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The Vandervoort Family - from NY, MI, IN on to TX

Updated November 9, 2005

Michael Vandervoort
Houston, TX United States
vandervoort@sbcglobal.net

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This effort is to publish my ongoing research into the Vandervort / Vandervoort branch that was known to have been in New York State before 1800, migrating to Michigan in about 1835-37, then to Indiana, and on to Texas in the 1870's.

Samuel R Vandervort came to Macomb County, Michigan from NY in the late 1830's when he was about 35. The launch point may have been Phelps, Ontario Co., NY, where a Daniel, and later a Thomas, departed for Michigan. The older Daniel appears to have left NY at the same time as Samuel. Phelps, NY was not likely the birth place for either Samuel or Daniel because no serious settlement in that frontier area started until after both were born.

The Chesterfield, Macomb Co., MI 1850 Census shows a wife, Eliza (1814), sons Orrin (1844), Charles (1848), Eugene (1849-50), and Elmer (1853). By 1860, Samuel is a widower and Orrin is working nearby on a neighbor's farm. Samuel appears to have moved from Chesterfield, Macomb Co., MI to Grand Traverse Co., MI in about 1863, at about the same time as another Vandervort family, John B and his family, who were from Lenox, Macomb Co. Elizabeth Vandervort Davis, a known older sister of John B, died in John's house in about 1886. There is reason to believe Samuel was related to John B and Elizabeth.

My line is from Samuel;'s first son, Orrin. He joined the 22nd Michigan Volunteer Army Regiment, Company F, in 1862. Wounded during the war, he was assigned to New Albany, IN. After being mustered out in 1865, he married Mary A Wheeler from Floyd County, IN. In less than 10 years, with a number of children, he picked up and moved by wagon to the Sowers Store area (now Irving), about 11-13 miles northwest of Dallas, TX.

Note - Both Vandervort and Vandervoort are used in the extended family. My oldest, known direct Michigan Vandervoort is listed in the 1840 Census with two “o”’s, but later, with one “o.” Land records also show two "o"'s. Through the decades, the last name, as well as given names, have changed spelling. Our own family used one "o" from about the 1860's until the 1920's when family research and business reasons resulted in adopting or reinstating the original Dutch spelling with two "o"'s.

Disclaimer! I try hard to be accurate, but time, age, and experience has shown that I am less than perfect! Everything is subject to transcription and/or typing errors. Therefore, I do not warrant, guarantee, or even suggest the accuracy of anything. Reader beware!

Anyone that has an interest or has information to add or correct, please contact me.

Mike Vandervoort

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Related Files

  • Meaning of the name "Vandervoort" (3 KB)
    This is a short article on the meaning of the name "Vandervoort." It incorporate a number of different sources findings as well as some original research.
  • The Vandervoort, Arkansas story (1 KB)
    The Vandervoort, Arkansas story and how it got its name. No, it was not named after a USA VDV!
  • 1885 Home Fire and Death of 3 Children (6 KB)
    The file contains a word-for-word newspaper account from the August 1885 Dallas, Texas Herald detailing the home fire and resulting death of three children of Orrin Vandervort. It aLso contains some explanations.
 

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