My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. GERRET S. VAN HOESEN, a retired citizen of Cortland, was born December 24, 1834, at Preble, Cortland County, N. Y. He is a son of Garit Van Hoesen, and grandson of Garret Van Hoesen — each generation spelling the first name different. The first representatives of the family on this side of the water were three brothers who came from Holland and settled in Greene County, N. Y. The little house which they built soon after their arrival in this country was made from the brick that they carried in their vessel with them as ballast from their native land.

Garret Van Hoesen, the grandfather of our subject, was born at Coxsackie, Greene County, N. Y. His early manhood days were spent in his native county; later, accompanied by his brothers Francis and Albert, he came to Cortland County where they purchased a large tract of land and engaged in the tilling of the soil the rest of their days. His life companion was chosen in his native county, and three children were born to them: Garit; Jacob; and John, who in young manhood lost his life in a fire while rescuing his child. Garret Van Hoesen was a regular, old-fashioned Jacksonian Democrat. He was a most active and zealous member of the Presbyterian Church, and devoted much time and means to enhance its well being.

Garit Van Hoesen was born at Coxsackie, Greene Connty, N. Y., and came to Preble with his parents when quite young. He was reared and educated to agricultural pursuits and made farming his life vocation. The old homestead was his abode. He was married to Lana Van Buskirk, and they reared a large family of children, namely: Catherine, deceased; Susan (Skeele); Keturah (Hollenbeck); Jemima (Van Hoesen); Robert; Angeline (Palmer); Benjamin; Elmira (Manchester); Tryphena (Hoag); Gerret S.; Martin; and Luther. Garit Van Hoesen was a successful farmer, a good citizen, and a man who enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-townsmen. He was a Democrat until the organization of the Republican party, after which he continued faithful to the latter party. During his boyhood days he was a member of the state militia. The entire family favored the Presbyterian Church. He died in 1860, and his wife in 1863.

Gerret S. Van Hoesen, the subject of this sketch, first attended the common schools and was advanced at Homer Academy. Soon after reaching his majority, he went as far west as Minnesota, located in Rice County, that state, where he engaged in farming for a time, and later went to Kansas and took up a quarter section of land, where he sojourned for a short time, and finally returned to his native town. He then engaged in the cooper business; after following it a short time he determined to seek the oil fields, where he remained until the war broke out. He returned home and enlisted in the 157th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf. He entered as a private; was promoted to be First Lieutenant of Co. K.; and later was commissioned Captain of Co. H. He was the ranking captain of the regiment when discharged. During the battle of Gettysburg, the commanding officer of Co. D. was wounded, and after his retirement Capt. Van Hoesen also guided that company through the fight. He saw three years of service. There is perhaps nothing of which a man may be more excusably proud than that of loyal, gallant service in the cause of his country, nor is there any service which lives longer in the memory of his fellow-countrymen. He was among those who early offered their lives in defense of their country in her hour of peril, and never relinquished their posts until an enforced peace had crowned all efforts. After the war he engaged in the grocery business for two years, then returned to his cooper trade, which he followed for four years. In 1857 he became proprietor of the Union House, which hotel he conducted until 1879. In that year he was elected sheriff of Cortland County, and served a full term; then after acting three years as deputy sheriff, he was again elected sheriff; after the expiration of his official term, he retired from active life. He was elected justice of the peace of Preble in 1872, but resigned when he engaged in the hotel business.

Capt. Van Hoesen was married October 2, 1866, to Carrie S. Markham, daughter of Chester Markham of Preble. His wife died from the effects of an injury received by being thrown from a buggy in 1892. A devoted husband and two children mourn her death: Ella M., and Finley, an efficient bookkeeper of the Cortland Wagon Co. The Captain is a member of Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R., and in the Masonic Order has advanced as high as the Knight Templar degree.