He was baptized 24 May 1858 in Katholische Kirche, Seewen, Canton Solothurn, Switzerland.
1 His baptism name was Wilhelm Von Buren II which he changed to William Van Buren when he emigrated to America.
Wilhelm Von Buren II emigrated in 1881 from Switzerland to the United States In Germans to America - Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports, Volume 37, December 1880 - April 1881 (page 22), a "von Bieren", age 22 and a "caster" from Switzerland, is listed as sailing on the ship Canada from Havre, France, and arriving in New York on 13 January 1881. The passenger list for the voyage [National Archives] lists a "von Buren", age 22, occupation caster, from Switzerland, destination Philadelphia. This person would have been born in about 1858 and probably departed from France at the end of 1880, so he must have been Wilhelm [aka William] Van Buren who was born in 1858. His brothers, Emilian [aka Adam Emile] and Adolf [aka Gustav Adolph and Otto] Van Buren, had arrived in America some 10 years earlier in 1871. And the fourth brother, Theodore, arrived in 1884.
2,10 Wilhelm Von Buren II was also known as William Van Buren, Sr. He was a stone carver.
11 He and
Anna "Margaret" Van Buren lived between 1891 and 1932 in 137 North Railroad Avenue (now 137 MacQuesten Parkway North), Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York,William Van Buren apparently built three houses on Railroad Avenue (now known as McQuesten Parkway) in Mount Vernon, New York. He and his wife lived in one of the houses, and his children William and Adelaide lived in the other two. [15 November 1999 telephone call from William Van Buren III].
12,4 Wilhelm Von Buren II was naturalized in 1892.
13 We have the following letter, dated Mt. Vernon, N.Y., March 15, 1897, from William Van Buren, Sr. (which was probably actually written by his son William Van Buren, Jr.) to his brother Adam Emile Van Buren and wife Anna in Wahpeton, North Dakota:
Dear Brother and Sister-in-law:
Sorry that we let you wait so long for an answer. We intended to have our photograph taken to send with said answer, but as the weather has not been satisfactory we were unable to do so. We therefore send you what we have, which were taken seven years ago. Of [our son] Willie we have none.
The tintype represents our house in Mt. Vernon, also the whole family which has been taken in 1890.
There is not much news which the daily newspapers do not refer to. New York and surroundings, we think you have not forgotten as you have been there before.
Hoping this reaches you in good health as it leave us.
Our best regards to you all.
Their son, Willie A. [sic] Van Buren, also added the following message to the letter:
Dear Uncle and Aunt:
I write a few lines to let you know that I have not forgotten you, because you received no photograph of me.
I have a good situation as draughtsman in a marble shop in New York for the past three weeks. I send you a sketch to give you an idea of my drawings, which I learned from my father. I can also play zither and piano.
Yours Very Truly,
Willie A. [sic] Van Buren. Wilhelm Von Buren II and Anna "Margaret" Van Buren appeared on the census of 1900 in 137 North Railroad Avenue (now 137 MacQuesten Parkway North), Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York, which lists William Van Buren, 42 (born May 1858), his wife Margaret, 40 (born March 1860), son Willie, 17 (born December 1882), daughter Annie [Adelaide], 11 (born August 1889), son Ralph, 9 (born July 1890), nephew [Gustav] Adolph, 19 (born June 1881) and one German-born "servant", named Catherine Leyes. William is listed as being born in Switzerland, and the others as being born in New York. William's parents are listed as being born in Switzerland. Margaret's father is listed born in Germany and her mother as being born in Ireland. William had emigrated to America in 1880. William and Margaret had been married for 19 years, so they would have been married in about 1881. Margaret is listed as having given birth to 5 children, 3 of whom were still living. The 1900 census states that father of the nephew [Gustav] Adolph Van Buren (who was living with his uncle William Van Buren's family) was born in Switzerland and that Adolph's mother was born in Ireland. The father was Adolf (aka Gustav Adolph or "Otto") Van Buren who had died 5 years earlier in 1895. Adolph's mother, Katherine Stillger, was actually born in Germany, not Ireland.
14 He was a stone carver in 1900.
15 We also have the following letter dated Mt. Vernon, [New York], July 16 [1904], from William Van Buren to his sister-in-law Anna Paulson Van Buren following the 28 May 1904 death of his brother Adam Emile Van Buren:
Dear Sister-in-law:
Received your letter and felt very bad over the sad news. Understood your writing very good. I cannot express myself over poor Brother. You can write Danish if you wish. I know people who understand it, so hoping you will let me know further. If in any way I can do anything for you, don't hesitate to mention in next letter.
Heartful love to you and the children.
Trustfully your Brother-in-Law & Uncle
William
Brother Theodor address is 309 South Main St., Los Angeles, Cal. We have not hear from him since New Year.
