Charles Henry van Wyck   [1824-1895]

Charles Van Wyck may not have been the most visible of his fellow Dutch American politicians, but he certainly was one the most active in terms of politics and public service. Not only did he represent the people of the State of New York, but he also represented the people of the State of Nebraska, in the United States Congress during his life time of public service.

Little is known about Van Wyck’s personal life or his ancestry. He clearly is a Dutch American, not only based on his name but also on the fact that he was born in the Hudson River Valley, which was heavily populated by Dutch Americans at the time he was born. No information is known about his marital status, or about his offspring, if any. We do know that he was a shrewd, knowledgeable, and respected politician, and was considered one of the better politicians in comparison with his Nebraska compatriots.

Van Wyck was born in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York on May 10, 1824. Following his elementary and high school education, he enrolled in Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and graduated from there in 1843. He then studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1847. He opened a law practice in Bloomingsburg, Sullivan County, New York following his admittance to the bar. He entered politics in 1850, when he became district attorney, and served in that capacity until 1856. He then ran as a Republican for Congress, and was elected to the U. S. Congress as a representative from New York in 1858. He served in Congress from March 4, 1859 until March 3, 1863, for two terms.

In 1863, Van Wyck joined the Union Army as a Colonel of the Fifty Sixth Regiment, New York Volunteers, and commanded the regiment during the Civil War. At the end of the war, he was brevetted brigadier general for services during the war.

In 1866, Van Wyck ran again for Congress as a representative from New York, and won the election. He served in the Fortieth Congress from March 4, 1867 to March 3, 1869. In 1869, Van Wyck contested the election of George W. Green. Van Wyck won the contest and served in the Forty First Congress and served from February 17, 1870 until March 3, 1871.

In 1874, Van Wyck moved to Nebraska and settled on a farm in Otoe County. He became immediately involved in Nebraska politics and became a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention in 1875. He then was elected to the Nebraska State Senate in 1877, 1879, and 1881, serving a total of six years. In 1881, he ran as a Republican for the United States Senate, and won the election representing the State of Nebraska. He served as a Nebraska U. S. Senator from March 4, 1881 to March 3, 1887. He was unsuccessful in his re-election in 1888. In 1892, he ran unsuccessfully for Governor of the State of Nebraska as a Populist. He then retired from active political life and active business pursuits. He returned to the East and settled in Washington. D. C., where he died on October 24, 1895 at the age of 71. He was interred in Milford Cemetery, Milford, Pennsylvania.

 

REFERENCES

Van Wyck, Charles Henry [1824-1895], http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000067

Political History, 1882-1890

 

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