George Van Hoose Article
This is a copy of an article written by George Van Hoose in 1901. I'm afraid I don't know what paper it came from.
The Van Hoose family in America came from Amsterdam, Holland sometime early In the last century- The earliest knowledge that can now be had of them, that is reliable, is that the forefathers were soldiers from Amsterdam in the wars for political and religious freedom at home under their old prince, and that they crossed the English Channel with the fleet of five hundred under William. Prince of Orange. in the year 1688, and helped to free England from under the rule of King James the Second. and then went to Ireland, helped suppress a rebellion there, and afterwards were under Prince Eugene with the eleven battalions of Dutch troops. and participated in the great battle of Blenheim on the Danube river, where the Duke orMarlborough killed and captured nearly all of the French army 060.000 men, when he had about 56,000. This battle was fought the 13th day of August, 1704, and broke the power of France and gave peace to Germany. Then a great many Germans began crossing the waters to the New World, where they exp ted to be forever free from political and religious oppres-sion. Thank God they were not disappointed, for they found a land where they could worship God under their own vine and fig tree, and where no one would dare molest, or make them afraid.
Among those hardy, honest. liberty-loving and God-fearing Dutchmen carne the Van Hooses and scattered about Na~ Amsterdam (New York). Afterwards. some of the family moved into Virginia and North Carolina. The family we shall now follow settled on the Pedee River in Montgomery County, North Carolina. Van Hoose Is sometimes called in German Van House and others say it Is Van Hose, In other words, meaning that Van is able to wear hose or breeches. However the name has been Van Hoose for near two centuries and we will not attempt to change it.
One John Van Hoose was born and reared in Montgomery County, North Carolina. His father and grandfather were both named John and as far back in the past as he could find out, there has always been a john, a Jacob, and a James.
The John with whom we shall now begin our family history was born as aforesaid n Montgomery County, N.C., April 5, 1762, and died January 5, 1860. at the age of 98 years. He died at his son Valentine's home on Big Sandy River, Johnson County, Kentucky. He had been one of the strongest men that could be found in the old "North State", and one of the most devout Christians. -He lived and died a hardshell Baptist. Grandfather John was 16 years old when the Revolutionary War came to his part of North Carolina and was harassed and threatened a great deal by the Tones He was at home with his mother and little brother and sister (their father being dead and an older brother, Valentine Van Hoose, being in the Patrnot army). Valentine came home to see how they were getting along. and while there was making a gate hewing the post with a broadaxe. A party of Tones rode up armed only with swords and demanded his surrender. he drew his axe and defied them. They were afraid to attack him, They begged him, saying, ”Lay down yo axe, Valentine, and go downtown with us and take the oath to the King and you can stay at home." lie said, "All right.' So one fellow took him up behind him on his horse. They started off, but the horse with the extra 200 pounds on his back lagged behind. Valentine said, "Welt, I have gone far enough", jumped off and took to the brush, escaping. They came back and demanded of John where his brother was or they would kill him. There was a hole In the seat of his breeches arid his shirt tall was out. He said, “He Is in the seat of my breeches, don't you see his heels sticking out?" Then they cursed and threatened him terrible, but could not Scare him into telling where Val was hiding.
John grew to manhood without learning. as there was little cal! in wartime for schools. He was a great tear hunter and could relate some wonderful scrapes with bruin and with panthers, also Indians We will give one of his yarns. He was out after a big bear with a little dog for tracking. He shot the bear and ony wounded it slig ly. It went for him arid he had not time to reload his gun, He threw the gun down and stepped aside, and as the bear rushed past him, John caught the bear by the nape of the neck and the seat of the breeches, jerking It down to a branch where the water was a foot deep, stick its nose under and raised Its hind parts and held it there until it was drowned. It weighed 400 pounds net. He was a wonderful stout man He was six foot and two Inches
[This is the end of page one. I will continue with page two at this link:
Page two of George Van Hoose's article