BIO: F. H. VAN VALZAH, Centre County, Pennsylvania

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the 
Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical 
Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 82-83

F. H. VAN VALZAH, M. D., of Spring Mills, Centre County, one of the most 
successful physicians in that region, comes of a family which has for three 
generations been prominently identified with the medical profession. His 
ancestors were originally from Holland, but settled in New York long before the 
Revolutionary war. Dr. Robert Van Valzah, Sr., his great-grandfather, was born 
April 17, 1764, near the Croton river, in New York, and was the only son of his 
parents to leave descendants. It is a remarkable fact that there is no other 
family of the name in this country, but, as will be seen, the line is not likely 
to die out. The father of Dr. Robert Van Valzah, Sr. died, and the mother 
married a wealthy man who gave his clever stepson an excellent education. 
Tradition has it that about the time that Dr. Robert Van Valzah graduated and 
began his professional career, he was paying devoted attention to a young lady, 
when he discovered that she had been making inquiries as to his chances for 
inheriting his stepfather's property. Angered at this, and believing her to be 
wholly mercenary, he left the neighborhood and, in 1786, came to Pennsylvania, 
his earthly possessions consisting only of a horse, saddle and bridle. On his 
arrival in Northumberland County he made the acquaintance of a man named Beatty, 
who took a strong liking to him, and knowing him to be a poor but ambitious "M. 
D." in search of a location, advised him to go to Dry Valley, where an epidemic 
was causing much suffering at the time. This advice was followed with 
satisfactory results, Dr. Van Valzah practicing there successfully until his 
removal to Buffalo Cross Roads, Penn., where he continued his professional work 
during his remaining years, his death occurring April 18, 1850, when he was aged 
eighty-six years.
  Of his numerous descendants seventeen have entered the medical profession - a 
record which few, if any families can equal. He had eight children, of whom our 
subject's grandfather was the eldest. (2) Thomas was a physician at Lewistown, 
Penn., for many years, and was notably successful. He had four sons, and three 
practiced medicine, Robert, at Freeport, Ill., Howard, at Lewistown, Penn., and 
John, at Freeport, Ill. (3) John was a wealthy farmer and miller at Buffalo 
Cross Roads. (4) William also resided at the old home, and was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. He had four sons, two of whom became physicians, Robert 
T. locating at Ashland, Penn. (now deceased), and William in New York City. A 
daughter of Dr. Van Valzah Sr. married Peter Wilson, and of her three sons, one, 
Dr. Robert Wilson, who practiced at Clearfield, Penn., and another, Rev. James 
D. Wilson, of New York City, are both deceased.  Dr. Robert Van Valzah, Jr., our 
subject's grandfather, was carefully educated for his profession, and located at 
Mifflinburg, where he practiced successfully until his death, which occurred 
when he was between sixty and seventy years of age. He was a prominent member of 
the Presbyterian Church, and was regarded as a substantial and well-to-do 
citizen. He married Miss Nancy Montgomery, a descendant of a leading family of 
Northumberland County, which is still numerously represented in that locality.  
They had eight children: Robert F. is mentioned more fully below; Thomas was a 
well known physician at Boalsburg, Penn., where he died; John H. studied 
medicine, but never practiced, and his death occurred in the Far West; Samuel B. 
is a successful practitioner at Durand, Ill.; S. L. (deceased) was a physician 
at Mifflinburg and later at Milton; Mary J. married J. W.  Pennington, and died 
in Philadelphia, Penn.; Ellen resides at Mifflinburg; Ada married Col. 
Churchill, of St. Louis, Missouri.
  Dr. Robert F. Van Valzah, the father of our subject, was born in Mifflinburg. 
January 10, 1817, and attended the schools of that place some years. As the need 
of better opportunities became apparent, he was sent to Milton, where he studied 
under that noted instructor, Prof. Kirkpatrick.  His progress was rapid, and he 
began the preparation for his profession at an early age, and at twenty-one held 
a diploma from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He located for a time at 
Rebersburg, taking charge of the practice of Dr. Strohecker, who had been 
elected to the Legislature, but later he settled at Millheim, where he practiced 
independently ten years, gaining a reputation as the leading physician there.  
He removed to Aaronsburg in 1852, and remained until the fall of 1860, when he 
located permanently at Spring Mills. In 1842 he married Miss Sarah W. Forster, 
who was born in 1819, the daughter of Capt. John Forster, a wealthy merchant and 
prominent citizen of Mifflinburg.  She died in November 1871, and his death 
occurred in 1874, the remains of both being laid to rest in the cemetery at 
Spring Mills.
  He was a large man, about six feet in height, 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD - 83

