John D.B. Vreeland

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

John D.B. Vreeland

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

For ten years John D. B. VREELAND has been connected with the upbuilding of Morris county, New Jersey, and he has just reason to be proud of the fact that to his efforts can be traced many a substantial enterprise contributing greatly to the growth and prosperity of his home community. In every sense of the word he is a representative citizen and a business man of marked capacity. It is to the inherent force of character and commendable ambition and the unremitting diligence of Mr. VREELAND himself that he has steadily advanced in the business world until he now occupies a leading place among the active and representative men of Dover, where he is interested in the Ulster Iron Works, of which he is secretary and treasurer.

John D. B. VREELAND was born at Pompton Plains, Morris county, New Jersey, July 16, 1872. He is a son of Cornelius and Emma Louisa (DEBOW) VREELAND, both natives of New Jersey. The father, who was a plumber and tinsmith by trade, is now deceased and the mother resides with the subject of this review at Dover. There were four children in the VREELAND family to grow to maturity:

John D. B., of this notice;
Minnie, who was the wife of Thomas E. VAN AUKEN, of Englewood, at the time of her demise;
Nicholas, died at the age of twenty one years;
George R., died in his twenty eighth year.

To the public schools of Hackensack, New Jersey, Mr. VREELAND is indebted for his early educational discipline. He initiated his active career as a clerk in the offices of DODD, MEAD & Company, of New York, and continued in the employ of that concern for a period of ten years. He then spent one year with the American Steel & Wire Company and in 1903 he located in Dover, here purchasing an interest in the Ulster Iron Works, a New Jersey corporation, whose official corps is as follows: C. R. MULLIGAN, Sr., president; John MULLIGAN, vice president: John D. B. VREELAND, secretary and treasurer. This iron industry is an important adjunct to the business world of Morris county and it gives employment to about three hundred and thirty-five workmen the entire year around, and with the addition of the new plant, the number will reach some four hundred and fifty.

A Republican in his political convictions, Mr. VREELAND manifests a deep and sincere interest in all matters affecting the good of the general welfare of Dover and of Morris county. In 1910 he was honored by appointment to the office of town treasurer and he served in that capacity with the utmost efficiency for three years. He and his family attend the Presbyterian church at Dover, and they are popular in connection with the best social activities of that city.

In November, 1903, Mr. VREELAND married Florence M. BROWN, a native of New York City, and daughter of Richard BROWN, of New York. Mrs. VREELAND has one brother, Richard L. BROWN, who maintains his home at East Orange. Mr. and Mrs. VREELAND have three children:

John D.B. Jr.,
Margaret,
Richard George.

Transcribed by E.J.Carlson.