Bio: J. B. Vandegaer, Sabine Parish Louisiana

Source:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, The

Southern Publish Company, 1890, Nashville and Chicago



Submitted by:  Thelma Shields

e-mail:  shields@eufaula.lib.ok.us
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J. B. VANDEGAER



J. B. Vandegaer, merchant, Many, La.. Mr. Vandegaer is an example of the

success attending hard work and honest dealing, and his trade is solidly

established and reaches over the surrounding country.  He is of foreign birth,

having been born in Braband, Belgium, on March 20, 1835, and is the son of

Gaspar and Hohanna (Broweer) Vandegaer.  The parents left the land of their

birth in 1855, took passage on a sailing vessel at Antwerp, and landed at New

Orleans after a sixty four days' voyage.  They immediately went to Rapides

Parish, La., settled on Spring Creek, and there the father died in 1861.  The

mother is yet living, and resides in Sabine Parish.  The father was a

blacksmith by trade and carried it on the principal part of his life.  They

were the parents of eight children, six of whom now survive:  Arnold, Teresa,

Felicitie, Melanie, and Daniel.  J. B. Vandegaer, the third in order of birth

of the above mentioned children was reared in Belgium, and received his

education in the common schools of that country.  He learned the blacksmith's

trade of his father.  He was twenty years of age when coming to this country,

and he remained in Rapides Parish until 1859, when he moved to Many,carrying

on his trade at that place until 1867.  He was three years in the late war and

served his adopted country faithfully and well.  He afterward gave up his

trade and engaged in merchandising, which he has  since carried on     very 

successfully.  He has a large stock of goods, and the firm is J. B. Vandegaer

and Son.  Mr. Vandegaer has been postmaster since 1878, was recorder of the

parish for four years and treasurer for one term.  He was also president of

the school board for six years, and has been prominently identified with the

interest of Sabine Parish for years.  He has also been justice of the peace

for eight years, filling all the duties incumbent upon that office in a

satisfactory manner.  He took a trip to Europe in 1887 and on his homeward

voyage he was on the ill fated ship "Knickerbocker" that was caught in a

terrible storm between New York and New     Orleans, two days  and nights the

ship was at the mercy of waves, the whole crew giving her up as lost, and it

was reported abroad that she was lost.  Mr. Vandegaer's experience during that

time was one that he will ever remember, and one that he does not care to

repeat.  It was a very narrow escape.  He was married in 1859 to Miss Maria J.

Buvens, a native of Belgium, by whom  he has three children:  Leo (a partner

in the store and a prominent young man), Felicitia (deceased) and William H.. 

Mr Vandegaer with his wife and family is a member of the Catholic Church.  The

paternal grandparents of our subject also came over to this country in 1858,

and located in Rapides Parish, where they received their final summons.  Leo

Vandegaer was assessor of Sabine Parish for five years, was a census taker in

1880, was clerk of the court for about six months and has been clerk in the

sheriff's office since a boy.  He has been twice married and has one child by

his first marriage, Maggie, and one child by his second.  He is also a notary

public.



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