Columbia County WI Archives Biographies.....Van Steenwyk, Gilbert January 13, 1814 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Roxanne Munns rmunns@uwalumni.com April 13, 2007, 11:30 pm Author: Unknown GILBERT VAN STEENWYK, President of the Batavian Bank, was born in the City of Utrecht, Netherlands, Jan. 13, 1814; he received an academic education, at the University of Utrecht, graduating in philosophy and classical literature in 1836; immigrated to the United States in May, 1849, and located at Milwaukee, remaining there until 1854, when he moved to Newport, Sauk Co., where he resided until 1858. He then removed to Kilbourn City, Columbia Co., and in January, 1862 removed to La Crosse. He was a volunteer in the Army of the Netherlands in 1830 and 1831, and commissioned officer of the National Guards from 1838 to 1849; was Brigadier of the Wisconsin State Militia in 1857; Commissioner of Immigration for Wisconsin, in New York City, by appointment of Gov. L. J. Farwell, from 1852 to 1853, under the law of 1852. Was appointed Consul of the Netherlands for Wisconsin in 1849 and also for Michigan and Minnesota in 1850, resigning these consulships in 1859. Was elected a member of the Wisconsin State Legislature in 1859, and was appointed Bank Comptroller in 1860 and 1861. Was elected Mayor of La Crosse in 1873 and 1874, and was elected State Senator from this district for 1879 and 1880. Mr. Van Steenwyk is in every respect a thorough business man and enterprising citizen, and very far-seeing in the management of his business, and all the details looking to its success. The latest enterprise is the erection of a fine building corner of State and Seventh streets, designed for four residences. Additional Comments: From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 804. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/columbia/bios/vansteen410gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 2.2 Kb