Women In Dance In The Early 20th Century
From skimpy costumes to being covered head to toe, dancers in the first half of the 20th century were a diverse lot. But they all focused on changing the form of dance and the way people viewed...
Abram Van Kleeck (1871 - 1954)
Abram Van Kleeck, father to 7 children, was born on February 22, 1871 in Samsonville, New York. He was born to Rachel Emily Osterhout and David Van Kleeck, with siblings Henry Francis, Sarah, Alonzo, and Jessie. He married Bertha Barringer on March 26, 1891 and Bertha died on April 5, 1953. They gave birth to Gordon Van Kleeck, Dorothy Emily (Van Kleeck) Smith, Roxy (Van Kleeck) Yerry, Everett Van Kleeck, Vera Mae (Van Kleeck) Winne, Freeman B. Van Kleeck, and Elta Ann (Van Kleeck) Rifenburg. Abram died on January 5, 1954 in Kingston, New York at age 82.
Abram Van Kleeck Biography
With today's technology we are able to write and share our own history which lasts forever online. Our ancestors never had a chance to document their lives. This biography is dedicated to memorialize the life of Abram Van Kleeck, honor his ancestry & genealogy, and his immediate Van Kleeck family.
Most Commonly Known Name
Abram Van Kleeck
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First nameAbram
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Middle name
Unknown.
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Last Name(s) |
Nickname(s) or aliases |
Gender
Male
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Birth
Abram Van Kleeck was born on in Samsonville, Ulster County, New York United States 12461
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Death
Abram Van Kleeck died on in Kingston, Ulster County, New York United States
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Cause of death
There is no cause of death listed for Abram.
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Burial / Funeral
Tongore Cemetery, in Olivebridge, Ulster County, New York United States 12461
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Obituary |
Ethnicity & Lineage
What is Abram's ethnicity and where did his parents, grandparents & great-grandparents come from?
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Nationality & Locations Lived
Unknown.
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Religion
Unknown. Was Abram a religious man?
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Last Known Residence
Unknown.
Did Abram move a lot?
Where was his last known location?
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Education
Did Abram finish grade school, get a GED, go to high school, get a college degree or masters?
What schools or universities did Abram attend?
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Professions
blacksmith
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Personal Life & Organizations
Share some highlights of Abram's personal life & organizations in which they participated.
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Military Service
Did Abram serve in the military or did a war or conflict interfere with his life?
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Average Age
Abram Van Kleeck lived
11 years longer than
the average Kleeck family member
when he died at the age of 82.
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Life Expectancy |
Abram Van Kleeck Family Tree
Abram's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Van Kleeck family tree.
Photos and snapshots taken of Abram Van Kleeck, his Van Kleeck family, and locations and places or events from his life.
Share Memories about Abram
What do you remember about Abram Van Kleeck? Share your memories of special moments and stories you have heard about him. Or just leave a comment to show the world that Abram is remembered.
My grandmother remembers the following story about her father:
My Dad, Abram Van Kleeck, was minus his index finger on one hand. It happened when I was very small, as I do not remember the time that it was removed. As I remember, he got an infection in his hand from shoeing a horse and, for a time, there was a possibility of his losing his arm, but we had a very good family doctor named Van Gaasbeck. He had but one arm himself, and realizing what a handicap it would be for a man in my Dad's occupation of blacksmith, to lose one arm, he really fought to save it.
He came daily to our house to dress the arm and, as it was very painful, he said that perhaps it would be better to give Dad a good drink of liquor about an hour before he was expected. Dad never drank, and it didn't take much liquor to have an effect on him. One day about an hour before the doctor was to come, my Mother gave Dad his drink, and went on about her work. A few minutes later, my oldest sister, Roxy, thinking Mother had forgotten to give Dad the drink, also came with one for him. Dad insisted he had taken one, but Roxy, knowing how Dad disliked the stuff, thought he was just trying to get out of taking it, and made him drink it.
It certainly had an effect on Dad, he was so happy. When the doctor came to dress the hand, Dad insisted that the doctor dance with him. The doctor laughed so hard he cried. Needless to say, he went on his way and came back later in the day to dress the hand. Guess after that, Dad didn't stand a chance of getting a second on his "medicine", as the folks checked with each other before giving it to him.
