Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • March 10, 2010 Waldwick Private Benjamin Everson, a former resident of Waldwick who fought for the Union during the American Civil War, has been declared a hero by the Waldwick American Legion. The research into Everson’s life began when Waldwick Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Penna was helping a friend with a research project and learned of a young man believed to have been buried in the Union Cemetery in Wyckoff. Penna turned to Waldwick Library Director Patty Boyd for additional assistance. Through Boyd’s diligence, she was able to determine that Everson had lived on a Crescent Avenue homestead that is now the location of Waldwick’s Crescent School, built in 1968. She remembered a map of the property and located the original in the Ridgewood Public Library’s extensive collection. She also located census data from the 1850s and 1860s. According to the 1860 census, Everson was a farmer in Franklin Township, of which modern-day Waldwick was a part. At the time, Everson was a married man of 26 and the father of two sons. As an interesting aside, Boyd noted that the census data allows the reader to follow the census taker’s route. Due to the property’s proximity to the Borough of Allendale, Boyd proceeded with care. She turned her research over the Waldwick American Legion to further explore the location of Everson’s home. Legion Historian Louis Riccardi and Borough celebrates hometown Civil War hero James Wrocklage, the Sons of American Legion historian, after consulting records in Hackensack, were eventually able to verify that Everson’s property was located within Waldwick – not in Allendale. Penna added that the presence of a nearby stream allowed him to superimpose a modern map onto an old map of the Crescent Avenue land. Again, all signs pointed to Everson’s land being located within Waldwick’s boundaries. Commander Anthony Di Giacomo of the Waldwick American Legion said the search for Everson’s grave has not been successful. To date, no marker has been found at Union Cemetery, even after a Boy Scout cleaned up the cemetery and recorded the names of the markers, where legible, as part of his Eagle project. However, the American Legion has declared Everson a hero. Plans now call for a plaque to be installed on the site of his former home. Everson was born Dec. 20, 1833. Everson married Sophia Catherine Courter, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (nee Storms) Courter, at a ceremony held at the Dutch Reformed Church in Wyckoff on Aug. 26, 1854. Rev. Abraham G. Ryerson presided. The Eversons had two sons, whom they named John and Isaac. Their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, was born Dec. 24, 1862, while Everson was serving his country as a Private with Company D of the 22nd Regiment of New Jersey Volunteers in the Seated: Waldwick American Legion Commander Anthony Di Giacomo, Waldwick Library Director Patty Boyd, and Waldwick Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Penna review the map of Benjamin Everson’s property. Standing: American Legion Historian Louis Riccardi, Sons of the American Legion Historian James Wrocklage, and Waldwick Mayor Russell ‘Buddy’ Litchult. Union Army. He died before he met his daughter. The cause of death is listed as typhoid fever. Everson died at Belle Plain Army Hospital near Aquia Creek, Virginia, in February 1863. (Some records show the date of his death as Feb. 22 and others state Feb. 23.) Penna said he is pleased to have found a hometown hero for Waldwick. “When our children study the Civil War, they will know this man lived on the site of their school. How is that for coincidence? Isn’t it wonderful? This will have meaning for our children,” the superintendent said. The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce congratulates Van Dyk Manor of Ridgewood, for being named one of �������� ������� ���������� ��������������������� ��������� �� YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER America’s Best Nursing Homes by U.S. News & World Report ' See the complete list at www.usnews.com/nursinghomes ����������������� Van Dyk Manor ' 304 S. Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-8200 ' www.vandykhealthcare.com Family caring for family, since 1953