Walter Joseph Van Dyke

The Early Years

Walter Joseph Van Dyke was born in The Hague, Southern Holland, in the Netherlands on December 29, 1835.  His grandsons said he spoke seven languages, among them Dutch, German and English.  Walter immigrated to the U.S. in 1872.  Walter and Anna M Thomas were married.    Their son Martin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Oct 30, 1873.  Walter filed his Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Oct 3, 1874.  Their daughter Anna was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1877. 

The Move to Ohio

The family moved to Cleveland Ohio, where their daughter Elizabeth, nicknamed Lizzie, was born in March 1880.  The 1880 census listed Walter’s occupation as an Engineer, Anna’s occupation as Keeping House.  On June 5, 1880, Walter was 43, Anna was 38, Martin was 6, their daughter Anna was 3 and baby Elizabeth was 3 months old.  Walter became a naturalized citizen on October 13, 1884.  His citizenship petition stated he was still working as an Engineer.

Tragedy Strikes

Daughter Lizzie died on November 24, 1880 from Diphtheria of the Larynx.  She was only 8 months old.  Daughter Anna died on January 5,1881 from Paralysis.  She was three years old.

On December 25, 1884, their son Walter was born.  On March 29, 1886, when he was 15 months old, baby Walter died from Lung Fever.  On June 12, 1893, Anna, age 50, died of cancer.  When Anna died, Walter bought a plot at Monroe Street Cemetery for Anna and himself.  Three of their four children were already buried at Monroe.  Their graves a short walk from where Anna would be buried.

A New Occupation and a Second Marriage

After Anna died, Walter changed occupations.  The 1900 Cleveland City Directory and the 1900 Census listed Walter’s occupation as a Fish Peddler.  In the early 1900’s, the meat man, the bread man, the iceman, milkman and fishman, all made their rounds in horse drawn delivery wagons.  Their wagons would come down the street and the peddlers would sell their wares from house to house.

On December 26, 1893, Walter married his second wife, Abbie Bom.  Abbie had two sons from her first marriage, John, age 21 and Cornelius, age 12. 

Son Martin

Walter’s son Martin married Daisy Russon on June 10, 1895.   On August 4, 1896, daughter-in-law Daisy gave birth to a baby girl.  The baby was premature and too young to survive, she died that same day.  On April 19, 1897, Daisy gave birth to a second premature baby girl.  Martin made a modest living then and money was tight.  Walter arranged to have both babies interred with their Grandmother Anna.  The next years were happier years as Daisy gave birth to four healthy sons.  Then on Feb 23, 1904, tragedy stuck again when Daisy gave birth to a stillborn baby boy.  Walter again arranged for this baby to be buried with his Grandmother Anna.  During the years, 1905 to 1909, Daisy had four more healthy sons. 

Walter’s Second Marriage Ends

Walter and Abbie were married for seventeen years when their marriage ended in divorce.  Abbie’s two sons lived with Walter and Abbie during those seventeen years.

Walter’s Third Marriage Begins

When Walter was 65 years old he married a 53-year-old widow named Mary Jane Mathys.  Mary Jane was widowed in May 1910.  Walter and Mary Jane were married on June 30, 1911.

Walter’s Grandchildren

Daisy had three more boys between 1911 and 1915.   With 11 boys at home their home was a happy and active one.  

His grandsons remember a salve their Grandfather made and sold to his neighbors.  Whenever one of his 11 Grandsons had a cut, Grandfather Walter would apply this homemade salve.  It was great for healing cuts.  Grandfather Walter left no record of what went into this salve or how he made it.     

Walter’s daughter-in-law, Daisy died on Aug. 16, 1916.  Daisy’s youngest child William, then age 2 went to live with Walter and Mary Jane.  The 1920 census shows William was still living with his Grandfather Walter and Walter’s third wife Mary Jane by January 3, 1920.  By then Walter was 85, Mary Jane was 62 and William was 6 years old.  Walter was still working as a Fish Peddler in 1920. 

In December 1925, Walter and several of his friends drove to Sandusky Ohio.  On the way home their Model T got a flat tire.  Walter, being the fittest of the bunch, got out of the car and changed the tire.  With rain soaked clothes, ninety-year-old Walter drove home in that open car.  The next day he took sick.  On January 2, 1926, Walter died, of Lobar Pneumonia. 

Walter and Mary Jane had been married 14 years.  He was buried in Monroe Street Cemetery in the plot with his first wife Anna and their three grandchildren.

The Widow

From Monroe Street Cemetery, Register of Interments: