J. S. VREDENBURG , deceased, was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, March 11, 1809. He entered a large dry goods house in New York City, when a boy, and remained until he was twenty-one years of age. He then married Miss Ann Doremus, daughter of Francis Doremus, of New York City; the same year came West and bought land in this county, and soon after returned for his family, and located here permanently in 1832. The old homestead is at present owned by his son Peter. He remained on the farm until 1841, when he came to Springfield and engaged in merchandising on the north side of the Square, and was known as No. 4. In 1852 he sold out and returned to the farm until 1856, when he again came to the city and engaged in the lumber business which he continued until his death. The business is now owned and controlled by his son, Peter. Mr. Vredenburg was a member of the City Council two years, and in 1865 was elected to the office of Mayor; was senior elder in the Presbyterian Church; he died March 9, 1879, leaving a widow who followed him in October, 1880. They left a family of eight children, Mariah D., (now Mrs. E. R. Ulrich, of Springfield) Francis and Peter of this city; Thomas D., now of Springfield, who enlisted in 1861, in the three months service; again enlisted in the Tenth Illinois Cavalry as a private, and was promoted step by step until he became Lieutenant colonel of the regiment. He participated in all the engagements of the regiment; he married Miss Maria Reynolds, daughter of the Rev. William M. Reynolds, and they had one child, William R. The next son is John S., now engaged in the wholesale business at Chicago; was also in the same regiment with his brother, and was promoted as Captain. Annie, (now Mrs. Partridge, of Missouri); Margaret and LaRue, a graduate of Ruger's College, New Jersey, and one of the rising attorneys of Springfield. LaRue was married to Miss Minnie N. Tapping of New Jersey, October 20, 1881.