Bio: Vanderhoof, Wesley – Over 70 Years on His Farm

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Vanderhoof, Clark, Prechel

Source: Spencer Centennial Book (1874 – 1974)

Wesley Vanderhoof, who was born in Boontown, New York in 1843, enlisted in the Union Army at Newark, New York in July of 1861, remaining in the service until the end of the war. Shot through the hip, he lay on the battlefield at Chancellorsville three days before being taken to the Mout Pleasant Hospital at Washington, from there being taken to a hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. From there he returned to the firing line and was with the Union troops during the engagement at Rock Bottom on the James River, the night before Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox.

Following his discharge, he came to Clark County and settled on a 475 acre tract of timberland west of Spencer, in the Town of Sherman. In 1882 he married Ellen Clark, and together they worked to develop a fine farm on which to rear four sons and two daughters. Mr. Vanderhoof played an important part in the development of Clark County. He helped to build its first turnpike and helped to load the lumber for the first home in Spencer. For 50 years he served his community as justice of the peace, for 37 years as school clerk of his district, and was a member of his town board for six years.

After the death of his wife, he continued to live on his farm with his son, Pearl and Alfred. His death there at the age of 94 marked the passing of the last Civil War veteran in the Spencer vicinity.

Wesley Vanderhoof had the honor and privilege of shaking hands with President Abraham Lincoln at Chancellorsville, Virginia. President Lincoln had gone there during a troop encampment to review the troops and personally greeted each soldier there.

Otto Prechel, upon learning of this, took his children to the home of our esteemed veteran to shake hands with the man who had once clasped the hand of Abraham Lincoln.