My Genealogy Hound

STEPHEN V. VAN RIPER, prominent among the farmers of the town of Fayette, Seneca County, was born at Rose Hill, July 21, 1839. His parents were Peter and Maria (Vreeland) Van Riper, natives of New Jersey, the father born in Essex and the mother in Bergen County. They were married in that state, soon after which they came to New York and purchased what is now called the Rose Hill Farm. It is a tract of one hundred and fifty and three-fourths acres, which Mr. Van Riper bought from a Mr. McClung, whose family had entered it from the Government. There the father resided until ready to retire from active life, when he moved into the village of Waterloo.

Peter Van Riper was twice married, becoming the father of five children by his first union and two by his second. The subject of this sketch was next to the youngest of the first marriage. His brother John P. died in California, whither he had gone in search of gold; Jane married Robert Rorrison, and departed this life in Waterloo; Isabel V. married Jeremiah Van Horn, and makes her home in Waterloo; Peter H. died in Newton, Iowa, unmarried. Of the second marriage there were born two daughters: Gertrude M., now Mrs. William Shiley, who lives at Reading, Hillsdale County, Mich.; and Sophia E., who married Daniel Williams, and makes her home in the town of Owasco, Cayuga County, this state.

The subject of this sketch supplemented the knowledge which he gained in the district school by a course in the Geneva public schools. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred December 23, 1863, when he was joined in wedlock with Miss Julia Brown, who was born October 16, 1838, in the town of Romulus, this county. She was the daughter of John R. and Polly (Blane) Brown, the former of whom at that time owned the farm which is now occupied by her husband. The latter lived on the Rose Hill Farm until his father sold it, when he began working a place on shares. The following year, however, he purchased a tract of land in the town of Varick, going in debt for the greater part of it. He had the misfortune to have his dwelling burned a short time after moving on the place, and in order to replace it was put to considerable expense.

Mr. Van Riper lived on this place about three years, when he sold it, and, moving into the village of Waterloo, established a grocery business. However, not liking the confinement after the freedom of farm life, he sold out after six months and bought eleven and one-half acres, a part of his present farm. In addition to cultivating this small place he ran a threshing-machine for about four years, during that period making considerable money. His means he then invested in one hundred acres adjoining his former tract, and thereafter gave his entire time to its improvement.

To Mr. and Mrs. Van Riper were born five children, of whom Bertha died when about twenty-one years of age, and was interred in Maple Grove Cemetery at Waterloo. Orsa P. married Charlotte Duntz, and is engaged in farming in this locality; and Lottie M., Charles B. and Elmer are still under the parental roof.

Following in the footsteps of his honored father, our subject is a Republican in politics, tried and true, and cast his first Presidential vote in 1860 for Abraham Lincoln. He has ever been true to the principles of his party, and on that ticket was chosen Inspector of Elections. Together with his wife and children, he is a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, meeting with the congregation at Waterloo, of which he is Trustee, and his eldest son is Elder. They are all actively interested in Sunday-school work, and the younger members of the family are loyal Christian Endeavorers. The father of our subject was for many years connected with the Dutch Reformed Church at Geneva, in which he was Elder. Later, however, he took his letter from that congregation and placed it with the society meeting at Waterloo.

In August, 1862, Stephen V. Van Riper enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York Infantry, and was sent to Harper’s Ferry, where the regiment was obliged to surrender. It was then paroled and sent to Chicago, and kept in Camp Jackson for two months, at the end of which time the men were exchanged and ordered to Washington, thence to Virginia. Mr. Van Riper was prevented from further serving the Union cause on account of an injury, and after being confined for a time in the hospital at Washington, was honorably discharged and returned home. Socially he is a member of Rose Hill Grange at Waterloo.