Euphemia (Foster) Van Buren (1864 - 1955)

Born 19 Feb 1864 in Richville, St. Lawrence, NY

Ancestors

Wife of William James Van Buren — married 12 Nov 1887 in Russell, St Lawrence, NY

Descendants

Died 1 Feb 1955 at age 90 in Russell, NY

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bertram Sluys [send private message]

Biography

See notes on her husband.

IN MEMORIAM: Mrs. Effie Foster VanBuren, daughter of Harvey James and Louisa Kingsbury Foster, was born near Richville, New York, February 19 1864 and departed this life February 1, 1955. She was united in marriage to the late W. J. VanBuren on November 12, 1887. Mr. VanBuren passed away on September 27, 1948, after nearly 62 years of married life…Mrs. VanBuren gave her heart to God in early childhood. About 1900, when Evangelist Flora Lyon brought the news of holiness to the M.E. Church, of which she was a member, she and others sought and found the blessing of heart purity. When a Pilgrim Holiness Church was organized she became a charter member and remained true and faithful until she was called home. (Anna Pratt, daughter)

Article about Effie Foster Van Buren (Feb. 19, 1864 – Feb 1 1955) by Louise: My mother, after reading that wonderful testimonial she left us, her children, what more can I say. I feel every word is true and came from inner convictions she used and lived by every day. The first 15 years of her married life must have been very hard. First came twin girls, then another girl and a boy, and when the twins were 13 I came then last of all Karl. My father never learned a trade and by nature and upbringing was a scholar, which didn’t count for much in our backwoods. It didn’t bother him at all if there was only bread + milk for supper if afterwards he could read “The Rise + Fall of the Roman Empire” or the likes, which annoyed my mother no end. The children playing or noise went unheard and he would never remember to stoke the fire until they were out and the room got cold. But mother always kept them going anyway. However, Father always asked Grace at each and every meal and after breakfast every morning mother read a chapter from the Bible and we all knelt in prayer, all the family and guests and strangers. Each one contributed, praying their own personal problems and all joining in the Lord’s Prayer. This custom started our days off well in the right direction and gave us all such a good feeling of security. I have missed it all these years. When I think back it was something precious for us: better than silver or gold. Vernice had pneumonia several times while growing up and was always sickly so, mother came to depend on Bernice very much. She was our second mother. After Vernice was married and Anna + Bruce were away working and schooling, Bernice married but lived close. I was with mother when the phone rang and word came that Bernice had gone. Passed on without regaining consciousness after an operation in Ogd. Hospital. It almost killed my mother. Two hours of agony alone with God. Then she emerged sad but in controll. I was there when a letter from U.S. government came telling of Bruce being seriously wounded in France. I helped mother care for Annie’s twins. They lived 3 months at our house and are buried in Russell. These are things I knew about and I try sometimes to imagine the many, many things I never knew. She never complained. Her trust was complete. It was during these times I came to know and appreciate my mother better. She told me stories of the earlier years and I came to realize her courage and ambitions and pride and high spirit. Also the guilt she sometimes felt for having such and the need to curb. She always tried to impress on us that it wasn’t money or the lack of money that made people great or superior but the way they though and felt. Money was nice and welcome but secondary. She also had a quick firey temper that not many suspected. How ste we were taught and trained in self control from the cradle. Whatever is good in me,or any of us, we can credit to our mother’s training and as I look back I feel very sad tothink I haven’t worked harder to promote her teachings. I know she exercised a great influence on my children that were old enough to know her. I feel I have let worldly responsibilities interfere far too much in teaching the real important things in life and I hope my children will forgive me and figure it out for themselves and we will all join together in the Lovely Great Beyond: in the end, God loves us all and forgives all if we ask. Thank you all, Louise.

Another side of Effie (Foster) VanBuren (in her own words): “Didn’t you ever wonder why my children were born close together, but there were 8 years between Bruce and Louise? There is a very good reason!! It was a Sunday morning and my labor pains were getting close together. I told Will he could go to church but to hurry home directly after the service because the baby would not wait much longer than that. Well, whatever sermon the preacher gave that day stirred up a big debate. You know Will! He just had to argue his point. A bunch of them got into a fierce discussion and lost all track of time. They carried on the talk right to someone’s house, all through Sunday dinner, and beyond. Will forgot all about ME!! He didn’t get home til near dark – long after Bruce was born. I told him that I would make sure this never happened again – that he would never leave me to have a baby alone, because I would teach him a lesson that he would NEVER forget! That is why it was 8 years before we had another child!”