weighing usually 190 pounds, and was never sick until he was taken with the 
brief illness which suddenly cut short his life. He was very unassuming in 
manner, and was never known to boast of his successes. His attention was devoted 
entirely to his professional work, and had he given half as much thought to his 
accounts as to the scientific and humanitarian side, he would have accumulated 
much property. However, he had a comfortable competence and always lived well. 
He spent more than $10,000 in the education of his sons, of whose talents and 
character he was justly proud. He built the commodious residence where our 
subject now lives, and which as lately remodeled is among the best in Spring 
Mills. Politically he was a Democrat until the nomination of Gen. Irvin, a 
personal friend, for Governor of Pennsylvania. He then became a Whig and in 
later years was a Republican, but while he was a regular voter, and took much 
interest in the success of his principles, he was not a politician. In religious 
faith he was a Presbyterian, but he did not attend church regularly on account 
of his professional duties. This negligence was, however, more than made good by 
his wife, who was very devout, and whose kindly nature showed the consistent 
follower of Christ. Their children were: John F., a prosperous merchant and 
banker, and one of the founders of the firm of Van Valzah & Wilson, of Tyrone, 
and of the First National Bank, of Tyrone, Penn., where he died March 28, 1891; 
F. H., our subject; Henry B., who died June 8, 1891, at Clearfield, Penn., after 
a successful career as a physician, being known as one of the leaders of his 
profession in that county; and Robert W., a dentist at Terre Haute, Indiana.  
With such an ancestry it is not strange that the subject of this sketch easily 
established himself in the front rank among the medical fraternity of his 
locality. He was born at Millheim February 18, 1847, but as his parents removed 
to Aaronsburg during his childhood his education was begun there, his first 
teacher being ex-County Superintendent D. M. Wolf, D. D. When he was thirteen 
the family settled at Spring Mills, and as the schools there did not offer an 
advanced course he was later sent to Tuscarora Academy, in Juniata County. While 
there he enlisted, on July 6, 1864, at a call for one-hundred-day men, in 
Company H, 195th Penn. V. I., and served about four months, doing guard duty on 
the B. & 0. R. R. west of Harper's Ferry, the greater part of the time being 
spent at Martinsburg, W. VA. In 1865 he entered Dickinson Seminary, at 
Williamsport, Penn., and in the spring of the following year he began his 
professional duties under his father's guidance. He graduated from Jefferson 
Medical College, Philadelphia, Penn., in March 1870, and a few months later 
began practicing at Loganton, Penn., where he spent eighteen months. He then 
located at Potters' Bank, Centre County, but in November 1874, he moved to 
Spring Mills to take the practice left vacant by his father's death.  While he 
is thoroughly progressive in his ideas he is notably cautious and conservative 
in practice, and he has met with signal success. Financially, he ranks among the 
leading capitalists of Penn's Valley.
  On June 23, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane R. Van Valzah, 
daughter of John A. Van Valzah, of Buffalo Cross Roads. Three children brighten 
their home: Robert, born November 1, 1882, Sarah, born November 2, 1884, and 
James W., born June 6. 1889. Mrs. Van Valzah is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, and is prominently identified with the various lines of social and 
philanthropic work. The Doctor is a Republican, and although he is a stanch 
defender of the doctrines of the G.0.P., he is not an office seeker. Socially, 
he belongs to the Masonic lodge at Centre Hall, and to Samuel Shannon Post No. 
282, G. A. R., at the same town. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania State 
and the Centre County Medical Societies.