Verplanck S. Van Antwerp (8 June 1807–2 December 1875) was a Brevet Brigadier General for the United States and served as U.S. Land Office Receiver and Secretary to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Biography

Van Antwerp was born 8 June 1807 in Albany, New York

Albany, New York

Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...

. In the 1830's and 1840's, he was a U.S. Land Office

General Land Office

The General Land Office was an independent agency of the United States government responsible for public domain lands in the United States. It was created in 1812 to take over functions previously conducted by the United States Department of the Treasury...

 Receiver and Secretary to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in Keokuk, Iowa

Keokuk, Iowa

Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...

. During the U.S. Civil War, he served as a Major and Chief Engineer under Major General James G. Blunt

James G. Blunt

James Gillpatrick Blunt was a physician and abolitionist who rose to Union major general during the American Civil War.-Early life & career:...

, from 1861 to 1862. He was later transferred to the Army of the Potomac, as Acting Assistant Adjutant General on Major General Winfield Scott Hancock

Winfield Scott Hancock

Winfield Scott Hancock was a career U.S. Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service in the Mexican-American War and as a Union general in the American Civil War...

's staff and remained in post until the end of the war.

Family

Van Antwerp married Jane Maria Yates (1815-1870), daughter of John Van Ness Yates, of Albany, and granddaughter of Robert Yates

Robert Yates (politician)

Robert Yates was a politician and judge well known for his Anti-Federalist stances. He is also well known as the presumed author of political essays published in 1787 and 1788 under the pseudonyms "Brutus" and "Sydney"...

. They had 4 children:

• Catharine Van Antwerp, born c. March 1831, died c. 1863
• Caroline Van Antwerp, born 16 January 1843, died 15 Jan 1925
• Yates Van Antwerp, born c. 1847
• Jesse F Van Antwerp, born c. January 1850