EFFIE FOSTER VAN BUREN’S SHORT DIARY: This diary was fond in an envelope addressed “To my children”. The paper was yellow with age. December 25, 1884. My first year in the woods is now complete. It has been a year of spiritual blessings. Many victories over self. Being isolated from society one can examine themselves throughly and commune with one’s own heart and see what manner of person they are. Then I forget my blessings and my lot seems greater than I can bare. I go to him in prayer. I find that his grace is sufficient for me. This Christmas day has been the saddest day of my remembrance. I have heard no one speak the words of “Merry Christmas” (but myself) this day. I have spent the day in prayers and tears. Oh I want to be willing to follow my Saviour even if the way is dark and I cannot see the way. Sometiems we will understand what is so dark now. Oh, for more trust in thee. March 22, 1900. Many things have happened since I wrote the above. We have four children now, and they all love the Saviour. Poor old Grandpa died almost a year ago and I feel bad when I think I never spoke to him about his soul. The ninth of Feb. will be a day long to be remembered by me. I made a complete concecration to God, and stepped out on the promises of my Saviour. I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost by faith. I walked by faith until the 18th of March the outward manifestation came to my heart. OH! He filled me to overflowing. It seemed almost as thought I would burst, hardly room for breath and He has come to stay if I will let Him. And He will do so much for me if I but trust Hima dn obey. He is able to keep us from our sins and I am going to follow wherever He will lead me, for He tells me that I need not go alone but He will go with me every step of the way. I think I am one of the happiest beings. I feel like praising God all of the time. March 1901. Almost a year has passed away since Jesus came so near to me and I praise His name that He has not left me to go alone but He has helped me every day. He has increased my faith and I know He hears & answers prayer. Last spring the girls had to have dresses before they could attned school. I told the Lord all about it. A week or two before school started a Christian friend sent the cloth for the dresses so they went the first day of sdchool. In other things just as plain He has answered me so many times. He has helped me out of so many hard places that I have learned to trust Him and to cast all every bit of my care on Him (and go free) for He cares for me. Chart 6, Snell / Leonard Lines – page 7.

January 18 1920. Many years have come and gone since I have written anything. I thought I had destroyed what I had written but I came across it a few days ago and felt as tho I ought to write and get it up to date. Two more children have come to bless our home and Bruce has spent 3 years in college. I would never send another child to that university. It is a dangerous experiment. In the spring of 1918 he was drafted and went to Camp Dix. In a few weeks he was sent overseas. I felt as tho God would bring him back to us. He was gassed soon after he got to the front and sent back to the hospital. He was sent back to his company just as peace was declared. Bernice went down to death’s door but came back to us in answer to prayer. OH! The power of prayer. How could we live without it? It will hold us steady when everyone & everything fails us. He is able to keep us and give us peace. He has promised and I have found them true. About 5 years ago Vernice was married. She has three children. Last fall she came home and her little boy was born here. She was with us 5 weeks. Anna came home. She went to Louisville, Kt. Bernice’s health is improved all of the time. I dread the time when she is to leave us for a home of her own. But it is all right. She has been a great comfort to me but I know where to look for help and strength. If I had not had hard things to face I neve would have known what the Lord was able to do for me. There are a great many things that I would have different and that I don’t understand but God allowed it to be and he gives me grace to leave it all with Himand He says that no good thing wil be withheld from me so I can trust Him in that. I have a great many temptations but His grace is greater than the temptations and I praise His name for it. I want my life to tell for Christ every day of my life. September, 1954. The Lord is just the same today as He was years ago when last I wrote. He has never left me. He is with me all the while. Be true never give up or deny your Lord. Never give an inch to the devil and Iwant all of you to meet me in heaven. I will soon be going where there is no pain or sickness. Isn’t that wonderful? I would think everyone would want to go, so don’t feel bad. If I get there before you I will be there to greet you. Maybe the Lord will let me come after you.

Census 1870, De Kalb, Saint Lawrence County: Harvey Foster, age 39, farmer, value of real estate $3500, value of personal estate $1200; Louisa, age 38, keeping house; Hellen, age 16, at home; Attie, age 15, at school; Leila, age 8; Effie, age 6; George Flavio, age 14, farm laborer.

Census 1880, Russell: James Foster, farmer, 49; Louise, wife, 47; Lillie L, daughter, 18; Alta E, daughter, 22; Effie M, daughter, 16; Asa R, father, 84; Anna, mother, 82.

Sources

• Diaries of Pauline Leonard Snell (her grand-daughter)

"New York, County Marriages, 1908-1935," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ9X-XNY : accessed 4 April 2015), Effie M Foster in entry for William Bruce Van Buren and Blanche Helen Paige, 27 Jun 1927; citing St. Lawrence, New York, United States, county offices, New York; FHL microfilm 885,354.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Van+Buren&GSfn=Effie&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=36&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=141761663&df=all&