BIOGRAPHY: Charles J. Van Alst; Montgomery, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

CHARLES J. VAN ALST. The family of which this gentleman is an honored repre-
sentative is one of the oldest of Orange County, and the farm which he now
owns has been in possession of some of its members for nearly seventy years.
He is the owner of one hundred and seven acres situated in the town of
Montgomery, and comprising a portion of the original home-stead. This was his
birthplace and is the only home he has ever known, and it is only natural,
therefore, that he should feel the deepest attachment for the scenes around
which cluster so many happy associations.

The parents of our subject, Bergoone and Jane (Lowe) Van Alst, were natives,
respectively, of Dutchess County and the town of Crawford, Orange County; the
former died when forty-seven and the latter at the age of fifty-five. Their
children were four in number, namely: Ebenezer, who resides in this town;
Mary, widow of Moses Mould; Charles J. ; and Daniel, whose biographical
sketch, with further particulars concerning the genealogical history, appears
elsewhere in this volume. Our subject was born May 7, 1829, and grew to
manhood on the place where he still re-sides. He was a small child when his
father died, and afterward he made his home with his mother until her death,
when he inherited a part of the old homestead.

In 1854 Mr. Van Alst was united in marriage with Miss Susan A. Wilkin, of this
county, who at her death left six children, named as follows: Mary, wife of
Augustus Burnett, of the town of Montgomery; Marshall, a grocer of New York
City; Moses, who is a farmer of the town of Craw ford, this county; Susan,
wife of James Burnett, a farmer of the town of Montgomery; Cordelia, wife of
Louis C. Andrews, of this town; and Jane, who died in childhood. The second
marriage of Mr. Van Alst, which occurred October 22, 1874, united him with
Miss Harriet, daughter of William Decker, of this county, and their union has
been blessed by the birth of one daughter, Eliza.

In all matters of public moment Mr. Van Alst takes the interest which should
be felt by every public-spirited citizen. He is a man who has decided views
upon all subjects of importance, and in his political opinions he is a firm
Republican, always voting for the candidates of the party. For two years he
has represented his town upon the County Board of Supervisors, and he has
filled the majority of the other town offices. Religiously he clings to the
faith of his forefathers and holds membership in the Reformed Church.