William. Wilhelm Von Buren II and Anna "Margaret" Van Buren appeared on the census of 1905 in Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York,
Household Members:
Name Age
William Van Buren 47
Margerita Van Buren 45
William Van Buren 22
Adelaide Van Buren 16
Ralph Van Buren 14.
16 Wilhelm Von Buren II and Anna "Margaret" Van Buren appeared on the census of 1910 in 137 North Railroad Avenue (now 137 MacQuesten Parkway North), Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York, which lists William Van Buren, 51, born in Switzerland, both parents also born in Switzerland; his wife Margaret Van Buren, 50, born in New York, father born in Germany, mother born in Ireland; and their son Ralph Van Buren, 19, born in New York. They had been married for 28 years (since about 1882) and Margaret had given birth to three children, all of whom were living.
17 He was a marble worker in 1910.
17 Wilhelm Von Buren II and Anna "Margaret" Van Buren appeared on the census of 1915 in 137 North Railroad Avenue (now 137 MacQuesten Parkway North), Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York, which lists William Van Buren [Sr.], 57, born in Switzerland; his wife Margaret, 55; and two roomers, Eva Hanscom, 38 (born in about 1877), and her son Reuel Hanscom, 3 (born in about 1912), all born in the U.S. In the 1920 census, Eva is shown as married to William Van Buren, Sr.'s son, William Van Buren, Jr., and she and her son Reuel (now Van Buren), are living with him in Springfield, MA.
18 He was a marble carver in 1915.
19 Wilhelm Von Buren II and Anna "Margaret" Van Buren appeared on the census of 1920 in 137 North Railroad Avenue (now 137 MacQuesten Parkway North), Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York, which lists William Van Buren, 62, his wife Margaret, 59, and son Ralph, 28, at 137 North Railroad Avenue, Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York. William was born in Switzerland, emigrated to the United States in 1880 and was naturalized in 1901. His native tongue was German, and both of his parents are listed as being born in Switzerland. William was a marble carver. Margaret was born in New York, her father was born in Germany and her mother was born in Ireland. Ralph is listed as being born in New York and his occupation appears to be "foreign representative". He was a mable carver in 1920.
20,5 Wilhelm Von Buren II and Anna "Margaret" Van Buren appeared on the census of 1925 in Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York, which lists William Van Buren, 67, born in Swtizerland; and his wife Margaret, 65.
2 An article in the 14 January 1930 edition of The Daily Argus in Mount Vernon, New York describes a surprise party given for William Van Buren, Sr. in honor of his 50 years in the United States. The names of family and friends attending included "A. Van Buren and daughter Ivy" of New York City. This article and the 1914 ship passenger list establish her connection with the Van Buren family of Mount Vernon, NY.
Wilhelm Von Buren II and Anna "Margaret" Van Buren appeared on the census of 1930 in 137 North MacQuesten Parkway (formerly 137 North Railroad Avenue), Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York, which lists William Van Buren, 71, born in Switzerland, both parents born in Switzerland, immigrated to America in 1880, and first married at age 23 (in about 1881); and his wife Margaret, 71, born in New York, her father born in Germany, her mother born in Irish Free State, and first married at age 22. The address of their residence at 137 North Railroad Avenue had been changed to 137 MacQuesten Parkway North. Their widowed daughter Adelaide Van Buren Kane and her three children (James, William and Adelaide Kane) were apparently living with them, but not their sons Willie or Ralph Van Buren.
21 He was "none" in 1930.
21 The Tuesday, February 23, 1932, edition of The [Mount Vernon, NY] Daily Argus carried the following obituary (page ?, Column 3):
W. VAN BUREN DIES AT HOME
Marble Carver Had Lived Here 41 Years
William Van Buren [Sr.], seventy-three, died at his home, 137 MacQuesten Parkway North, yesterday afternoon [22 February 1932] after a short illness. Mr. Van Buren was born in Switzerland and had been in this country for the last 52 years. For 41 years he had been a resident of Mount Vernon.
Mr. Van Buren for many years was employed as a marble carver. He was a member of the Workmen's Sick and Heath Benefit Association, of the Benevolent Society of Cremations, of which he was secretary for nearly ten years, and of the Marble Carvers Union of America.
Mr. Van Buren and his wife observed their 50th wedding anniversary February 2 [1932].
In addition to his wife, Mrs. Anna Margaret Scheideler Van Buren, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Winton [Adelaide] Eberle and two sons, William Van Buren [Jr.] of Springfield, Mass., and Ralph Van Buren of the Bronx [NY], and by three [sic] grandchildren.
Thursday morning at 10 o'clock the body will be taken to Fresh Pond, Long Island, for cremation [Fresh Pond Crematory, 61-40 Mount Olivet Crescent, Middle Village, NY 11379].
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