My Dad, Abram Van Kleeck, was minus his index finger on one hand. It happened when I was very small, as I do not remember the time that it was removed. As I remember, he got an infection in his hand from shoeing a horse and, for a time, there was a possibility of his losing his arm, but we had a very good family doctor named Van Gaasbeck. He had but one arm himself, and realizing what a handicap it would be for a man in my Dad's occupation of blacksmith, to lose one arm, he really fought to save it.
He came daily to our house to dress the arm and, as it was very painful, he said that perhaps it would be better to give Dad a good drink of liquor about an hour before he was expected. Dad never drank, and it didn't take much liquor to have an effect on him. One day about an hour before the doctor was to come, my Mother gave Dad his drink, and went on about her work. A few minutes later, my oldest sister, Roxy, thinking Mother had forgotten to give Dad the drink, also came with one for him. Dad insisted he had taken one, but Roxy, knowing how Dad disliked the stuff, thought he was just trying to get out of taking it, and made him drink it.
It certainly had an effect on Dad, he was so happy. When the doctor came to dress the hand, Dad insisted that the doctor dance with him. The doctor laughed so hard he cried. Needless to say, he went on his way and came back later in the day to dress the hand. Guess after that, Dad didn't stand a chance of getting a second on his "medicine", as the folks checked with each other before giving it to him.
My relative the late Warren S. Van Kleeck remembered the following stories about Abram and his blacksmith shop:
I remember many summer days playing in his blacksmith shop on Apple Street. I remember the time the owner of the airport just north of old Rt. 28 entrance to Kingston coming to the shop. He said "I hear that you can make a spring that won't break." Grandpa said "Yes, you got one I can use for a pattern?" He gave Grandpa a sample and sped off in his convertible. Later he came speeding back to pick up his new spring and again sped off in a cloud of dust. About an hour later he was back and said "That was great - my student pilots have been breaking tailskids as fast as my mechanic can install them. We put your spring on a plane and tried every way possible to break it, but it still is OK. Make me six more."
One incident in his shop I will always remember: I must have been about five years old at the time. A man brought a big Belgian draft horse to the shop to be shod. Grandpa checked the front shoes and made some measurements. As he was starting to check the rear shoes the man warned him that the horse would sit down if he tried to check his shoes. Grandpa said "He won't sit down on me!" He lifted one leg and placed the hoof in position to check it. The horse started setting down. Grandpa dropped his tools and held up the leg with both hands. Then he proceeded to lift the leg higher and higher until the horse was off balance and fell on the wooden floor of the shop. The horse got up again and Grandpa lifted his back leg again to measure the shoe. This time the horse was very cooperative.
The local National Guard brought riding horses to his shop to get new shoes. They usually brought several at a time and would tie some outside while grandpa worked on one inside. This was the only time I was not allowed in the shop. The Army considered the high strung horses too risky to allow a small child near. So the shop doors were closed and I was left outside with the other two horses that were tied under the big tree outside. Grandma was husking corn for dinner and I was given the chore of taking the husks to the garbage pile by the chicken coop. Seeing the horses under the tree, I decided to feed them instead. They really liked the hard ends that were broken off the corncob. I soon had them eating out of my hand. So much for spooky horses!
I remember many summer days playing in his blacksmith shop on Apple Street. I remember the time the owner of the airport just north of old Rt. 28 entrance to Kingston coming to the shop. He said "I hear that you can make a spring that won't break." Grandpa said "Yes, you got one I can use for a pattern?" He gave Grandpa a sample and sped off in his convertible. Later he came speeding back to pick up his new spring and again sped off in a cloud of dust. About an hour later he was back and said "That was great - my student pilots have been breaking tailskids as fast as my mechanic can install them. We put your spring on a plane and tried every way possible to break it, but it still is OK. Make me six more."
