Legislator Details


George W. VanAken
AKA:
Number of sessions served 2
Sessions served
Gender: Male
Age at election: 44

Vital Records Information:

Birth
Date: 9/8/1828
City: Clarkston, NY
County: Monroe County, NY
Country: US
 
Death
Date: 1/3/1914
City: Coldwater, MI
County: Branch County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 1/6/1914
City: Coldwater, MI
County: Branch County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Oak Grove Cemetery

Marital Information:
married Lucy A., dau. of Jonathan H. and Catherine Clement, July 1854; children: Mary [or Mattie] (Storr) and Van J. and George S. (the boys were raised by their grandparents), Lucy died in 1885; married Mrs. Celia A. Tilton in 1887, she died in 1898; married Mrs. Marian M. Foster, dau. of Hiram and ?? (Gray) Hadley, 8/21/1901 in Coldwater, MI (married 3 times)

Number of Children: 0

Background

Religion: Presbyterian
Military Service:
Occupation: farmer, stock buyer
Race: Caucasian or White

Education:
common school; attended high school in Hillsdale

Biographical Sketch:
Son of Cornelius and Harriett (Phelps) Van Aken. He moved to the Adrian, MI area in 1835 but moved to Girard, Branch Co. in 1838. He served as Girard Township supervisor for 14 years. He spent 2.5 years in the California gold fields [1851-54]. Upon his return, he bought the family farm and tended it until 1891, when he moved to Coldwater. He rented out his farm but began buying and selling wool and stock. He helped organize the Farmer's Mutual Insurance Co. of Branch County and served as a director and president of the company for 25 years. Member of the Grange

Notable Facts:

Sessions Served:

Twenty-Eight Legislature, 1875-1876
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Asylum for the Insane, Agriculture
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Girard
County of Residence Branch
District: Branch 1
District Description: City of Coldwater; towns of Algansee, Butler, California, Coldwater, Girard and Quincy

Date Elected: 11/3/1874
Date Sworn In: 1/6/1875
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed

Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Twenty-Seventh Legislature, 1873-1874
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Agriculture , State Public School
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Girard township
County of Residence Branch
District: Branch 1
District Description: Townships of California, Algansee, Quincy, Butler, Girard, Coldwater, and city of Coldwater

Date Elected: 11/5/1872
Date Sworn In: 1/1/1873
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected

Maritial Status: Married
Notes:

Bibliography:

Manual 1873 p.120; USCen 1870, 1880, 1910; SeekMI; MIMarRec 1867-1952; MIBiog 2:380; Collin p.712-14, portrait on p.[712a]
View Bibliographical Sources