Van Doren, William

Van Doren, William a Presbyterian educator, was born at Griggstown, Somerset Co., N.J., March 14, 1814. He was prepared for college in the Academy at Princeton under the tuition of the Rev. Charles C. Sears, and was graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1835. He united with the First Presbyterian Church of Princeton, July 14, 1832. On leaving college, he taught in Florida about a year, and then entered Princeton Seminary in 1836, but, owing to a failure of health, remained only one year. He was never licensed or ordained, but devoted himself to the work of education. He was a professor in the college at Columbia, Mo., and afterwards in the Missouri State University from 1837 to 1843. Next he had charge of the high-school at Lexington for seven years, until 1850; then served as professor in Westminster College at Fulton for twelve years, until 1862. In the latter year he removed to California, where he taught successively at Napa City, Stockton, Visalia, and Watsonville, establishing an institution of learning in each of these towns. While teaching at Watsonville his sight failed him, and for two years preceding his death his health had been steadily declining. At Columbia, Mo., he was ordained ruling elder, and in this office had faithfully and very usefully served the churches in the towns where he subsequently resided. He died at Watsonville, Cal., Dec. 3, 1877. (W.P.S.)