BIOGRAPHY: Peter S. Van Orden; Spring Valley, Rockland co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

***********************************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm
***********************************************************************

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

PETER S. VAN ORDEN. Possessing versatile ability, this gentleman has been
enabled to engage in different lines of business and meet with success in all.
By force of circumstances he was obliged to earn his own livelihood from a
very early age, but this fact, instead of being a detriment, was doubtless an
important factor in securing his prosperity, for by it he was trained in
habits of industry, perseverance and energy. In youth he learned a trade,
which he followed for some years, but later turned his attention to farming,
which he has since carried on, together with the undertaking business.

In Spring Valley, Rockland County, where he now resides, the subject of this
notice was born February 20, 1834, being the youngest of four children and now
the sole survivor of the family. The two eldest children, John and Maria, are
de-ceased, and Peter, who was third in order of birth, died at the age of two
years. The parents, Stephen and Elizabeth (Van Houten) Van Or-den, were born
in this county and spent their entire lives on a farm here, the father dying
at the age of sixty-two, and the mother attaining the advanced age of
eighty-eight.

The first eighteen years of the life of our subject were passed on his
father's farm. He then began to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he
finished in Newark, N. J. Being a natural mechanic, he soon gained a thorough
knowledge of the trade, as well as familiarity with other lines of activity.
His education was meager; in fact, he learned more by observation than from
text-books. After a short time spent in Newark, he returned to Spring Valley
and opened a shop, working at his trade for eight years, and then turning his
attention to agriculture. In 1868 he purchased the undertaking establishment
which he has since carried on successfully. He is regarded as a reliable
business man, honest in his dealings with all, and thoroughly equipped with
everything necessary for the proper management of his occupation.

At the age of twenty-six years Mr. Van Orden was united in marriage with Mary
A. Hopper, a native of Rockland County. Five children blessed their union.
Ellen, the eldest of the family, is the wife of W. D. Kerr and has two
children, Helen and Margery. Andrew, who married Martha V. O. Smith, lives in
Spring Valley. John, who is pastor of the Reformed Church at Blawenburg, N.
J., married Ida Van Ness and has one child, Elizabeth. Frank M. was graduated
in June, 1893, from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J., since which time he
has been a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City.
Percy, the youngest son, has been a student in Rutgers College for the past
two years. The children have been given excel-lent educational advantages, and
John attended Rutgers College and the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick.

While Mr. Van Orden votes the Democratic ticket usually, yet he has
Prohibition tendencies and believes that the extermination of the liquor
traffic would promote the prosperity of the country as well as the happiness
of the people. Socially he affiliates with Ramapo Lodge No. 589, F. & A. M.,
at Suffern. He is a member of the Reformed Church and a liberal contributor to
all religious and benevolent enterprises.