John E. Van Alen
Encyclopedia
John Evert Van Alen was an American
surveyor
, merchant
, and politician
from Rensselaer County, New York
.
He was born in Kinderhook
, Columbia County, New York
. He served in the state Assembly
and represented New York
in the United States House of Representatives
from 1793 until 1799. The John Evert Van Alen House
, constructed while he was sitting in Congress at Philadelphia, is extant in Defreestville
, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2004.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Rensselaer County, New York
Rensselaer County, New York
Rensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 159,429. Its name is in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the land in the area. Its county seat is Troy...
.
He was born in Kinderhook
Kinderhook (town), New York
Kinderhook is a town in the northern part of Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 8,296 at the 2000 census. The name of the town means "Children's Corner" in the language of the original Dutch settlers . The town of Kinderhook contains two villages, one of which is also...
, Columbia County, New York
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
. He served in the state Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
and represented New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1793 until 1799. The John Evert Van Alen House
John Evert Van Alen House
John Evert Van Alen House is a historic home located at Defreestville in Rensselaer County, New York. The house was built between 1793 and 1794 and is a two story, five bay wide, room and a half deep, frame dwelling with a two story, three bay wide addition in the Federal style. The addition...
, constructed while he was sitting in Congress at Philadelphia, is extant in Defreestville
North Greenbush, New York
North Greenbush is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. North Greenbush is located in the western part of the county. The population was 10,805 at the 2000 census....
, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2004.