Services for Henry Van Geem, 87, former Eastland postmaster, were held in the First Baptist Church. With the death of Mr. Van Geem, a resident of Eastland since 1875, was the passing of one of two charter members of the First Baptist Church in Eastland.
Survived by three children - Charles M. Van Geem, William Van Geem, John S. Van Geem, who is assistant postmaster of the Eastland post office. Mr. Van Geem moved to Eastland in 1875, the year after the city was laid out and established. He represented one of the old Holland-Dutch families of New York. He acquired a common school education and as a boy, showed the faculty self-reliance, evidenced when he left home in 1870, a youth of seventeen. He traveled by stages through Michigan, Indiana, central Illinois, and Missouri, and finally reached Harrison County, Texas. He lived in Marshall for several years and while there worked at a mechanical trade. He continued his work as a general mechanic in Eastland for several years. Mr. Van Geem became an employee of the Eastland post office in 1906 and was for several years an assistant postmaster. Soon after the beginning of President Wilson's administration in 1913, he was appointed postmaster. He was postmaster until 1 April 1922 when he was succeeded by A.H. Johnson. Mr. Van Geem retired from the post office in 1924. Mr. Van Geem for many years took an active interest in Masonry, had been a member of Eastland lodge No. 467 since 1888, and was a past master of the lodge, was a royal arch and council Mason. He was district Deputy grandmaster for his district. A member of the Baptist Church, he had been ordained as a deacon. His wife, a native of Kentucky, preceded him in death.
Eastland Weekly Chronicle
April 6, 1937
After the death of his mother in Holland, he arrived with his father and six siblings in New York, 29 April 1857, as immigrant passengers on the ship "Gerhard" from Holland. Henry was about six years old when he arrived in the United States. Henry grew up in the area of Buffalo, N.Y. He came to Eastland with the S.M. Holland family and he married their daughter, Josephine, in Eastland the next year. A photo from the 1890s shows Henry in the city band as a trombone player. In 1910 he was a member of the Eastland City school board.
Survived by three children - Charles M. Van Geem, William Van Geem, John S. Van Geem, who is assistant postmaster of the Eastland post office. Mr. Van Geem moved to Eastland in 1875, the year after the city was laid out and established. He represented one of the old Holland-Dutch families of New York. He acquired a common school education and as a boy, showed the faculty self-reliance, evidenced when he left home in 1870, a youth of seventeen. He traveled by stages through Michigan, Indiana, central Illinois, and Missouri, and finally reached Harrison County, Texas. He lived in Marshall for several years and while there worked at a mechanical trade. He continued his work as a general mechanic in Eastland for several years. Mr. Van Geem became an employee of the Eastland post office in 1906 and was for several years an assistant postmaster. Soon after the beginning of President Wilson's administration in 1913, he was appointed postmaster. He was postmaster until 1 April 1922 when he was succeeded by A.H. Johnson. Mr. Van Geem retired from the post office in 1924. Mr. Van Geem for many years took an active interest in Masonry, had been a member of Eastland lodge No. 467 since 1888, and was a past master of the lodge, was a royal arch and council Mason. He was district Deputy grandmaster for his district. A member of the Baptist Church, he had been ordained as a deacon. His wife, a native of Kentucky, preceded him in death.
Eastland Weekly Chronicle
April 6, 1937
After the death of his mother in Holland, he arrived with his father and six siblings in New York, 29 April 1857, as immigrant passengers on the ship "Gerhard" from Holland. Henry was about six years old when he arrived in the United States. Henry grew up in the area of Buffalo, N.Y. He came to Eastland with the S.M. Holland family and he married their daughter, Josephine, in Eastland the next year. A photo from the 1890s shows Henry in the city band as a trombone player. In 1910 he was a member of the Eastland City school board.
Services for Henry Van Geem, 87, former Eastland postmaster, were held in the First Baptist Church. With the death of Mr. Van Geem, a resident of Eastland since 1875, was the passing of one of two charter members of the First Baptist Church in Eastland.
Survived by three children - Charles M. Van Geem, William Van Geem, John S. Van Geem, who is assistant postmaster of the Eastland post office. Mr. Van Geem moved to Eastland in 1875, the year after the city was laid out and established. He represented one of the old Holland-Dutch families of New York. He acquired a common school education and as a boy, showed the faculty self-reliance, evidenced when he left home in 1870, a youth of seventeen. He traveled by stages through Michigan, Indiana, central Illinois, and Missouri, and finally reached Harrison County, Texas. He lived in Marshall for several years and while there worked at a mechanical trade. He continued his work as a general mechanic in Eastland for several years. Mr. Van Geem became an employee of the Eastland post office in 1906 and was for several years an assistant postmaster. Soon after the beginning of President Wilson's administration in 1913, he was appointed postmaster. He was postmaster until 1 April 1922 when he was succeeded by A.H. Johnson. Mr. Van Geem retired from the post office in 1924. Mr. Van Geem for many years took an active interest in Masonry, had been a member of Eastland lodge No. 467 since 1888, and was a past master of the lodge, was a royal arch and council Mason. He was district Deputy grandmaster for his district. A member of the Baptist Church, he had been ordained as a deacon. His wife, a native of Kentucky, preceded him in death.
Eastland Weekly Chronicle
April 6, 1937
After the death of his mother in Holland, he arrived with his father and six siblings in New York, 29 April 1857, as immigrant passengers on the ship "Gerhard" from Holland. Henry was about six years old when he arrived in the United States. Henry grew up in the area of Buffalo, N.Y. He came to Eastland with the S.M. Holland family and he married their daughter, Josephine, in Eastland the next year. A photo from the 1890s shows Henry in the city band as a trombone player. In 1910 he was a member of the Eastland City school board.
Survived by three children - Charles M. Van Geem, William Van Geem, John S. Van Geem, who is assistant postmaster of the Eastland post office. Mr. Van Geem moved to Eastland in 1875, the year after the city was laid out and established. He represented one of the old Holland-Dutch families of New York. He acquired a common school education and as a boy, showed the faculty self-reliance, evidenced when he left home in 1870, a youth of seventeen. He traveled by stages through Michigan, Indiana, central Illinois, and Missouri, and finally reached Harrison County, Texas. He lived in Marshall for several years and while there worked at a mechanical trade. He continued his work as a general mechanic in Eastland for several years. Mr. Van Geem became an employee of the Eastland post office in 1906 and was for several years an assistant postmaster. Soon after the beginning of President Wilson's administration in 1913, he was appointed postmaster. He was postmaster until 1 April 1922 when he was succeeded by A.H. Johnson. Mr. Van Geem retired from the post office in 1924. Mr. Van Geem for many years took an active interest in Masonry, had been a member of Eastland lodge No. 467 since 1888, and was a past master of the lodge, was a royal arch and council Mason. He was district Deputy grandmaster for his district. A member of the Baptist Church, he had been ordained as a deacon. His wife, a native of Kentucky, preceded him in death.
Eastland Weekly Chronicle
April 6, 1937
After the death of his mother in Holland, he arrived with his father and six siblings in New York, 29 April 1857, as immigrant passengers on the ship "Gerhard" from Holland. Henry was about six years old when he arrived in the United States. Henry grew up in the area of Buffalo, N.Y. He came to Eastland with the S.M. Holland family and he married their daughter, Josephine, in Eastland the next year. A photo from the 1890s shows Henry in the city band as a trombone player. In 1910 he was a member of the Eastland City school board.
Inscription
"They died as they lived--Christians". Masonic emblem for Henry.
Gravesite Details
Double Gravestone: Henry and Matilda Josephine.
Family Members
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