VanDeventer Karl - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

In making the archeological and historical survey of Indiana which is suggested by the historical commission as a fitting work for the county historical societies, it is to be hoped that the names and the work of the old cabinet makers will be listed. An inquiry from Karl VanDeVanter of Veedersburg suggests this, and it is possible that some of our readers may be able to answer his question. “I noticed a mention in your column recently,” writes Mr. VanDevanter of early settlers and early days in Parke County and wondered if some one of them or some one else could tell me what I very much desire to know. I have an old cherry bureau, on the underside of the top of which is written, “Peter VanDevanter” in large black letters. I inquired of Schuyler LaTourette of the famous coverlet weaver family and he said he thought this Peter VanDevanter was a resident of Parke County, was a flatboat builder and deer hunter. The LaTourettes and the VanDevanters were related but that is all the information he had concerning this man. I should like very much to know if Peter made this bureau.”  Mr. VanDevanter adds that he has a canopy cord bed used and owned by the LaTourette family in early days for which he much desires a LaTourette coverlet. Strange to say, these LaTourette coverlets are rare and very difficult to find. As for the families, a study of early New Jersey history shows that many of the Dutch families who settled in NY in 1630 later went down into New Jersey then came out to Ohio and then Indiana. The French LaTourettes intermarried with the Dutch and came with them to “the Western country.” Some of the Dutch names remain the same as has the Van DeVanter; others have been anglicized until the original name can not be recognized in the modern version.