A brief outline of Martin Van Buren's early life in Kinderhook, New York, with photos of his home.
Martin Van Buren, the eighth President of the United States, was born in Kinderhook, New York , on December 5, 1782. His parents, Abraham and Maria Hoes Van Buren were respected Dutch truck farmers and tavern keepers. He spent his early years in Kinderhook where he gained a rudimentary knowledge of English and Latin at the village school. A Federalist lawyer, Frederick Sylvester, who lived in Kinderhook hired the precocious 14-year old boy to apprentice with him. For seven years Martin did his regular work with Sylvester, but often preferred to read the Republican publications that he found there.
Republican
Van Buren had become a fervent Republican during the seven years with Sylvester, and earned a reputation as a clear thinker and a creative presenter of his political thoughts and ideas. He actively supported the candidacy of Thomas Jefferson in the campaign of 1800, and was rewarded for his diligence by the New York Republican Party when they named him a delegate to the Congressional Caucus at Troy, New York.
Aaron Burr, DeWitt Clinton were two of the leading statesmen he met when he went to New York City in 1801 to further his law studies with William P.Van Ness. The time in New York opened to him a wider political arena, and he met many prominent politicians and lawyers. He was licensed to practice law in 1808, and he left the big city for a partnership in his half-brother James Van Allen's law firm in Kinderhook.
Marriage
Van Buren had long been interested in a distant cousin, Hannah Hoes, and on February 21, 1807, he married her in Kinderhook. They walked across the frozen Hudson River with the wedding party for the reception. Hannah and Martin had four sons, but his wife did not live to see him elected President. He never remarried. Hannah was described as a woman of 'sweet nature but few intellectual gifts,' and 'no love of show...no ambitious desires, no pride of ostentation.' After being elected President, and needing a hostess for White House affairs Van Buren called upon his son Abraham's wife, the beautiful and wealthy Angelica Singleton Van Buren to take over the duties, which she happily accepted.
Van Buren's early life was spent in Kinderhook, New York City, and Troy, New York, but the time would come when he would spend years in the United States Capital as the Eighth President of the United States.
Sources: First Ladies, by Carl Sferrazza Anthony, Quill, William Morrow, New York, 1990
Martin van Buren, a pamphlet published by the National Park Service
