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CHARLES VAN GORDER, banker, Audubon, Iowa, is a native of New York, born in Delaware County on a farm, on the
banks of the Delaware River, January 23, 1837. He is the fifth in a family of eleven children, eight of whom survive.
His father, Simon Van Gorder, is still living, and is in his ninetieth year; he is a native of New York, born on
the Delaware River, and is a farmer by occupation; his father was Lawrence Van Gorder, and his grandfather was
John Van Gorder, of Hollandish descent. The mother of our subject was Miss Jane Fish, a native of Delaware County,
New York, and a daughter of Isaac Fish; she was born in 1808, and died in 1882. She was a person of unusual merit.
Charles Van Gorder passed his youth in his native State working on the farrn;he received a commonschool education.
In 1856 he drifted westward to Illinois, stopping in Henry County, and afterward in Bates County, Missouri, where
he remained three years. In the spring of 1860 he came to Audubon County, Iowa, and soon afterward fitted up a
fine freighting team to Denver, Colorado, and at the same time engaged in the manufacture of brick; he continued
the freighting and brick making until 1862, when he entered the Union army, in the Thirty ninth Iowa Infantry,
Company B; be was sent to the front, and took part in several battles, among them Resaca and Altoona, in the last
of which he was wounded, being shot in the left foot; he was disabled for six months. Recovering from this wound,
he was ordered to report at Washington, D. C., where his discharge papers were made out, and sent to Clinton, Iowa,
where he received his pay, and final discharge. He filled every station from that ot’ a private soldier to Captain.
Be then returned to Audubon, and accepted a position as clerk in a store, where he remained until 1869, when he
was elected county treasurer of Audubon. He was re-elected in 1871, serving four years. After retiring from office
he engaged in the real estate business, which he continued until 1876, when he formed a co-partnership with F.
H. Whitney, and organized the Audubon County Bank; this partnership continued until 1883, when Mr. Van Gorder bought
out Mr. Whitney’s interest in the bank; since that time lie has operated the business alone. He owns several good
farms which he rents. In 1869 Mr. Van Gorder was married to Miss Laura J. Delahoyde, of Oakfleld, Iowa; she is
a daughter of Thomas Delahoyde, who died when she was quite young; she was born in Ireland, and came to this country
when one year old. Mr. and Mrs. Van Gorder are the parents of three children - Edwin S., Sidney L. and Lowene.
Mr. Van Gorder has served as member of the city council and of the school board. He began life without any means,
and has by tireless energy and excellent management attained an enviable position in the county.
FROM:
Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Publishers.
Chiago, 1889.
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