Catharine (Burnett) Van Deusen
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Catharine Olivia Gibson (Burnett) Van Deusen (1873 - 1934)

Catharine [uncertain] Olivia Gibson Van Deusen formerly Burnett aka Mercur, Bell
Born in Buffalo NYmap
Ancestors ancestors
Sister of
Wife of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died at age 60 in Denver, Denver County COmap
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Profile last modified | Created 24 Mar 2016
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Biography

Catharine Burnett Mercur Bell Van Deusen [1]


Denver Times, 1934

The following tribute was sent to The Times by a close friend of Mrs. Catherine Van Dusen of Grand Lake, who died in a Denver hospital about two weeks ago:

Mrs. Catherine Van Dusen, writer and former state employee, died from an illness which began several years ago when her hip was broken in a fall on icy pavement.

Through her illness was shown the unconquerable spirit inherited from forebearers who were friends and comrades of George Washington, Lafayette, and other early American patriots and builders.

Daughter of Henry L. and Sarah Lansing Burnett, she was born in Canandaigua, N.Y., May 2, 1873, and came to Colorado in 1902. She settled in Canon City, where she was married to Jack Bell, mining man, and became editor of the local newspaper and author of a volume of epigrams and short stories which attracted the attention of literary critics.

Coming to Denver in 1910, she became chief clerk of the state land board. Following her divorce from Bell, she was married to Robert Van Dusen.

In 1921 she purchased the ranch property in Grand county belonging to James Cairns, and this was her home up to the time of her death, although she was employed at the state capitol since last fall.

Funeral services were conducted at St. John's cathedral, with Bishop Johnson and Canon Watts in charge. Pallbearers were Governor Johnson, Gen. John T. Barnet(?), Gen. Neil Kimball, General Danks, Judge Frank McLaughlin and Robert De Vano.

She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Catherine Gibson Seymour of Grand Lake, a son, Bradley Evans Bell [Bradley T. Van Deusen] of the U.S. Army, and a granddaughter, Catherine Burnett Seymour.



Will [2]
I, Catharine Burnett Van Deusen, of the County of Grand County and State of Colorado, and being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make ordain, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, and I hereby expressly revoke all former wills or testamentary dispositions by me made.

FIRST: I hereby constitute and appoint my daughter, Catharine Gibson Seymour, to be the sole executrix of this my last will and Testament, she to act without bond, directing my said executrix to pay my just debts as soon after my death as can conveniently be done.

SECOND: I give and bequeath to Janet Greenleaf Slater, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the god-mother of my daughter, my blue mosaic bracelet.

THIRD: I give and bequeath to my grand-daughter, Catharine Burnett Seymour, my solitaire diamond ring which has been bequeathed from daughter to daughter for six generations the same to become her property when she shall have reached the age of twenty-one years.

FOURTH: I give and devise to my daughter, Catharine Gibson Seymour, all my jewelry except as herein otherwise bequeathed; all my fans, shawks, laces, clothing, my personal belongings, the Steinway piano, and one half of all bric-a-brac, one half of all books not now belonging to her or her daughter or my son, one half of all linen and one half of all furniture and pictures, and one half of all silverware not herein otherwise bequeathed.

FIFTH: I give and devise to my son, Bradley Evans Bell, known as Bradley Ten Eyck Van Deusen, the cluster diamond ring which belonged to his great-great-grandfather Henry B. Gibson, my heaviest gold watch chain, the silver punch bowl and ladle presented to Henry B. Gibson, and one half of all linens, silverware, furniture, pictures, rugs, bric-a-brac, and one half of all books not now belonging to him or to my daughter or granddaughter.

SIXTH: I give, devise and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real and personal, to my two children, Catharine Gibson Seymour and Bradley Evans Bell, to be divided equally between them, half and half. Should either of my children die, leaving a child or children, his or her share shall descend to such child or children.

SEVENTH: I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my daughter Catharine Gibson Seymour, executrix of this will, and, in case of the death of the said Catharine Gibson Seymour, that the American Bank and Trust Company of Denver, Colorado, shall act as executor in her stead; and I likewise direct that neither of the said executrix nor executor shall be required to give bond as executrix or executor.

IN WITNESS HEREOF I have hereunto subscribed my name this 7th day of November A.D.1927, of this my last Will and Testament consisting of two pages.

(Signed) Catharine Burnett Van Deusen


1880 US Census for Canandaigua, Ontario, New York [3] shows
Sarah Gibson, her daughter Catherine Lansing, her step-granddaughter Katherine Burnett, her granddaughter Catherine Burnett, and grandson Lansing Burnett

1892 Canandaigua Census
Catherine Burnett (misidentified as Catherine Lansing) living with her grandmother Catherine Lansing, her brother Lansing Burnett, and her mother's brother, Livingston Lansing, his wife and two children in her grandmother's home in Canandaigua NY.

[4] The New York Times, Saturday, November 30, 1895 Miss Catharine Burnett is engaged to Robert Jewett Mercur. Identifies her father as General Henry Lawrence Burnett, and her mother as the general's first wife incorrectly. Her mother was the general's second wife. Catharine is living at her grandmother's house in Canandaigua at this time.

1900 US Census
Catherine B. Mercur is living in Canandaigua with her daughter only, shown as a lodger, with an occupation of Capitalist. Her grandmother Catherine Lansing had died in 1897.

[5] Marriage announcement between J. E. "Jack" Bell and Catharine Burnett Mercur. Denver Post, 14 June 1902.

[www.iment.com/maida/family/father/jackbell/dp-1905nov6-arizonahasarrived.htm] Article saying that "Arizona" has arrived to John E. "Jack" Bell. Dated photographs show baby Bradley at the same date, so Jack must have had trouble convincing Catharine to name the baby Arizona.

John Bell and Catherine Bell divorce in Fremont County, CO docket number 3636, 11 Jun 1909.

1910 US Census
Catherine B. Bell is living with her daughter Catharine G. and her son Bradley E. Bell in Denver CO.

[6] Denver Post, October 21, 1910 Catherine Bell and R. M. Van Deusen elope to Nebraska.

Marriage license of 5 Nov 1911 in Denver County for Catherine B. Bell and Robert M. Van Deusen.

1920 US Census Catherine B. Van Deusen living with husband Robert M. Van Deusen and son Bradley E. Bell in Denver CO.

1930 US Census Catherine B. Van Deusen living with her daughter Catherine G. Seymour and granddaughter Catherine B. Seymour in Grand Lake, Grand Co, CO.

[7] Will of Catharine Burnett Van Deusen identifies daughter Catharine Gibson Seymour and son Bradley Evans Bell, known as Bradley Ten Eyck Van Deusen. It also identifies her great grandfather as Henry B. Gibson.

Death certificate gives dates of birth and death for Catherine VanDusen (misspelled), father's name with incorrect birth location, mother's name and state of birth. Gives the name of her third husband, Robert Van Deusen.

[8] The Rocky Mountain Herald Denver Colorado, Saturday, March 31, 1934 Obituary for Mrs Catherine Burnett Van Dusen of Grand Lake CO, giving names of her parents, date and place of birth.


Sources





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Rejected matches › Olive Mercure (abt.1875-)

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