Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/285

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
VAN VLECK
VARELA

Moravian ministry. He was consecrated bishop, 18 Sept., 1881, at Bethlehem, Pa., and resides at Gnadenhuetten, Ohio.


VAN VLECK, John Monroe, educator, b. in Stone Ridge, N. Y., 4 March, 1833. He was grad- uated in 1850 at Wesleyan university, where he entered in the junior year, after studying at the University of the city of New York. In 1850 he taught mathematics in the Providence conference seminary, and in the same year he became an assist- ant in the nautical almanac office in Cambridge, Mass., where he then remained for three years. He was elected adjunct professor of mathematics in 1853 in Wesleyan university, and since 1858 has held the chair of mathematics and astronomy there. In 1872-'3 and 1887-9 he was acting president. The degree of LL. D. was conferred on him by Northwestern university in 187(5. He was a mem- ber of the expedition that was sent out under the auspices of the nautical almanac office to ob- serve the total solar eclipse at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1809. Prof. Van Vleck is a member of the international Astronomische Gesellschaft and a fel- low of the American association for the advance- ment of science. His publications include " Tables giving the Positions of the Moon for 1855-'6," and for 1878-'91, and similar " Tables giving the Posi- tions of Saturn for 1857 to 1877," contributed to the " American Nautical Almanac."


VAN VLIET, Stewart, soldier, b. in Ferris- burg, Vt., 21 July, 1815. He was educated at the U. S. military academy, being graduated ninth in a class of forty-two in 1840, when he was pro- moted 2d lieutenant in the 3d U. S. artillery. He served against the Seminole Indians and in garri- son at several military posts in Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina, until 1846, when, having be- come 1st lieutenant and captain and assistant quartermaster, he was present at the battle of Monterey and siege of Vera Cruz, Mexico, in com- mand of his company. Capt. Van Vliet was in charge of the construction of Fort Laramie, Fort Kearny, and other frontier posts in 1847-'51, was actively employed in fitting out the Utah expedi- tion under Albert Sidney Johnston, and with Gen. William S. Harney at the battle of Blue Water, 3 Sept., 1855, against the Sioux. He was chief quar- termaster of the Army of the Potomac with rank of brigadier-general from August, 1861, till July, 1862, and rendered important service in fitting out troops for the field, and accompanied Gen. George B. McClellan, serving under him in all the battles from Gaines's Mills to Malvern Hill. He was promoted major, 3 Aug., 1861, and lieutenant- colonel and deputy quartermaster-general, 29 July, 1866. He was on duty at New York city in 1862-7, furnishing transportation and supplies, at Schuyl- kill arsenal, Pa., in 1869, and was chief quarter- master of the Division of the Atlantic in 1872 and the Department of the Missouri in 1872-5. He was brevetted major-general, U. S. army, 13 March, 1865, for " faithful and distinguished services dur- ing the war," and promoted to the full rank of colonel and assistant quartermaster-general, 6 June, 1872. On 22 Jan., 1881, Gen. Van Vliet was retired from active service.


VAN WART, Isaac, patriot, b. in Greenburg, N. Y., in 1760 ; d. in Mount Pleasant, N. Y., 23 May, 1828. He was a farmer in Westchester coun- ty, N. Y., and an ardent sympathizer with the patriot cause during the Revolution. On 23 Sept., 1780, with John Paulding and David Williams, he intercepted Maj. John Andre on his return from the American lines. (See Paulding, John.) For

this service he received the thanks of congress, a pension of $200 per annum for life, and a silver medal bearing on one side the word "Fidelity" and on the other the legend " Vincit Amor Patrias." On 11 June, 1829, the citizens of Westchester coun- ty erected a monument to his memory. He was an active member of Greenburg church, and served it as chorister until his death.


VAN WINKLE, Peter G., senator, b. in New York city, 7 Sept., 1808; d. in Parkersburg, W. Va., 15 April, 1872. He removed to Parkersburg, Va., in 1835, and practised the profession of law there till 1852, when he became treasurer and sub- sequently president of a' railroad company. He was a member of the Virginia constitutional con- vention in 1850, and of the Wheeling reorganiz- ing convention in 1861, was in the West Virginia legislature from the formation of the new state till 1863, and in that year became U. S. senator, having been chosen as a Unionist for the term that ended in 1869. He was chairman of the com- mittee on pensions in that body, was a member of those on finance, pensions, post-offices, and post- roads, and in the impeachment of President John- son was one of the members that voted for ac- quittal. In 1866 he was a delegate to the Phila- delphia loyalists' convention.


VAN WYCK, Charles Henry, senator, b. in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 10 May. 1824. He was gradu- ated at Rutgers in 1843, adopted the profession of law, and in 1850-'6 was district attorney of Sullivan county, N. Y. He served in congress in 1859-'63. having been chosen as a Republican, and while holding his seat in that body became colonel of the 10th legion, or 56th regiment, of New York volunteers. He served with Gen. George B. McClel- lan in the peninsula campaign, and in 1865 was made brevet brigadier-general of volunteers. He was again in congress in 1867-'71, and was chair- man of the committee on retrenchments. He re- moved to Nebraska in 1874, engaged in farming, was a delegate to the Constitutional convention in 1876, state senator in 1876-80, and in 1881 became U. S. senator.


VAN ZANDT, Marie, singer, b. in Texas, 8 Oct., 1861. Her mother, Mrs. Jennie Van Zandt, a daughter of Antonio Blitz, was herself a singer of note, and appeared in opera under the direction of Max Maretzek. Marie went with her mother in 1873 to London, where she studied at a convent school. While in that city she met with much encouragement from Adelina Patti, whose style she is said to have copied to a great extent. After study- ing also a short time with Francesco Lamperti in Milan, she made her debut in Turin, in 1879, as Zerlina, and appeared also in " La Sonnambula." She was engaged for Her Majesty's opera company in London in 1880, and in 1881 made her debut at the Opera Comique, Paris, remaining there for four seasons. She is a singer of much promise, and the possessor of a fine voice of great compass.


VARELA, Florencio (vah-ray'-lah), Argentine publicist, b. in Buenos Ayres, 23 Feb., 1807; d. in