BIOGRAPHY: Cornelius V. A. Blauvelt; Nyack, Rockland 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

CORNELIUS V. A. BLAUVELT, Treasurer of Rockland County and a successful
business man of Nyack, was born in Orange-burg, this county, September 6,
1851, being the son of Henry A. and Maria (Van Antwerp) Blauvelt. His father,
who was born in the same vicinity, August 13, 1819, was a son of Abram H. and
Ellen (Blauvelt) Blauvelt, and a grandson of Hendrick A. Blauvelt, a
Revolutionary hero, who died at the age of about eighty. His father, Abram,
was the founder of the family in America, to which country he came from
Holland. The grandparents, though bearing the same family name, were not
related; the grandfather died at the age of eighty-eight, and lens wife when
eighty-three.

When Henry A. was a child of seven years, the family went to New York,w here
his father was employed as a carman, remaining there for about eight years. On
his return to Rockland County he learned the mason's trade, serving a four-
years apprenticeship under Frazer & Co. For about thirty years he followed
this occupation, and about half of that time he was engaged as a contractor,
in which work he met with success. Politically a Democrat, he has served in
various town offices, including those of Supervisor, Collector, Town Clerk and
Justice of the Peace. For the past fifteen years he has lived somewhat retired
from active business.

June 30, 1847, Henry A. Blauvelt married Miss Maria Van Antwerp, who died in
1892, aged sixty-five. They were the parents of five children, namely: Mary
E., Mrs. Abram Blanch, of Tappan; C. V. A.; Rachel, who is unmarried and
resides with her father; Abram, a resident of Sparkill; and Sarah V. A., widow
of James Hennigar, and a resident of Tappan. The children were reared in the
Episcopalian faith, of which their father is a strict observant, being a
member and official of the Sparkill Church.

The boyhood years of our subject were spent principally at Orangeburg, where
his father still lives, and he was educated in the schools of Tap-pan. At the
age of fifteen he became a clerk in the store of David W. Kipp, at Sparkill,
with whom he remained for twenty-five years. While there he was elected Town
Collector, on the Democratic ticket, and served in that capacity for two
terms. He also filled the position of Supervisor, which, however, he resigned
to accept that of County Treasurer, at the election of 1893. He remained with
Mr. Kipp until January 1, 1894, when the took charge of the county office. At
the same time he secured a one-half interest with J. A. Polhemus in the
real-estate and insurance business which he has since carried on, though Mr.
Polhemus has retired and C. A. Morrell has become a partner in the concern,
the firm title being Blauvelt & Morrell. The business was established by Gen.
J. H. Blauvelt, and is one of the oldest in the county. The firm also
represent the Travelers' Life Insurance Company.

The position filled by Mr. Blauvelt is one of much greater responsibility than
it was in the earlier history of the county, and a record of the business
requires seven times as much ledger space as formerly: All delinquent taxes
are now cared for in the office, while formerly they were in charge of the
office at Albany. While Mr. Blauvelt is a very busy man, he always finds time
to attend local conventions, frequently serving as a delegate to those of his
Congressional district.

Socially he is a charter member of Rockland Council No. 491, American Legion
of Honor, and is also a Forester. He is a Director and member of the Finance
Committee of the Nyack Building, Co-operative Savings and Loan Association,
which is in a flourishing condition, and which has been organized about eight
years. He is fond of fine horses and owns one himself.

January 19, 1881, Mr. Blauvelt married Miss Lizzie, daughter of R. B. Hennion,
of Piermont, where she was reared and educated. For nine years she has owned
and conducted millinery and dressmaking parlors in Nyack, where she is well
and favorably known. Both Mr. and Mrs. Blauvelt attend services at the
Episcopal Church.