|
UPSHUR COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
******************************************************************
Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook
vfcrook@earthlink.net
July 4, 2000
******************************************************************
The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 414
HOMER O. VAN TROMP, M. D. The medical and surgical
practice of the French Creek community in Upshur County
is ably looked after by Doctor Van Tromp, who was born
and grew up in this community and has made a splendid
record in his chosen profession. He has practiced here for
nearly ten years.
Doctor Van Tromp was born at French Creek Septem-
ber 26, 1877, son of John A. and Margaret (Ward) Van
Tromp. His father was born in Rockingham County, Vir-
ginia, in March, 1840, and at the age of eighteen came to
this section of West Virginia. He had acquired his early
education in his native state, and he also attended sub-
scription school in West Virginia. He was a student, and
for many years was a successful teacher. He served nine
months in the Twenty-fourth West Virginia Cavalry, and
was discharged at the close of war. After his marriage
he taught school in Upshur and Harrison counties, and
finally moved to French Creek to educate his children at
the old academy, and is still living at French Creek. He
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a
prohibitionist. John A. Van Tromp and wife had seven
children, one of whom died at the age of nineteen. Those
living are: John M., a teacher and surveyor in Upshur
County; Lulu, wife of Jerome Fultz, of Jane Lew, West
Virginia; Dr. Homer O.; Miss Iva L., who has been a
teacher; Miss Mary E.; and Aleta, who is a graduate of
the Fairmont State Normal and has been a teacher.
Dr. Homer O. Van Tromp was reared at French Creek,
attended the free schools there and took the work of the
summer normal schools. As a young man he studied elec-
tricity and steam engineering, and for a time was electri-
cian at the West Virginia State Reform School and was
also in Washington, District of Columbia, employed as
chief engineer at the National Training School for Boys.
For several years he had set his mind on a medical career,
and in preparation therefor he entered the Eclectic School
of Medicine at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in 1913,
and in the same year returned to French Creek to begin
practice. Doctor Van Tromp is a member of the County,
State and American Medical Associations. He is a busy
man in his profession, and at the same time takes a deep
interest in everything connected with the general welfare
and progress of the community. He is a stockholder in
the Bank of Adrian, in the Upshur County Fair Associa-
tion and the Buckhannon Chamber of Commerce. He is
a republican, a Presbyterian, and is affiliated with Rock
Cave Lodge No. 81, A. F. and A. M., and he and his wife
are members of Aletha Chapter of the Eastern Star.
In 1907 Doctor Van Tromp married Blanch E. Brooks,
a daughter of Adolphus Brooks and member of a prom-
inent family of educators and horticulturists in Upshur
County.
|
