James Van Rensselaer - Rensselaer, IN
Posted by: 
rogueblack
N 40° 56.153 W 087° 09.069
16T E 487275 N 4531650
Rensselaer, Indiana is named for James Van Rensselaer, the grandson of the man Rensselaer, New York is named after.
Waymark Code: WM4JE7
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 08/30/2008
Views: 45
James Van Rensselaer came to Newton, Indiana after the Panic of 1837 left his business in ruin. He assumed responsibility of the land, previously overseen by Joseph D. Yeoman, and established Newton as the City of Rensselaer in 1839.
Van Rensselaer's final resting place is the sole grave on the property of the First Presbyterian Church on the corner of North Van Rensselear and Angelica Streets. Beside the grave is a taller monument in dedication to the city's founder and a marker.
The marker next to the grave reads:
James Van Rensselaer
1784-1847
Founder of the town of Rensselaer Ind.
Came to Jasper Co. Ind.
1836
Erected by
General Van Rensselear Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution
and First Presbyterian Church
1978
The City of Rensselaer hosts a friendly government, a dedicated volunteer fire department, a historic Carnegie Library that now serves as an art gallery, a helpful historical society, a breathtaking library, three cemeteries rich in history, and a Catholic University. As the seat of Jasper County, Rensselaer is built around a majestic County Courthouse and keeps the County Sheriff's Office nearby.
With farms in every direction and kept well out of the side of the interstate, one could say Rensselaer is one of Indiana's best kept secrets. Exploring the city is a delight for visitors as tributes and memorials to history are posted everywhere.