Butler County Genealogy Trails Kansas George W. Tolle Bio

BUTLER COUNTY'S EIGHTY YEARS BIOS

MILLER M. VANDENBERG

(Transcribed by Peg Luce)

Miller M. VanDenberg, owner of the VanDenberg Lumber Company and widely known in Kansas and Oklahoma, has for fifty-seven years been a distinguished resident of El Dorado. Mr. VanDenberg has two noteworthy pioneer records. He is the only lumber dealer in Kansas who has been in the same business fifty-seven consecutive years in the same location, and has attended the First Presbyterian Church for a longer continuous period than has any other man in El Dorado.

In 1878, Mr. VanDenberg came from Peabody to become manager and co-owner of the Western Lumber Company. M. S. Tyler had founded the lumber yard the previous year. The only other lumber yard here at that time was owned by the late John T. Anderson and Miles Standish Munson. It had been established in 1877. In 1878, El Dorado had a population of approximately 1,000 persons and the first railroad – the Santa Fe – into El Dorado, was less than a year old. The building that still serves as an office for the VanDenberg Company, was built in 1881 by Charles Overstreet and was then considered so spacious that Mr. VanDenberg occupied half of it as sleeping quarters. A counter of solid walnut, made from native trees, and hand-carved by Jacob Gile, later a Denver architect, centers the building.

In 1886, Mr. VanDenberg became sole owner of the yard, changing the name to the VanDenberg Lumber Company. In February of that year, this item appeared in the Walnut Valley Times: “M. M. VanDenberg is having a general spring cleaning at his lumber yard. He is building new sheds, putting in substantial fence around the yard, laying sidewalks, and will move his office to the south corner and fix it up in style. “Min’ is getting ready for the spring broom.” T. B. Murdock wrote the item.

An office safe inscribed “Western Lumber Company” still serves after fifty-seven years of constant use. Mr. VanDenberg, who is daily at his office, recalls vividly events of his early days in El Dorado. “When I came here,” he said, “all business buildings with the exception of four, were of frame construction. The old Exchange National Bank – now the Farmers & Merchants National Bank – was the only brick building. The Ellet Hardware Store, the Gardner & Tolle Dry Goods Store and the old courthouse were of stone. Soon afterwards, however, the frame buildings were razed and, generally, replaced with brick structures.

“Few of my first customers are still here, or even alive. John M. Pirtle, who was among the first patrons, is living here. Among others were the late Robert H. Cooper, Joe McCully, Clark Henrie, and J. L. Cupples. In 1878, there were a few scattered homes west of Star Street. Mrs. George Tolle’s home was built ‘way out in the country, it seemed, although, at 221 North Taylor Street, it is now close-in property.

“Material for building was then hauled to Winfield from El Dorado, before that town had a railroad, and much lumber was hauled to Augusta and Douglass. Charlie Harvey, Will White and Charlie Pattison were rather small boys. Judge A. L. L. Hamilton, Judge C. A. Leland and Judge A. L. Redden were the young lawyers of that day. Henry W. Schumacher, who started life as an efficient and well-liked school teacher, later went into the law.

“There were practically no shade trees west of the courthouse. Henry Sumner, a lawyer, planted a large tract of several acres to black walnut trees, on the brow of the hill, along West Central Avenue. Many of these trees are still growing. They caused Bent Murdock to designate that section of town Walnut Hill, a name by which it is still known.

“The railroad was finished into El Dorado from Florence in the fall of 1877. To get out of town, we had to walk part of the way – three quarters of a mile to the depot. And then back again, to get home. I never heard any complaint however, perhaps for the reason that it saved that much carfare. But such a railroad as it was – compared with railroads now! Coaches were coupled with the old link and pin, and platforms were so far apart that passengers were not allowed to go from one car to another while the train was moving.

“I think at that time our railroad had never heard of the airbrake. The train was stopped by twisting the handbrake by a stick being run through the brake handle. This was twisted until the train came to a stop – sometimes in the vicinity of the depot. I don’t recall just how the train was started again. In cold weather, the desirable seats were near the stove or the coal box. Stoves were all-fuel burners – coal, wood, baled hay, buffalo chips or anything that was. Mostly cash fares were paid.

“Such hotels as we had then! Fifty cents for a room that is now “Five dollars and up’. Such dishes too. Three-quarters of an inch thick, made of some hard, indestructible clay product. They could be thrown across the room to any place they belonged. Never knew of one being broken. High freight rates made them rather expensive, this far from the mines.

“The automobile was then in process of evolution as a lumberwagon. Some few had buggies. The old courthouse was the only auditorium and a janitor was hired about once a month to sweep the floor. John J. Ingalls made a few speeches in the old room. He also dedicated the new Ellet Opera House with a political speech and it never has been so crowded since as it was for that event.”

Although loyal to early day friends and oldtime office fixtures, Mr. VanDenberg never is out of step with the modern trend. He is respected and admired by his fellow townsmen and beloved by his family and close friends. He has succeeded in business through consistent courtesy, generosity and square dealing. A fine man and helpful citizen for fifty-seven years, is the record of Mr. VanDenberg. He has encouraged and given practical aid to all movements for the betterment of El Dorado and Butler County and has been actively identified with local church, social and club affairs, since an early day.

On March 1, 1883, Mr. VanDenberg and Miss Addie Umsted, of Peabody, were married. They established their first home in the bridal suite of the new Metropolitan Hotel, which was for years the leading El Dorado hotel. Later they built the residence at 523 West Central Avenue, then one of the finest and most imposing homes on the townsite. Selling the home to the R. H. Julians, Mr. and Mrs. VanDenberg moved, thirty-seven years ago, to their present picturesque suburban home – Walnuthurst.

Mrs. VanDenberg was Addie Cornelia Umsted, daughter of John and Mary Jane (Robinson) Umsted. Her mother wsa born March 6, 1837, in Tallmadge, Summit County, Ohio, and died February 18, 1905 in Peabody, Kansas. Her father was born in Maryland October 22, 1827 and died December 22, 1868, in Olena, Huron Coutny, Ohio. He was the son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Souder) Umsted. Aaron Umsted was born June 17, 1791. His wife, Elizabeth, was born December 16, 1793. Mrs. VanDenberg’s maternal grandparents were Isaac Chapman Bates Robinson and Cornelia (Sylvester) Robinson who came to Kansas with their daughter and her family in 1871 and settled on land south of Peabody.

Mr. VanDenberg was born September 24, 1852, at Cohoes, New York, the son of Garrett Peter and Dianna VanDenberg. The family moved to Columbus, Wisconsin, when he was nine years old. Mr. VanDenberg and his brother, Charles, drove to Kansas from Wisconsin when Mr. VanDenberg was nineteen. They settled in Peabody, their parents joining them alter.

Mrs. VanDenberg has been a leader in society, church and club circles since she came here as a bride and is a member of one of the first clubs organized in El Dorado, the Shakespeare Club. She was for a long period president of the Presbyterian Church U and I Circle. She excels in the housekeeping arts and her home is one of the most delightful in the city.

Mr. and Mrs. VanDenberg have three sons and one daughter, Frank M. VanDenberg has been associated with his father in the lumber company for twenty-five years. Karl VanDenberg and Fred VanDenBerg are engaged in business in El Dorado and the daughter, Mrs Howard Ramsey (Isabella VanDenberg) lives in Kansas City, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. VanDenberg have two grandchildren, Mary Jo VanDenberg, daughter of Frank M. and Bertha (Tuttle) VanDenberg, and Richard V. Ramsey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Ramsey.