One incident in his shop I will always remember: I must have been about five years old at the time. A man brought a big Belgian draft horse to the shop to be shod. Grandpa checked the front shoes and made some measurements. As he was starting to check the rear shoes the man warned him that the horse would sit down if he tried to check his shoes. Grandpa said "He won't sit down on me!" He lifted one leg and placed the hoof in position to check it. The horse started setting down. Grandpa dropped his tools and held up the leg with both hands. Then he proceeded to lift the leg higher and higher until the horse was off balance and fell on the wooden floor of the shop. The horse got up again and Grandpa lifted his back leg again to measure the shoe. This time the horse was very cooperative.
The local National Guard brought riding horses to his shop to get new shoes. They usually brought several at a time and would tie some outside while grandpa worked on one inside. This was the only time I was not allowed in the shop. The Army considered the high strung horses too risky to allow a small child near. So the shop doors were closed and I was left outside with the other two horses that were tied under the big tree outside. Grandma was husking corn for dinner and I was given the chore of taking the husks to the garbage pile by the chicken coop. Seeing the horses under the tree, I decided to feed them instead. They really liked the hard ends that were broken off the corncob. I soon had them eating out of my hand. So much for spooky horses!
Abram Van Kleeck Obituary
This obit of Abram Van Kleeck is maintained by Abram's followers. Contribute to her obituary and include details such as cemetery, burial, newspaper obituary and grave or marker inscription if available.
Abram Van Kleeck
Funeral services for Abram Van Kleeck of 15 Apple street were held from the W. N. Conner Funeral Home Friday afternoon. The Rev. Arthur E. Oudemool officiated. The service was largely attended by his relatives and many friends. Floral tributes were numerous. Bearers were Edward Smith, Warren Van Kleeck, Robert Rifenburg, Donald Yerry and Burt Winne Jr., all grandsons of the deceased. Burial was in Tongore Cemetery, Olive Bridge.
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Abram Van Kleeck
Abram Van Kleeck of 15 Apple street died at his home early this morning. Mr. Van Kleeck was a well known blacksmith for many years in the city of Kingston until his retirement about 10 years ago due to ill health. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Roxy Yerry of Shandaken, Mrs. Vera Winne of Mt. Tremper, Mrs. Etta (sic) Rifenburg and Mrs. Dorothy Smith of Kingston; three sons, Gordon of Kingston, Everett of the town of Ulster and Freeman Van Kleeck of New Smyrna, Florida; fifteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; two brothers, Jerry Van Kleeck of Tobasco and George Van Kleeck of Samsonville; two sisters, Mrs. Phoebe Lawrence of Accord and Mrs. Rowena Barringer of Smasonville, several nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the W. N. Conner Funeral Home, Inc., any time after 10 a.m. Wednesday where funeral services will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m. Burial in Tongore Cemetery, Olive Bridge.
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1871 - 1954 World Events
Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Abram's lifetime
In 1871, in the year that Abram Van Kleeck was born, on March 22nd, William Holden became the first governor of a U.S. state - North Carolina - to be impeached and removed from office. His impeachment and removal was related to charges arising from his attempted suppression of the Ku Klux Klan.
In 1888, at the age of 17 years old, Abram was alive when Irishman John Robert Gregg published a pamphlet in the U.S., teaching his first version of shorthand - Gregg shorthand. When he improved on the first version and published it 5 years later, Gregg shorthand became popular.
In 1912, he was 41 years old when New Mexico became the 47th state of the Union in January. Previously a province of Mexico, then a territory of the United States and mostly populated by Native Americans and Mexicans, once it became a U.S. territory it was increasingly colonized by European-American settlers. Its population was over 327,000 when it became a state.
In 1947, he was 76 years old when in June, the Marshall Plan was proposed to help European nations recover economically from World War II. It passed the conservative Republican Congress in March of 1948. After World War I, the economic devastation of Germany caused by burdensome reparations payments led to the rise of Hitler. The Allies didn't want this to happen again and the Marshall Plan was devised to make sure that those conditions didn't arise again.
In 1954, in the year of Abram Van Kleeck's passing, on May 17th, the Supreme Court released a decision on Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. The ruling stated that state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students was unconstitutional thus paving the way for integration in schools.
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