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John Henry Van Antwerp is a lineal descendant of Daniel Janse Van Antwerp (married Maritie, daughter of Simon Groot), of Holland, who settled in Beverwyck in 1661. Daniel J. Van Antwerp was a proprietary settler of Schenectady, where several of his children were killed or taken prisoners to Montreal when that town was burned by the French and Indians. He was a fur trader and a member of the Dutch church, giving on June 23, 1715, the land on which the Reformed church of Schenectady now stands. Mr.Van Antwerp'sgrandfather, Daniel Lewis Van Antwerp, 1771-1832, of Schenectady and later of Albany, was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1801, member of the Legislature for Saratoga in 1808-10, and district attorney in 1811 for the counties of Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, Montgomery and Schoharie, being appointed March 9, 1811, by Gov. Daniel D. Tompkins. When Albany county was erected into a separate district, April 21, 1818, he was reappointed by Gov. De Witt Clinton, June 11, 1811, his commissions in each case being unlimited, but continuous during the pleasure of the Governor and Council. He was brigade quartermaster in the war of 1812, member of the Legislature for Schenectady in 1818, and judge of the Court of Justices in 1820. His son, William Van Antwerp, 1799-1829, was a prominent lawyer of Albany, married Sarah Meadon, and had four children; John Henry, William Meadon, Daniel Lewis, and one, a daughter, deceased.
John H. Van Antwerp, born in Albany, October 12, 1823, received a private school education and began his business life as a clerk. He was one of the founders and original trustees of the National Savings Bank of Albany, and has been its president since May, 1873, shortly after its organization. He has also been connected with the New York State National Bank since July 17, 1847, first as corresponding clerk, and from January 1, 1856, as cashier, until 1880, when he resigned to become first vice-president, which position he now holds.
John H, Van Antwerp married Martha Wiswall in August, 1842. They have two children living. Kate Josephine, wife of J. R. Stanton, paymaster United States Navy, and Henrietta W., wife of Major J. W. MacMurray of the U. S. Army; and one son and daughter deceased. Mrs. Van Antwerp died in August, 1880. Mr. Van Antwerp and wife early became members of St. Paul's Episcopal church of Albany, of which for many years he has been and is senior warden. He was one of the originators of the scheme for the creation of Washington Park, Albany, and one of the commissioners named in the act of the Legislature creating it; was the first president for thirteen years of the board during the formative period of the park, and subsequently declined a reappointment by the mayor at the expiration of his last term of service.
Socially he is a member of the Manhattan and St. Nicholas Clubs of New York city, Fort Orange Club, and the Country Club, city of Albany; also a member of the Holland Society, Sons of the Revolution, Fellow of the American Geographical Society of the city of New York, and the Albany Institute. As a financier he has for half a century been connected with the banking interests of Albany, and has shown himself to be of acknowledged ability, which is indicated by the standing of the institutions with which he has been connected in his official capacity as director or officer, and the length of time he has remained in connection with them.
He was a member of the New York State Board of Charities for over eighteen years; it being an unsalaried office. Often when duties in other directions claimed his time he cheerfully devoted it to the interest of the State and early called attention to the necessity of some restriction by the government of unsupervised emigration from Europe to this country.
