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• FindaGrave Memorial ID: 106232843

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From FindaGrave:

Son of Samuel Van Houten and Hermine (Minna) Leendertz of The Netherlands
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In 1899 Jan Van Houten was vice-president of the Maxwell Land Grant Company in northern New Mexico.

Together with his business partners Theodore A. Schomberg, Frank Springer, J. M. Cunningham and F. A. Manzares, he filed incorporation papers to form the Western Coal Company, located and doing business within Las Animas County (Trinidad).

He was married to May Wiegand of Las Vegas, New Mexico. They had a home in Raton, N,M but also spent time in San Diego, California.

In 1902 he revived the old Willow Coal Mine Camp, which was located 18 miles southwest of Raton, N.M. It was one of the oldest mining camps in Colfax County, being a just a little older than Dawson, although not officially recognized. The Maxwell Land Grant Company knew of the existence of coal in this seam before 1900. The coal camp was renamed Van Houten in his honor.

He was instrumental in breaking the 1904 coal strike by bringing in 50 experienced miners from Chicago. In 1905 the St. Louis Rocky Mountain and Pacific Company was formed by Frank and Charles Springer and Jan Van Houten, and by 1906 the Van Houten mines were producing at full capacity.

In 1916 he purchased the 200,000 acres Rich Brothers ranch near Vermejo Park, N.M. for the sum of $90,000.

His first wife died unexpectedly in 1933 in Raton after an operation. At the time of her death, Mr. Van Houten was president of the First National Bank of Raton, as well as president of the Rocky Mountain and St. Louis Coal company.

In July 1934 Mr. Van Houten married Carrie May James (nee Davidson) in Denver. She was the widow of Denver banker, Henry C. James, who died in 1932.

OBITUARY
Death Takes Van Houten

Denver, March 8 –  Jan Van Houten, 81 years old, widely known in western financial circles, died early today in his home here. He had been active in the St. Louis, Rocky Mountain & Pacific Coal Mining Company, which he headed, until becoming ill a week ago.

Van Houten formed the mining firm in 1905 at Raton, N. M. In 1937 he moved to Denver and was a director of the Denver National Bank, American Crystal Sugar Company, and California Electric Company.


Inscription

    VanHORTEN, Jas. 82 W 10 Mar 1949 or VanHouton, Jas


Gravesite Details

This information is being entered from a transcription of the sexton's records 1891-1953 The date entered is the date of burial. Any additional information would be appreciated. Name-age-sex-race-d o burial - comments

FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106232843

James married Carrie May Davidson in Jul 1934 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado. Carrie (daughter of Calvin C. Davidson and Mary S. Hurd) was born in 1871; died in 1961; was buried after 1961 in Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Denver County, Colorado. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]