During the war, Eli served as the paymaster of the Michigan Volunteers. When he returned home, he first sold shoes, later becoming Secretary/Treasurer of the soon defunct Detroit, Hillsdale and Ypsilanti Railroad. In 1874, Eli was appointed Hillsdale Postmaster, a position he would hold for the next eleven years.
The VanValkenburg name became well known locally during the success of the "Four Oarsmen," of which Eli's son Esbon (named after his grandfather, although he went by E.B.) held the "stroke" position. Mrs. VanValkenberg died at age 47, the year following the win of the National Amateur Rowing contest in Saratoga, N.Y. by E.B. and his friends.
Father Eli, although a social person with a keen sense of humor, also enjoyed nature, walking for hours through the countryside, with his gun over his shoulder and his dog at his side. He passed suddenly, in his house on the hill, in January of 1902.
-Text by Carol A. Lackey and JoAnne P. Miller
During the war, Eli served as the paymaster of the Michigan Volunteers. When he returned home, he first sold shoes, later becoming Secretary/Treasurer of the soon defunct Detroit, Hillsdale and Ypsilanti Railroad. In 1874, Eli was appointed Hillsdale Postmaster, a position he would hold for the next eleven years.
The VanValkenburg name became well known locally during the success of the "Four Oarsmen," of which Eli's son Esbon (named after his grandfather, although he went by E.B.) held the "stroke" position. Mrs. VanValkenberg died at age 47, the year following the win of the National Amateur Rowing contest in Saratoga, N.Y. by E.B. and his friends.
Father Eli, although a social person with a keen sense of humor, also enjoyed nature, walking for hours through the countryside, with his gun over his shoulder and his dog at his side. He passed suddenly, in his house on the hill, in January of 1902.
-Text by Carol A. Lackey and JoAnne P. Miller
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