VanNiel, Jacob C.

Other Events:

• Immigration: 9 May 1848, New York, New York, New York, USA; on the Maria Magdelena from Rotterdam Line 137 on 3/29/1848
• 1850 Census: 1850, Kaukalin, Brown, Wisconsin, USA; page 145, line 32
• 1855 State Census: 1855, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; Page 08a
• 1860 Census: 1860, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1870 Census: 1870, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; page 00
• 1880 Census: 1880, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; page 44
• News Mention: 4 Jan 1889; De Volksstem
• News Mention: 22 Dec 1897; De Volksstem
• News Mention: 19 Jan 1898; De Volksstem
• News Mention: 31 Aug 1898; De Volksstem
• Obituary: 6 Jan 1899; Kaukauna Sun

Notes:

1850 Census:
James Vanneal age 25 in 1850 Census

1855 State Census:
1m 1f

1860 Census:
220 Jacob C Van Neel Male 40 Holland
220 Antoinette NeelFemale64Holland
220 Cornelius GiesbersgeisbertMale35Holland
220 Elizabeth GeisbertFemale30Holland
220 John GeisbertMale25Holland
220 Cornelia GeisbertFemale23Holland

1870 Census:
J C Van Niel 47
Antoinette Van Niel 73
Gerrit Brooks 25
Wilhelmina Lanspach 69

1880 Census:
Listed age 57 married to Catharine age 58 (Little Chute)

Obituary:
See Image From Kaukauna Times dated 1/6/1898 - J. C. VAN NEIL DEAD
The death of J. C. VAN NIEL, one of the oldest settlers in this section, occurred Friday last, at his home in Little chute, aged 83 years. Mr. VAN NEIL had been gradually failing for the pat year. he came to Little Chute with the three sail shop loads of Hollanders brought to America by Father VAN DEN BROCK, the early pioneer priest of the Fox River Valley He was quire a scholar, having once prepared himself for the priesthood, and was also noted
as an antiquarian. in the early days of Little Chute Mr. VAN NEIL was quite prominent in a business way in that place. He opened up an extensive stone quarry about the time of the construction of the canal and locks of the Fox River Improvement company. A large wood yard where he handled many thousands of cords each year was also run by him. Another enterprise was a warehouse to accommodate the traffic of the steamboats then plying up and down the Fox river.
In after years, however, his time was taken up with more congenial employments. At one time he owned the only Catholic book store in the state, having in stock several thousand volumes of books. This was destroyed by fire
in 1872, only a few books about 100 being saved. These, however, were among the choicest of his collection, on of which is now over 250 years old. The loss of his books was a sad blow to Mr. VAN NEIL and to the day of his death he had not ceased to mourn the loss.
At one side of his home and just in front stands an altar which has been viewed by perhaps hundreds of people, many of whom however failed to learn much of it's origin. According to the Latin inscription which surmounts it,
it was built over two score years ago, by Mr. VAN NEIL under the direction of Father T. J. VAN DEN BROCK. here the native Indian was led by this Holland priest to worship, and also here came processions from St. John's church for the same purpose. This custom however has long since give way to more modern usages. Leading out from the cellar of his house is an underground passage which ends in what was at an early day a distillery. The cobblestone chimney into which led the iron pipes of the still yet stands. The building for many years has been used by it's owner as a curiosity shop. Here are stored quaint and curious articles, old books, relics, etc., too umerous to mention. The whip saw, once used by Father VAN DEN BROCK's own hands to cut boards from
the logs of the forest, with the assistance of his only companions, the native Indians; the draw shave used by him in making shingles, and other tools used in the construction of the first primitive church in Little Chute, have been religiously preserved by this lifelong friend of the early pioneer priest.
Among the treasures kept by him of those early days is a high silk hat purchased by Father VAN DEN BROCK in Holland just before starting for America the first time in 1833. It has a wide rim and bell crown, the material being very fine, and enough of the same to make two high hats of today's style. He has also other old style silk hates of several later dates, and a long broadcloth cloak reaching to the ground, which also was a gift from his old friend the Holland priest. Mr. VAN NEIL has often proudly worn these ancient articles in public, and has more than once been photographed while thus arrayed.
The story of those early days, as told by J. C. VAN NEIL to a representative of The Times during the last year of his life sounds like a romance, and could it all have been written, it would be intensely interesting. When he landed at Little Chute dense forests covered he whole country. A trip to Appleton and return often took his pioneer two days by the only road, an Indian trail. The way led in and out through the forests, wading at times through deep marshes and woods, climbing over windfalls, which often almost entirely blocked the way, the few miles intervening was a serious job to undertake. A widow, the second wife of Mr. VAN NEIL survives him.
The deceased was buried Monday morning at nine o'clock from St. John's church Father KNEGTEL conducting the ceremonies.
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see also
Little Chute J. C. VanNeil Kaukauna Sun 1/06/1899 A2 Death notice

Jacob married Maassen, Antoinette Abt 1855. Antoinette (daughter of Maassen, Cornelis and Mos, Johanna) was born 26 Jan 1794, Mill, , Noord-Brabant, Netherlands; died 16 Nov 1876, Little Chute, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Jacob married Bos, Catharine "Kaat" Bef 1880, , , Wisconsin, USA. Catharine (daughter of Bos, Peter Johannes and VerHaag, Maria Gertrude) was born 20 Dec 1830, Grubbenvorst, , Limburg, Netherlands; died Aft 1880. [Group Sheet]