Representative James Thayer Van Deventer View All Years
James Thayer Van Deventer
Clinton County
Born in Newstead in what is now Erie Co., N. Y., where his grandfather had located after the Revolutionary war. He attended the school of Gustavus Dennison in Buffalo, N. Y., studied law with Clinton & Nichols, Buffalo, graduated from Yale Law School 1850, was admitted to the bar in Buffalo, practiced law there about three years. In 1853 he, with his brother Hugh, made a trip to Texas. With letters from General Sam Houston and Senator Rusk, he spent some time· traveling with Ben McCulloch and Jack Hayes, organizers of the Texas Rangers. He moved to Clinton, Iowa, in 1856, became president of the Iowa Land Co. When the Civil war came he was member of Board of Supervisors to equip the first troops, was commissioned Captain and Commissary of Subsistence by President Lincoln, on recommendation of both Gov. Kirkwood of Iowa and General Totten, Chief of Engineers. He served in the field in General Fitz-Henry Warren's Brigade. After campaign in Missouri and ordered to report to Col. T. F. Harris, Chief of the department at St. Louis, he was advised he had orders to report to Washington, but could have choice of going to Vicksburg or with expedition to Black Hills. He decided to stay in Department of the West. Orders, however came to report without delay to Washington, in the Commissary General's office. He was placed in charge of the Claims Branch of the Subsistence Department. After the war he resigned to return to civil pursuits. He returned to Iowa, was president of Iowa R. R. Land Co.; secretary of Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Ry., Missouri Valley R. R., Sioux City & Pacific Ry. He was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives General Assembly of Iowa 1873; member of Episcopal church, served on Vestry of St. Johns in Clinton, Iowa, for twenty-five years, also on Vestry of St. Johns in Knoxville, Tenn., for several years. He moved to Knoxville 1888. In Masonry he received the degree of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery in Buffalo. Upon moving to Iowa, affiliated with bodies at Clinton and held important positions in each; received his 32° in 1869, was master of Kadosh of De Molay Consistory at Lyons, Iowa, for six years; was elected at suggestion of Gen. Albert Pike, to receive his 33° in 1886. He married Ann Burlock on April 20, 1852, near New Haven, Conn.
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