John Van Houten (abt. 1825 - 1879)

Born about 1825 in United States

Died 9 Nov 1879 at about age 54 in Pima, Arizona, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alex Carmichael [send private message]

Biography

John Van Houten was born about 1825 in the United States. ^[1][2]

A story noting Van Houten was published in the Quesnel Cariboo Observer newspaper in 2010. ^[3] The same story was published in Barkerville 150 Years of Pure Gold, Jun 8, 2012, Prince George Citizen, pg 22. ^[4]

The story notes John Van Houten ran a butcher shop in Victoria, British Columbia, but published a notice in the Daily British Colonist newspaper on March 21st, 1861 saying that the business was being dissolved. ^[5]

He then took up mining in 1862 in the Williams Creek, British Columbia area. He married Mary, a Scot in 1863. He then left the Cariboo area and re-appeared in the United States in 1864. Five of his children were born in the United States between 1865 and 1872. The family lived in Nanaimo for part of the 1870's.

He was caught up in the mining rush to Goose Flats [Tombstone, Arizona] in 1878 or 1879. "We don't know exactly what happened but on Nov. 9, 1879 Col. John Van Houten had a run- in with miners or claim jumpers in a dispute over a claim. He was beaten in the face with a rock until he died. Two men were charged with the murder, James Cassidy and Frank Stilwell. They were acquitted, but the charge hung on them like a funeral shroud."

This may be the same event noted in the U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index, 1850-1880:
Surname J. Van Houton
Year 1880
County Pima CO.
State AZ
Age 55
Gender M (Male)
Month of Death Nov
State of Birth US
ID# 197_338251
Occupation MINER
Cause of Death SKULL FRAC[Ture] ^[1].

He is buried at Boothill Graveyard, Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona, USA. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index, 1850-1880 Original data: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. AIS Mortality Schedules Index. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes. (https://www.ancestry.ca/discoveryui-content/view/483936:3530 accessed 26 Apr 2023).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Find a Grave: database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5618050/john-van_houten: accessed February 22, 2024), memorial page for Col John Van Houten (unknown–9 Nov 1879), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5618050, citing Boothill Graveyard, Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona, USA; Maintained by Dane Warner (contributor 46490823).
3. ↑ Newspaper: Quesnel Cariboo Observer newspaper, Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada · Wednesday, January 06, 2010 pp A2 (https://www.newspapers.com/image/688361318/?terms=%22john%20van%20houten%22%20Stilwell&match=1 accessed 22 Feb 2024).
4. ↑ Newspaper: Barkerville 150 Years of Pure Gold, Jun 8, 2012, Prince George Citizen pp 22 (https://issuu.com/pgcitizen/docs/barkerville accessed 24 Feb 2024).
5. ↑ Newspaper: The Daily British Colonist, Victoria, British Columbia Canada. March 21st, 1861 pp 2, column 3 (https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist18610321uvic/page/n1/mode/1up?view=theater accessed 24 Feb 2024).