Washington County New York Biographies - Surnames V

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

Washington County New York Biographies - Surnames V, extracted from the Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century by Stone, William Leete, 1835-1908.

VAN WORMER, Rodney Biography

Biography

Rodney Van Wormer, Clerk of Washington County 1889- 1900, was born in the hamlet of West Fort Ann, Washington County, N. Y., on the 9th day of December, 1850, and is a son of Henry F. and Jane M. (Fuller) Van Wormer. On his paternal side he is a great grandson of Jacob Van Wormer, who served with distinction as Second Lieutenant in Captain De Garmo's Company, 14th Albany County Regiment, Hoosick and Schaghticoke District in the War of the Revolution. [For family history see "Genealogy of the Van Wormer Family," p. 179, Part II.]

Rodney Van Wormer grew to manhood in his native town and received his education in the common and select schools of the neighborhood. He was a prominent and active member of the Union Debating Society, which (during the winter months) met weekly in the old red school house at the forks of the road about one-half mile northerly from the West Fort Ann post-office, and near the residence of the late Benjamin C. Copeland. No doubt the connection with the debating society had very much to do with his entering the law office of Counselor Silas P. Pike, of Fort Ann, N. Y. , as a law student, which he did on the 9th day of December, 1878, following the repeated advice of an old friend and member of the society. Mr. Van Wormer was admitted to the bar in September, 1882, and from that date to January 1, 1889, he was actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession at Fort Ann, N. Y. He was the junior member of the law firm of Pike & Van Wormer until September, 1883, when Mr. Pike died.

In politics Mr. Van Wormer has always been a staunch and active Republican, and in the fall of 1888 he was nominated and elected Clerk of Washington County and took up his residence in Argyla, N. Y., entering upon the duties of his office January i, 1889. He proved to be a very popular and efficient county official and was thrice re-nominated by acclamation and re-elected in the years 1891, 1894 and 1897, and will close his fourth and last term of office as County Clerk with the present century, when he will resume the practice of law. During his incumbency in office he has made many improvements in the system of keeping the records of the office, which will prove of value to future generations.

In 1871 Mr. Van Wormer was united in marriage to Cornelia L., daughter of Samuel and Emma Lamb, of Fort Ann, N. Y. To their union has been born a daughter. Miss Letta, who graduated from the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, class of 1894, and was deputy County Clerk, 1898-1900.

Mr. Van Wormer is a member of the New York State Historical Association and a 32d degree Mason. He has crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is a member of the following masonic bodies:

Mount Hope Lodge, No. 260, F. & A. M., Fort Ann, N. Y.; Fort Edward Chapter, No. 171, R. A. M.; Cryptic Council, No. 37, R & S. M., Saratoga Springs, N. Y.; Washington Commandery, No. 33 K. T., Saratoga Springs, N. Y.; Delta Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S Rite, 4° — 14° , Troy, N. Y.; Delta Council Princes Jerusalem 15° and 16°, Troy, N. Y.; Delta Chapter Rose Croix, 17° and 18° Troy, N. Y.; Albany Sovereign Consistory, S. P. R. S., 19° — 32° Albany, N. Y.; Oriental Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Troy, N. Y.

[ Surnames W ]