The van Hovenberg Family

This alternate photograph from November 5, 1895, contains most of the same individuals as the prior photograph, as shown below. One exception appears to be that Alfred Andrew gave the camera to John Henry Leonhard so that he could sit in front of the large rock with the dog.

Further comparison with other group photographs indicates that this large rock was situated about fifty yards WSW from the fence which forms the backdrop to the other photograph,and that it was taken at about the same time of day, that is, in the late afternoon.

(This is one of a series of six photos taken in Haledon, to view the complete set, click here.)

Martin Henry van Hovenberg was the eldest child of Dr. Henry van Hoevenberg and Jane Catherine Heermance. He was an attorney in practice for over 60 years.

Emma Epprecht van Hovenberg was the wife of Martin Henry Radcliffe van Hovenberg. It is known that she worked for an insurance company for several years, and moved out of the Paterson area for a time after her husband's death.

Juliette Leonhard was the fifth child of Martin Henry and his second wife, Mary Theresa O'Connor. Juliette married Henry Leonhard in her early '20's and had seven sons.

Robert Edward van Hovenberg was the sixth child of Martin Henry and Mary Theresa O'Connor. A lawyer, like all of his brothers who reached adulthood, except Frank Richard van Hovenberg.

Alice van Hovenberg was the wife of James Jacob, and bore him five children in eight years, of which only the three daughters pictured here survived. She suffered a terrible accident about a year after this picture was taken and died a few years later.

Sarah Jane Thompson was the only surviving sister of Martin Henry van Hovenberg. Little is known of her life, except that she married a man named Thompson, lived into the 20th Century, and apparently had no surviving children. Emily moved to California, married, and had one daughter. Alice moved to California, married, and had three children.

James Jacob van Hovenberg was the ninth and last child of Martin Henry van Hovenberg and Mary Theresa O'Connor. After the death of two of his children, his wife, and his father, he moved to California, remarried, and raised his three daughters. Gertrude moved to California, married, and had one child, a daughter.

One of the unidentified women from the prior 1895 portrait. The issue of the unidentified women is discussed here.

This have been tentatively identified as Charlotte Elizabeth van Hoevenberg. But this speculations are based on the assumption that this photograph represents a van Hovenberg family reunion and reconciliation. The identification of Charlotte is certainly possible: Living alone and in the Bronx, there seems little reason not to have maintained contact with her father, aunt, and step-siblings only 25 miles away.

Emily Spangenmacher was the wife of Robert Edward van Hovenberg. After the death of Alice van Hovenberg, she raised the three daughters while James established practice in California.

Jane Catherine van Hoevenberg van Rensselaer has been tentatively identified here. Of course, all of this assumes some kind of reconciliation of Martin Henry with his two surviving daughters from his first marriage to Charlotte Reed Phelps. The issue of the unidentified women is discussed here.

Edwin, Julian, and Frederick Leonhard would have been 4, 11, and 8 years old respectively. Julian died in a hazing incident at college, the other two, along with Charles and two other brothers, lived in the Paterson area.

Alfred Andrew van Hovenberg, the second child of the union of Martin Henry and Mary Theresa, was born in 1855 and established himself as a successful businessman and lawyer before departing to California about the turn of the century.

Martin Henry Radcliffe van Hovenberg was the eldest child of Martin Henry and Mary Theresa, and was very active in Paterson as a lawyer, a judge, and in charity work.