NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

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

George D. VAN ORDEN, station agent for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, at Denville, Morris county, New Jersey, has been uninterruptedly in the service of this company since 1882, a record alike creditable to employer and employee. He is descended from one of the old Dutch Colonial families, whose thrifty habits had so much to do with the early prosperity of the country.

Thomas VAN ORDEN, grandfather of George D. VAN ORDEN, was a farmer. His son, Anthony, the father of George D., was born in Denville, April 21, 1839. In early life he was a farmer, then entered the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, and remained with them almost forty years, when he retired with a pension. He was a member of the Seventh, and later of the Twenty-seventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and was in the Cumberland river disaster. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Sarah Frances, daughter of John H. HUSK, who was the owner of a fine farm. Children: Samuel R., a clerk in the engineering department of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, and resides in Denville; George D., of whom further; Elizabeth Kitelee, married David COOK, of Denville; Anthony H., a clerk in the engineering department of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, at Hoboken, New Jersey; Robert M., lost his life on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, October 31, 1904; Thomas A., a resident of Denville, a mechanic in the switch and frog works of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company at Dover, New Jersey.

George D. VAN ORDEN was born in Denville, Morris county, New Jersey, December 27, 1866. He was educated in a sound and practical manner in the public schools of Denville, and upon the completion of his education he commenced working for his uncle, Henry HUSK, on the farm of the latter. At the age of sixteen years, in 1882, he entered the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, a connection which has remained unbroken to the present time. So faithful had he been in the discharge of the duties that fell to his share that in the fall of 1887 he was made assistant agent at Denville, under John T. HOFFMAN, and in April, 1892, when Mr. HOFFMAN retired, Mr. VAN ORDEN succeeded him in the position of agent, and has since been the incumbent of this office. He gives his staunch political support to the Democratic party, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he holds official position. He is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, Washington Camp, No. 19, of Denville; Cincinnati Lodge, No. 3, F. and A. M. of Morristown, Madison Chapter, No. 27, R. A. M.; Ode de St. Amand Commandery, No. 12, K. T.; and Salaam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Newark, New Jersey.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)

Copyright ©1999-2018 by Brianne Kelly-Bly, all rights reserved.