Alvah H. VanHorn

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Alvah H. VanHorn

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Alvah H. VAN HORN, proprietor of a grocery store and butcher shop in Dover, was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, August 18, 1872. His father, Jacob L. VAN HORN, was one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of Sussex county at the time of his demise, May 28, 1913. The mother, Jemima (HUFF) VAN HORN, survives her husband and maintains her home in Sussex county. There are six children in the VAN HORN family: Alvah H., of this notice; Charles H.; Esta, wife of William TITMAN; Anna, wife of Dennis MORRIS; Almeda, wife of William HOWELL; Olive, a popular and successful teacher in the Sussex county schools.

The boyhood and youth of Alvah H. VAN HORN were passed in his native community, where he attended the public schools until his fifteenth year. He then began to work as a farm hand by the month and was engaged in that manner for the ensuing six years. In 1893 he accepted a position as clerk in the general store of J. W. ROBERTS, at Dover, and in 1905, he purchased the establishment of his employer, the latter removing to Rockaway. Mr. VAN HORN makes a specialty of his grocery and meat departments and his entire store is noted for its extreme cleanliness and the care with which all eatables are handled. He is an excellent manager and employs two clerks and a driver to care for his rapidly increasing trade. Mr. VAN HORN maintains an independent attitude in politics and he is affiliated with the K. M. In religious faith he and his family are devout members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1895 Mr. VAN HORN married Sarah HILER, whose father, William HILER, was for many years employed at the mines in Morris county. Mrs. VAN HORN was born in Rockaway valley and she has one brother and one sister: Daniel and Elizabeth, the latter of whom is the wife of Theodore DUNLAP. Mr. and Mrs. VAN HORN are the parents of three children: Russell H., whose birth occurred in 1900 and who is now a student in the Dover schools; Bertha M., born 1903; Milton A., born 1908. In addition to the store property Mr. VAN HORN is the owner of a beautiful residence in Dover, the same being improved with every modern convenience.