John W. Van Doren
Gallatin County
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913

Ranking among Livingston's prominent men who have been 
honored politically and who have achieved a high standing 
in the realm of business and finance, stands the subject 
of this sketch, John W. Van Doren.  A native of New Jersey, 
he was born January 1, 1846, a son of Henry O., and Letitia 
Van Doren, also natives of that state, who spent their 
lives in agricultural pursuits, the father passing away 
when eighty years of age and the mother when John W. was 
but a child.  They had five children of whom three survive: 
David, John W. and Martha.

John W. Van Doran was reared on his father's farm and 
when he could be spared from his duties thereof, during 
the winter months, attended the district schools.  In 
1869 he removed to Knox County Illinois, where he first 
worked as a farm hand for about two years and after his 
marriage removed to Montgomery County, Kansas and 
continued to engage in agricultural pursuits for the 
next three years.  Returning to Knox County ,Illinois, 
he was engaged in farming and stock raising until 1886 
in which year he came to Park County Montana where the 
cattle business occupied his energies until 1900.  He 
then established his home in the city of Livingston, 
where he has a comfortable modern residence at No. 723 
East Calendar Street.  He disposed of his farm in 1905.

Mr. Van Doran was married in Knox County Illinois December 
6, 1870 to Miss Harriet Wagner, who was born in Canton, 
Fulton County, Illinois, daughter of Jesse and Nancy 
Wagner, natives of Pennsylvania.  Mrs. Van Doren's 
parents were married in their native state and in 
1840 removed to Fulton County Illinois and engaged 
in farming, later going to Knox County where Mr. 
Wagner carried on farming and stock raising until 
some years prior to his death, when he retired from 
business activities.  He died at the age of eighty-
eight years in Knox County, and his widow survived 
him but two years, having also reached the age of 
eighty-eight.  They had a family of eight children, 
of whom but two survive: John, living in Kansas and 
Harriet who married Mr. Van Doren.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Doren have three children: Thirza, 
the wife of Harry Blair, Dr. Halsey, who is a dentist 
working in Livingston, who married Montana Meyers and 
Bessie the wife of Charles Landis.