My Genealogy Hound

VAN VALKENBURG, JOHN, attorney, of the firm of Van Valkenburg & Hamilton; was born in Lincoln Co., Canada, April 16, 1832; when 9 years of age, he came with his parents to the States; they came to Iowa and located in Lee Co. in 1846, settling on a farm; when 17 years of age, John entered the preparatory school of Prof. Howe, at Mt. Pleasant; he remained there about three years, then went to Oberlin, Ohio, and completed his education at Knox College, Galesburg, Ill.; while there, he was elected Principal of the State Normal School of Iowa; by the recommendation of the President and Faculty of the College — after occupying this position for one year with ability and satisfaction to all — they tendered him the appointment for another year, but he declined; having chosen the study of law as his profession, he entered the law office of Cornell, Jamison & Wait; he completed his law studies with Miller & Beck, of this city, and was admitted to the bar Oct. 15, 1857; the following July, he began the practice of law; has continued for over twenty years, and is the oldest lawyer now in practice in Fort Madison; he was Congressional Elector in 1864, and Presidential Elector at large in 1876; in 1874, he was a candidate for Congress, and came within one vote of receiving the nomination; George W. McCrary was nominated on the 147th ballot; he held the office of Deputy District Attorney for two years; he is prominently identified with secret societies, being Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows, and is also in the highest chair of the order of Knights of Pythias in this State, and for three sessions he has been a member of the National Council of the Grand Lodge of the World; he is the author of the Standard Manual of the Order of Knights, which is about to pass to its third edition; he has now prepared and ready for the press, “The Jewels of Pythian Knighthood;” Mr. V. is a self-made man, acquired his education by his own efforts, and worked his way to his present position. He married Miss Mary J. Douglass July 3, 1861; she is a native of this city and county, daughter of James Douglass; they have three children — Edward Douglass, Clement Lincoln and Joel Walker.