John S Van Nortwick

Extract from the book (published 1895)
"The Columbian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Representative Men of The United States"
Wisconsin Volume - Part 1. (Appleton Section), Page 273.

Among the gentlemen who have been prominently connected with commercial interests both in Illinois and Wisconsin is he who heads this record, - a worthy representative of a family that has long been closely connected with the business development of the Mississippi valley and with those enterprises which have been important factors in the upbuilding of this section of the country. His grandfather, William Van Nortwick, was one of those sturdy pioneers who followed the hunters, trappers and Indian traders in the middle section of this great country and opened up the West to civilisation, being the true founders of those commonwealths which now take rank among the foremost States of the Union. A native of New Jersey, he removed to New York and in that State was soon known as a prominent contractor, who was connected with many public works, serving as State Superintendent of Canals in northern New York. In 1835, with his family, he emigrated to Kane county, Illinois, settling in Batavia, where is still the old Van Nortwick homestead. Since that time the name of Van Nortwick has been inseperably connected with the history of Illinois and with many of the leading interests in the commercial history of Wisconsin.

William Van Nortwick married Martha Flack, daughter of James and Margaret Flack, and to them were born the following children:-
John.
Margaret, who became the wife of James Rockwell, and died 11 September 1847, at the age of 30 years.
Fanny, who married Charles Ballard, and died 12 September 1842, aged 35.
Jane Agnes, wife of James W Harvey, and
Rachel, wife of Benjamin Smith.
The parents were consistent members and active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father died in Batavia, Illinois, 19 September 1854; and the mother's death occurred in Chicago, 21 April 1879, at the advanced age of ninety-three.

John Van Nortwick, father of our subject, was born in Washington County, New York, 5 April 1809, was educated in common schools and took a thorough course in mathematics in an academy, with the intention of becoming a Civil Engineer. At the age of nineteen he was employed in the engineering department on the canals of the State of New York, and soon became recognised as one of the most efficient engineers connected with State Works. In Penn Yan, New York, 11 February 1835, he married Patty Mari Mallory, daughter of Meredith and Eleanor (Legg) Mallory, who were married 13 September 1804, and whose children were Barnum D; Smith L; and Patty Mari. Mr Mallory died 22 September 1855 and his wife departed this life on 15 April 1856.
Mr and Mrs Van Nortwick became the parents of four children:-
William M, who was born in Hammondsport, Steuben County, New York.
Eliza J, born at Mt Morris, New York.
John S and Mary E were both born in Batavia, Illinois.
In 1836 the father of our subject went to Batavia and invested in those enterprises with which his father was connected, including the milling and other water-power industries, then returned to his engineering in the Empire State. In 1846, when public works were stopped in New York, he was employed by the United States Government on the Brooklyn dry docks, securing the position through Governor W L Marcy, then Secretary of War. Later he entered the employ of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Company as chief engineer, and came to Illinois, making a permanent location in Batavia. He arrived here at the beginning of railroad building in the West and found an ample field for his labours. He laid the foundation for all the great railroad system which now interlaces the upper Mississippi valley. Under his care the road was built from Chicago to Freeport, Illinois and he later became consulting engineer of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road of which he was president for eight years, after its extension to the cities of Burlington and Quincy. He bought with him to Illinois a capital of $3,000 which he invested in the mill lands and water-power at Batavia and elsewhere, and while building the mill at Batavia he interested a number of Eastern capitalists in the enterprise, under the firm name of Barker, House and Company, which for some time furnished much of Chicago's supply of flour. In 1842 the company was dissolved and the property divided. Mr Van Nortwick was a large stockholder and one of the founders of the Batavia Paper Company, now the Van Nortwick Paper Company, of which he became sole owner in 1869. This was made a joint stock company in 1870, and controls one of the largest paper manufactories in the West.

John S Van Nortwick, who now is manager of the large paper and wood-pulp mills in Appleton, Combined Locks and Kaukauna, Wisconsin, was born in Batavia, 26 March 1847, and spent his boyhood in the public schools and in his father's business concerns, where he picked up an excellent knowledge of business principles. He afterwards attended Jennings Seminary, of Aurora Illinois, also pursued his studies in Fort Edward, New York, and completed his education in Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Chicago. Returning then to his home, he entered upon an active business career in connection with his father, first as a merchant, then as a farmer and stock raiser. He soon made an active partner in some of his father's business affairs, and since the latters death he and his brother William have carried on various enterprises together. They own much of the water power on the Fox River and improved some of it by building paper and pulp mills, being now extensively engaged in the manufacture of print and manila papers and of ground wood pulp, carrying on business under the names of the Appleton Paper & Pulp Company, the Combined Locks Paper Company and the Kaukauna Paper Company. The capacity of the extensive mills, which are located at Kaukauna, Combined Locks and Appleton, Wisconsin, is sixty tons of paper per day and fifty tons of wood pulp. They employ a large force of hands, and this enterprise is one of the most important in the Fox River Valley.

On the 3rd February 1875, John S Van Nortwick was united in marriage to Bina Totman, who was born in Fredonia, New York, 25 January 1852, the daughter of Edsel and Mary (Allen) Totman, who were both natives of New York, and who removed to Illinois in 1869, locating in Batavia. To our subject and his wife were born three children:-
William, born 16 February 1876.
Martha, born 27 July 1882.
Mary, born 17 january 1882.
They attend the Episcopal Church of which Mrs Van Nortwick is a member, and in circles of society the members of the household occupy an enviable position. They have resided in Appleton since 1891 and although their residence here is of comparatively short duration they have already won a large number of warm friends.

The life of Mr Van Nortwick has been one of integrity and honour - in harmony with those of his illustrious father and grandfather. The family name in the West is the synonym of industry, enterprise and upright dealing, and the gentleman whose name heads this record is a worthy representative of this esteemed family. he early manifested those traits of character which have coloured his whole career - perseverence, foresight and sagacity, and with "onward' as his watchword he has steadily progressed along those lines of business which have not only brought him to success, but have also aided materially in advancing the prosperity of the communities with which he has been connected. In politics he is a Republican, but has never had the time or inclination to seek public office, prefering to devote his energies to his business affairs and his leisure hours to the enjoyment of his home and social pleasures.

Document Source: The Open Library - 5 Jul 2012