Volume 13 , Issue 10

Long Island Pioneer

In the History of Long Island by Peter Ross we found the following biographical information concerning an ancestor on our Maternal CONOVER / KOUWENHOVEN side of the family. I am not sure exactly how distant and where to fit this ancestor in to our ancestral database or which lineage it derives from. BUT ... maybe someone out there can help in placing William I. Kouwenhoven in the family tree.

WILLIAM I. KOUWENHOVEN -- William I. Kouwenhoven resided at Flatlands and was born at Bedford, Long Island, April 5, 1818, and was descended from good old Revolutionary stock.

His grandfather was William Kouwenhoven, and his father was John I. Kouwenhoven. John I Kouwenhoven served in the Revolutionary war, loyally aiding in the struggle for American independence. He removed to Gravesend when his son was a lad of eleven years, and there he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1873.

At one time John I Kouwenhoven was superintendent of the poor of the town, and in church work he was very active, holding membership with the Dutch Reformed church and serving as deacon and elder in the congregation with which he was identified. He married Susan Lake, daughter of Peter Lake, of Flatbush, and they became the parents of three children, William I. and Jane Aletta, who was the widow of Stephen Vanderveer, of New Lots.

William I. Kouwenhoven, whose name introduces this review, spent the days of his childhood under the parental roof, his time being quietly passed without event of special importance. He was reared to farm work, and throughout his business career carried on agricultural pursuits, his well tilled fields bringing to him a good return. Gradually his capital was thus increased and he secured a good bank account. After a short time he sold his farm and was living retired in the enjoyment of a well earned rest.

William I. Kouwenhoven was united in marriage, in 1843, to Miss Abigail Baxter, daughter of Garret S. Baxter, of Flatlands. This venerable couple lived to celebrate their golden wedding day, March 22, 1893.

On December 13, 1895. Abigal Baxter Kouwenhoven passed away to her eternal rest.

William I. and Abigal Kouwenhoven had nine children: Susan L., the wife of William Schenck, of Flatbush, Long Island; Abbie W., wife of James R. Fredericks, of Jamaica, Long Island; John J., who resided at Vineland, New Jersey; Williamson, who resided at the homestead with his father; Peter W., a resident of Jamaica; Anna, the wife of Alfred B. Crossman, of New Lots; and Kitty, the wife of John M. Remsen, of Flatlands, residing at the old homestead.

As William I. Kouwenhoven passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey, his rest was well merited. At that time he enjoyed the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded to those who attained to advanced age and was accounted one of the leading citizens of his community.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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