VANDERVOLGEN-Albert - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Albert VANDERVOLGEN, farmer, Newtown. The ancestors of the Vandervolgen family emigrated from Holland in the 17th century and sttled at Schenectady, NY and were living there when that place was destroyed by the French & Indians in 1690. They were wealthy and owned large possessions in that neighborhood. Lawrence Vandervolgen was taken captive by the Indians when 11 years old and carried to Canada. About the time he was 21 he was permitted to visit his home, having 1st solemnly promised the Indians to return. His friends tried every art and persuasion to induce him to remain with them, but he had acquired an ardent attachment to his forest home and his red brethren, and insisted that he could not break his word. As a last resort, when he was asleep his sister clipped off his scalp-lock. To lose this sign of manhood and dignity was the meanest disgrace to a warrior, which subjected him to the exquisite scoffs and insults even of the women, to which, acknowledging his shame he submitted without resentment. By the time this tuft of hair had grown out he had become reconciled to the home of his childhood, and never returned save as an interpreter among the Six nations. He served William Andrews, an Indiana missionary in this capacity, and translated the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church into the Indian tongue. Mr. Vandervolgen's father has a copy of this book which is a curious relic. It is in a good state of preservation, except that the title page is missing. The book was published as eaerly as 1720. Considerable sums have been offered for it by Asbury University and Wabash College. We cannot follow up the history of this individual to show the high regard which the Indians entertained for him and the expression of it in the large gift of land which they in vain urged him to accept. Mr. V's great grandfather, John Vought, was a royalist in the time of the revolution and captain in the English service. he owned an estate of a 1000 acres near Schenectady and received a pension from the British Government as long as he lived. Mr. V's grandfather, Myndert Vandervolgen, was a militia captain and his father, William B, born 1816 was liberarlly educated at Kingsborough, NY. In 1842 he came to Indiana and for a number of years changed his location frequently. He has been connected with various kinds of business, but farming, stock raising and dealing and manufacturing lumber, have been the chief interests with which he has been identified. He has accumulated a good property. He was married 1849 to Jane C. CARNAHAN, daughter of William and sister of John M. Carnahan. She is a cultured and refined lady. Albert Vandervolgen was born of these parents in Davis Twp, May 8, 1851. He received his education at Waveland Collegiate Institute, where he attended one year. His marriage with Louise Campbell, daughter of Robert Campbell of Newtown occurred Sept 24, 1874. His wife was born Aug 4, 1855. They have 3 children: Blanche, born July 12, 1875; Edgar, Sept 26, 1877 and Bertha May 14, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. V are members of the Presbyterian Church and he is a stalwart republican.