Transcript:Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of York, Ontario/Van Camp, J. C.

J. C. VAN CAMP, an undertaker and funeral director, whose establishment is located at No. 30 Bloor street, Toronto, was born Feb. 8, 1849, in Picton, County Wellington, son of William and Sarah (Wood) Van Camp, and grandson of John Van Camp. The Van Camp family originally lived in Holland and on first coming to the New World settled in the State of Pennsylvania.

William Van Camp was born in 1816, the only child to the first marriage of bis father, John Van Camp, who came from Pennsylvania as a U. E. Loyalist, and who died in County Dundas, a prominent citizen, large land owner and mill man. William Van Camp settled near the old home in County Dundas, there becoming a wealthy property holder. He married Miss Sarah Wood, a teacher of the public schools, daughter of Solomon Wood, who came from Albany, New York, to Augusta, Ont. In 1866 Mr. and Mrs. Van Camp removed from County Dundas to Oil Springs, County Lambton, remaining there for two years, when they located in Petrolia. At this place Mr. Van Camp died in November, 1893. His wife passed away in 1889. They had a family of nine children, as follows; (1) A. J., a business man of Benton Harbor, Michigan, is married and has a family. (2) Evelyn, who was a successful teacher for some years in County Dundas, was married (first) to a Mr. Derrick, by whom she had three sons: Alton, a business man now located in Berlin, Germany; Ross, in business at Omaha, Nebraska; and Albert, a prominent real estate man in Ontario. She married (second) Mr. B. A. Whitney, who was principal of the collegiate schools of Iroquois, Ont., for over twenty years, by whom she had one son, William. Her third marriage was to the Rev. Joseph Moorehouse, of Quebec. (3) S. G., born in County Dundas, is engaged in business at Chicago, Illinois, is married and has two sons. (4) E. B., a veteran of the Civil war in the States, is now a boot and shoe merchant of Grand Island, Nebraska, is married and has a family. (5) J. C, of Toronto, is mentioned below. (6) Malinda is the wife of Augustus Derrick. (7) Sterling F., a merchant of Smith's Falls, Ont, has a wife and family. (8) Loretta, who was a teacher in the public schools of Ontario, married J. L. Adams, of the town of Petrolia, and has four children. (9) Eleanor married Henry Mustard, of Port Huron, and has two daughters.

J. C. Van Camp was reared and educated in County Dundas, and when a young man first engaged in the undertaking business, which he has continued from 1873. In December, 1870, he married Miss Jane Lawson, born in County Dundas, daughter of William Lawson, who was one of the pioneers of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Van Camp came to Toronto from Petrolia in May, 1891, and here they have since continued to reside. Mr. Van Camp owns considerable property in Toronto, including his home on Bloor street. To him and his wife have been born these children: Clara A, who married Dr. A. W. Whitney, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and has one daughter, Constance; Eva, the wife of Louis Kinsella, of Brandon, superintendent of construction on the Canadian Pacific railroad; Cora, a teacher in the schools of Toronto; Frederick C, manager of the jewelry department of the T. Eaton Company, of Winnipeg, who married Miss Ruth Stein, of Toronto, and has one son, Reginald; Muriel, a student of the high school of Toronto, and a fine musician; and Catherine, a student of the Jarvis Street high school.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Camp are connected with the Methodist Church, in which he was an official while in Petrolia. He is a Reformer, and while a resident of Petrolia, was a member of the council board for three years. He is very prominent fraternally, being a member of King Solomon Lodge of Masons; past district master of the I.O.O.F, of Ontario; past commander of the lodge of the Order of Chosen Friends; member and past representative of the Royal Arcanum, to which he has belonged twenty-seven years, since its organization in the city; member of the Knights of Pythias; the Royal Templars Insurance Order; the Orangemen of Toronto; and the True Blue Lodge.

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