania Mutual of
Philadelphia, the Equitable Life of Massachusetts and the Endowment Rank, Knights
of Pythias, as their medical examiner in Caldwell Parish. He and his wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Dr. William Law Van Horn
Born: 28 Oct 1857 New Orleans, Orleans Parish, LA
Death: 9 Jun 1897 Hot Springs, Garland County, AR
Buried: Lafayette Cemetery #1, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, LA
Son of Thaddeus Damascus Van Horn and Margaretta Law

First Wife Mary Frances Bridger
Born: 22 Nov 1857 Columbia, Caldwell Parish, LA
Married: c 1880 Columbia, Caldwell Parish, LA
Died: 16 Jul 1883 Pineville, Rapides Parish, LA
Daughter of Judge Robert Dixon Bridger and Mary Francis Redditts

Children by this marriage
1. Thaddeus Robert Van Horn Born: 19 Sep 1881, Died: June 1882
2. Infant Van Horn Born c 1883, Died: 1883

Second Wife Mattie Parry Mallory
Born: 17 Jan 1866 Panola County, Texas
Married: 23 Jan 1885 Panola County, Texas
Died: 31 Oct 1942 Monsey Park, Suffolk County, NY
Buried Lafayette Cemetery #1 New Orleans, Orleans, LA

Children By this marriage
1. Willie Law Van Horn Born: 01 Dec 1885; Died: 20 Feb 1960 married #1-
Jessie Witt, Bertha Mae Bowers
2. Mattie Rosebud Van Horn Born: 14 Oct 1888; Died: Feb 1960 married
Walter
Basher Capron
3. Oliver Herbert Van Horn Born: 28 Nov 1889; Died 12 Jun 1953 married
Cleoma Eckols
4. Margarette Lillian Van Horn Born: 8 Jan 1892; Died Unknown married
George
William Lamd
5. Vannah Elliott Van Horn Born: 17 Dec 1895; Died: 29 Mar 1942 married
Susan Edna Drake