Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 3. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 653.
 
FRANK VAN WASSENHOVE

     Belgium has contributed many men who have been active and prominent in the
development of the northwest, among them being Frank Van Wassenhove, whose birth
occurred in Belgium, March 8, 1842, his parents being Charles and Dorothy
(Stark) Van Wassenhove. They were both natives of Belgium but left their native
land for America when their son Frank was but three years of age. Almost
immediately after their arrival in New York they went to Monroe, Michigan, where
the father purchased a farm of one hundred and twelve acres, which he cultivated
until his death, which occurred in 1866. They became the parents of six
children: Dominick; Frank, the subject of this sketch; Dorothy, who is the wife
of Charles Rolland; Joseph; Samuel; and Mary, who wedded Moses Strombly. They
are all residing in Newport, Michigan, excepting Frank.
     In 1859 Frank Van Wassenhove crossed the plains from Monroe, Michigan,
accompanied by a man named Gooby. The journey took six months and was made by
way of Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, where they remained for nine
days before starting across the Missouri river. Mr. Gooby had previously gone to
California in 1852 but returned to Michigan in 1857 to bring his family to the
west. During his first winter in the west Mr. Van Wassenhove was engaged near
Portland in cutting wood and clearing land, but afterward he came to the
Willamette valley, where he was employed by Mr. Gooby before going to the
Orofino mine in 1861. But this did not prove profitable employment and after a
summer's stay he returned to Marion county, where he has since resided. Shortly
after his return he was married and removed to the property which had been
presented to his wife by her uncle, Michael Coyle. Mr. Van Wassenhove took
complete charge of the place while it was still entirely covered with timber,
clearing altogether two hundred and twenty-five acres. Since the division of the
property among the heirs the tract contains one hundred acres, fifty acres of
which Mr. Van Wassenhove has brought under a high state of cultivation and has
devoted principally to raising wheat, oats and hay. In his various undertakings
he has shown a willingness and capacity for diligent and persistent labor and
has met with the success which is the reward of conscientious and progressive
agriculturists of the northwest.
     Mr. Van Wassenhove has been twice married. His first union was to Ellen
Coyle, a daughter of James and Charlotte (Scott) Coyle, of St. Paul. To this
union four children were born: Mary, who is, the wife of Charles McCormick, of
Woodburn, Oregon; Josephine, who married Thomas Kerr, of St. Paul; Alexander J.,
who is a resident of Portland; and Eliza, who is the wife of John Kerr, a
resident of Aurora. The mother's death occurred in 1898. Mr. Van Wassenhove was
again married on the 2d of February, 1901, his second union being with Mrs.
Ellen Ramsey, of The Dalles, Oregon. She had been married twice previously. She
was first wedded to Patrick Ferguson, of Massachusetts, and to them five
children were born: John and Frank, both deceased; one who died in infancy;
George, whose birth occurred in 1881 in Colorado; and Agnes, who was born August
23, 1885, and is the wife of Charles Yegen, of Hillsboro, Oregon. Her second
marriage was in 1888 to Edward Ramsey, who was a native of Scotland, and to them
one child, Etta, was born. Her birth occurred October 12, 1890, and in her youth
she received a musical education. She is the wife of John Vincent, by whom she
has had three children.
     In politics Mr. Van Wassenhove is a stanch republican and always gives his
support to the men and measures of that party although he has never sought
office for himself. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In
his social and fraternal relations he has won the regard and respect of all with
whom be came in contact.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.