Dr's.
James and Henry van Hoevenberg
By Robert
C. Griffith (family member)
Dr. James Oliver van
Hoevenberg (a.k.a. J. O. Van Hovenburg) was born July 16, 1822 in
Kingston, Ulster County in New York.
In 1838, after completing his schooling, James Oliver went to Michigan
to work with his uncle, Col. James Dumond van Hoevenberg, on a farm in
Jonesville. In March of 1840, he moved to Marine Settlement, Illinois
(just west of Chicago) and began the study of medicine with a friend of
his father's, a Dr. Allen, and lived with the Allen family.
In 1843,
James returned to New York City via Jonesville and went to Bellevue for
further study and practice and eventually received the M.D. degree from
the University of the City of New York (present day New York
University.)
James was on the staff of Bellevue, Blackwell's Island Hospital, and
became Deputy Health Officer of the Port of New York stationed at
Quarantine, Staten Island, where his father was in charge. In 1846 he
received a commission as Assistant surgeon of the New York Volunteers
under Col. J. D. Stevenson.
Dr. James Oliver was in private practice for some time in Staten Island,
and then in 1856 he moved to Kingston (this would have coincided more or
less with the retirement of his father and the breakup of his elder
brother Martin's first marriage.)
In 1857 he was commission surgeon of the 20th New York State Militia,
and in 1862 Surgeon of the 120th New York Volunteers with the rank of
Major. He saw much action in the Civil War. The 120th
Infantry, mustered out June 3, 1865. According the the Roster, Van
Hovenburg, J.O. is listed as a surgeon, and was in the service until
December, 1862.
Because of war-related medical problems, Dr. James Oliver returned to
Kingston and practiced for about six years with Walter Alexander van
Rensselaer. He was appointed Deputy Health Officer at Sing Sing Prison,
a post he left after awhile because of the unpleasant duty of attending
hangings. When his eldest son, Henry, began medical practice in 1877,
Dr. James Oliver left Kingston and returned to Staten Island.
Dr. James Oliver married Esther Maria van Hoevenberg, his cousin, on
June 14, 1849.
They had five children.
