Henry Van Aernam

Henry Van Aernam (March 11, 1819 – June 1, 1894) was a United States representative from New York.

Henry Van Aernam
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1869
Preceded by	Reuben E. Fenton
Succeeded by	Porter Sheldon
Constituency	31st district
In office March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1883
Preceded by	George W. Patterson
Succeeded by	Francis B. Brewer
Constituency	33rd district
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Cattaraugus County, 1st district
In office January 1, 1858 – December 31, 1858
Preceded by	Alanson King
Succeeded by	Marsena Baker
Personal details
Born	(1819-03-11)March 11, 1819 Marcellus, Onondaga County, New York, U.S.
Died	June 1, 1894(1894-06-01) (aged 75) Franklinville, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Prospect Cemetery Franklinville, New York
Citizenship	US
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Amy Melissa Etheridge Van Aernam
Children	Isadora G. Van Aernam McVey Charles Duane Van Aernam
Alma mater	Geneva Medical College Willoughby Medical College
Profession	Physician Politician
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	Union Army
Years of service	September 26, 1862 - November 5, 1864
Rank	Surgeon
Unit	One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry
Battles/wars	United States Civil War

Early life

Born in Marcellus, Onondaga County, Van Aerman pursued an academic course, studied medicine at the Geneva and Willoughby Medical Colleges and practiced his profession.

Career

Van Aernam was a member of the New York State Assembly (Cattaraugus Co., 1st D.) in 1858. In the spring of 1858, at the close of the legislature, he returned to his practice.^[1]

During the United States Civil War Van Aernam enrolled in the Union Army as a surgeon in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, and served from September 26, 1862 to November 5, 1864.

A slavery-hating abolitionist, Van Aernam was a charter member of the Republican party. He was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1865 to March 3, 1869. He was appointed as Commissioner of Pensions on May 1, 1869, and held that office until May 31, 1871, when he resigned.

Elected to the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Congresses, Van Aernam again held office from March 4, 1879 to March 3, 1883. He resumed the practice of medicine in Franklinville, New York.

Death

Van Aernam died in Franklinville, New York on June 1, 1894 (age 75 years, 2 months, and 21 days). He is interred at Mount Prospect Cemetery, Franklinville, New York.

Family life

On November 30, 1845, Van Aernam married Amy Melissa Etheridge, and they had two children: a daughter, Isadora, and a son, Charles Duane.^[2]

Van Aernam's sister, Ann Van Aernam, married Benjamin Fuller, an early settler of Little Valley, New York. Ann and Benjamin's son would be named after Henry Van Aernam; Henry Van Aernam Fuller (1841–63) would die in the Battle of Gettysburg.