The Van Leer family, originally spelled Von Lohr, is an influential German-American family that emigrated to the

Province of Pennsylvania The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as the Pennsylvania Colony, was a British North American colony founded by William Penn after receiving a land grant from Charles II of England in 1681. The name Pennsylvania ("Penn's Woods") refers to W ...

in the 17th century from the Electorate of

Hesse Hesse (, , ) or Hessia (, ; german: Hessen ), officially the State of Hessen (german: links=no, Land Hessen), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt. Two other major histor ...

near

Isenberg Isenberg was a County of medieval Germany. It was a partition of the county of Altena and was annexed to Limburg(Lenne) in 1242. Counts of Isenberg (1191–1242) * Eberhard I, Count of Berg-Altena (1140–1180) count of Altena of the burg Altena o ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. The family made their fortune in the United States through the

ironworks An ironworks or iron works is an industrial plant where iron is smelted and where heavy iron and steel products are made. The term is both singular and plural, i.e. the singular of ''ironworks'' is ''ironworks''. Ironworks succeeded bloomeri ...

business.

Notable family members

* Bernardhus Van Leer (1687-1790), physician and early settler of the Province of Pennsylvania *

Samuel Van Leer Captain Samuel Van Leer (January 7, 1747 – October 15, 1825) was a military officer from Pennsylvania who served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and as lieutenant in the Chester County Light Horse Volu ...

(1747–1825), a captain in the American Revolutionary War *

Isaac Van Leer Isaac Van Leer (January 7, 1772 – August 10, 1821) was a Pennsylvania ironmaster and owned the Hibernia Furnace, Springton Forge and historic Hibernia House in West Caln Township, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the influential Van Leer famil ...

(1772-1821), ironworks owner *

Carlos Clark Van Leer Carlos Clark Van Leer (October 15, 1865 – November 3, 1953) was an American military officer who served in the United States Army during the Spanish-American War and as Chief of the Personnel Classification Board in the United States Depart ...

(1865–1953), military officer *

Anthony Wayne Van Leer Anthony Wayne Van Leer (March 3, 1783 – July 9, 1863) was an American ironmaster and owner of the Cumberland Furnace in Dickson County, Tennessee. He was a member of the influential Van Leer family, the son of Samuel Van Leer, captain in the Co ...

(1783-1864), ironworks owner * John P. Van Leer (1825-1862), a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War * Antoinette Van Leer Polk (1847-1919), Baroness de Charette *

Florence Van Leer Earle Coates Florence Van Leer Earle Nicholson Coates (July 1, 1850 – April 6, 1927) was an American poet, whose prolific output was published in many literary magazines, some of it set to music. She was mentored by the English poet Matthew Arnold, with wh ...

(1850–1927), poet *

George Howard Earle Jr. George H. Earle Jr. (July 6, 1856 – February 19, 1928) was an American lawyer and businessman from Philadelphia who worked as a Receivership, receiver and rescued multiple businesses from financial hardship. He was a political reformer and ...

(1856-1928), lawyer and businessman *

George Howard Earle III George Howard Earle III (December 5, 1890December 30, 1974) was an American politician and diplomat from Pennsylvania. He was a member of the prominent Earle and Van Leer families and the 30th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1935 to 1939. Earle ...

(1890-1974), Governor of Pennsylvania and diplomat * Ralph Earle (1928-2020), Ambassador and arms control negotiator * VanLeer Polk (1858-1907), Tennessee state senator *

(1865-1953), United States Army Officer and Chief at the

United States Department of the Treasury The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States, where it serves as an executive department. The department oversees the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and t ...

Blake Ragsdale Van Leer Blake Ragsdale Van Leer (August 16, 1893 – January 23, 1956) was an engineer and university professor who served as the fifth president of Georgia Institute of Technology from 1944 until his death in 1956. Early life and education Van Leer was ...

(1893-1956), president of Georgia Institute of Technology *

Blake Wayne Van Leer Blake Wayne Van Leer (January 13, 1926 – October 3, 1997) was a United States Navy officer who commanded the naval construction Battalion Seabees during World War II and the Vietnam War. He led the expansion of submarine-launched ballistic ...

(1926-1997), U.S. Navy officer *

Maryly Van Leer Peck Maryly Van Leer Peck (June 29, 1930 – November 3, 2011) was an American academic and college administrator. She founded the Community Career College at the University of Guam (which merged into Guam Community College in November 1977). She ...

(1930-2011), academician and college administrator * David Van Leer (1949-2013), academician and LGBT cultural studies researcher

Historical properties

Barnardus Van Leer House The Barnardus Van Leer House, is an historic house in the colonial style. Built for Dr. Bernardhus Van Leer, it is one of the last historical dwellings in Marple Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. History The original structure belonged to ...

* Broadview VanLeer Mansion * Hibernia House * Mortonson-Van Leer Log Cabin * Reading Furnace Historic District *

Van Leer Cabin Van Leer Cabin, is a historic cabin and one of the last historical dwellings in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. It still stands on the grounds of Conestoga High School. History The original structure belonged to several home ...

Van Leer Pleasant Hill Plantation Pleasant Hill Plantation, also known as Van Leer Place, is a historic stone farmhouse located near Glen Moore in West Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Home The original structure of two stories and three bays was built by Matt ...

Family tree

References

{{reflist German-American history Van Leer family