Belle Vernon in Fayette County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Doctor John Stodgell Van Voorhis (1826-1917)
Photographed by Bradley Owen, June 30, 2022
1. Doctor John Stodgell Van Voorhis (1826-1917) Marker
Belle Vernon's historian began practicing medicine here in 1847 upon graduating from today's W&J College. He married Betsy Plumer Smith that fall. His 1893 The Old and New Monongahela relates how Betsy's great grandfather Alexander Lowrey disowned grandmother Margaret for eloping with George Plumer in 1762, the first English child born on the frontier. The family's reconciliation and Van Voorhis' stories of growing up on Pigeon Creek near Monongahela City typify his biographical approach.
He tells us Henry Speers Junior settled West Belle Vernon now. Speers and brother Noah founded Belle Vernon in 1812. Noah's son Louis farmed, sold sand, built boats, mined coal and laid out North Belle Vernon in 1872. Louis' financial embarrassment in 1877 and glass factory owner William Eberheart's in 1852 were downplayed by Dr. Van Voorhis Belle Vernon's tireless promoter. A primary developer of the town's natural gas, water and bridge companies, its cemetery and railroads on both sides of the river, Dr. Van Voorhis was an eloquent speaker at school dedications and fourth of July celebrations.
Erected 2004 by James Greenwood and Rostraver Township Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Belle Vernon Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Belle Vernon (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Dunlevy Honor Roll (approx. 0.8 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Honor Roll (approx. 0.9 miles away); Monessen Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); M4A3 Combat Full-Tracked 76mm Sherman Tank (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belle Vernon.
Photographed by Bradley Owen, June 30, 2022
2. Doctor John Stodgell Van Voorhis (1826-1917) Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 288 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 6, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
