Following the Civil War, Vandervoort became active in politics, first in Illinois and later in Omaha, Nebraska, where he also worked as chief clerk for the Railway Mail Service. Like many other Union Army veterans, Vandervoort was a Republican; however, he later switched his political affiliation to the Populist Party.
Vandervoort became active in the Grand Army of the Republic in 1866 and helped reorganize the Department of Nebraska after the organizations' initial difficulties. He was elected 11th Commander-in-Chief of the G.A.R. and served 1882-1883. Of particular note is that Vandervoort was the first veteran who had been an enlisted man to rise to the highest position within the G.A.R.. At the 1883 National Encampment, the National Woman's Relief Corps was recognized as an official auxiliary organization of the G.A.R. and Vandervoort was made an honorary member.
When Vandervoort lost his position with the Railway Mail Service, he became an assistant manager for the Cuban Land and Steamship Company of New York. Vandervoort helped transport many Union Army veterans who hoped to find new lives as citrus farmers in Cuba after the United States installed a government there in 1899. Vandervoort became a land speculator and personally laid out a colony known as La Gloria, which became the largest American settlement in Cuba.
paul, vandervoort, confused, with, paul, vandervort, july, 1846, july, 1902, american, soldier, belgian, descent, served, union, army, 11th, commander, chief, grand, army, republic, 1882, 1883, born, 1846, july, 1846clinton, county, ohiodiedjuly, 1902, 1902, a. Not to be confused with Paul Vandervort Paul Vandervoort July 12 1846 July 29 1902 was an American soldier of Belgian descent who served in the Union Army and as the 11th Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic 1882 1883 Paul VandervoortBorn 1846 07 12 July 12 1846Clinton County OhioDiedJuly 29 1902 1902 07 29 aged 56 Puerto Principe CubaPlace of burialForest Lawn Memorial Park Omaha NebraskaAllegianceUnited States of AmericaUnionService wbr branchUnited States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1862 1863 1865RankSergeantUnitCompany G 68th Illinois Volunteer Infantry 3 month regiment Company M 16th Illinois Volunteer CavalryBattles warsAmerican Civil WarOther workRailway Mail Service chief clerk politician 11th Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic land speculator Contents 1 Early life and military career 2 Post war service 3 See also 4 ReferencesEarly life and military career editVandervoort was born July 12 1846 in Clinton County Ohio to William and Theresa Harvey Vandervoort During the Civil War he lied about his age and enlisted June 10 1862 as a private in Company G 68th Illinois Volunteer Infantry a 3 month regiment Vandervoort was mustered out September 26 1862 at Camp Butler near Springfield Illinois On May 19 1863 he enlisted as a private in Company M 16th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry again lying about his age and mustered out of the service August 1 1865 as a sergeant While with the 16th Illinois Cavalry Vandervoort was captured by Confederates near Jonesville Virginia in December 1863 and held at Andersonville Prison in Georgia and Belle Isle and Libby prisons in Richmond Virginia Post war service editFollowing the Civil War Vandervoort became active in politics first in Illinois and later in Omaha Nebraska where he also worked as chief clerk for the Railway Mail Service Like many other Union Army veterans Vandervoort was a Republican however he later switched his political affiliation to the Populist Party Vandervoort became active in the Grand Army of the Republic in 1866 and helped reorganize the Department of Nebraska after the organizations initial difficulties He was elected 11th Commander in Chief of the G A R and served 1882 1883 Of particular note is that Vandervoort was the first veteran who had been an enlisted man to rise to the highest position within the G A R At the 1883 National Encampment the National Woman s Relief Corps was recognized as an official auxiliary organization of the G A R and Vandervoort was made an honorary member When Vandervoort lost his position with the Railway Mail Service he became an assistant manager for the Cuban Land and Steamship Company of New York Vandervoort helped transport many Union Army veterans who hoped to find new lives as citrus farmers in Cuba after the United States installed a government there in 1899 Vandervoort became a land speculator and personally laid out a colony known as La Gloria which became the largest American settlement in Cuba Vandervoort did not live to see La Gloria prosper and it did not 1 He died July 29 1902 in Puerto Principe Cuba and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Omaha See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp American Civil War portalList of Grand Army of the Republic commanders in chiefReferences edit Grant Will July 19 2015 La Gloria An American corner in Cuba BBC Retrieved June 29 2017 Grand Army of the Republic Final Journal of the Grand Army of the Republic 1866 1956 Washington DC U S Govt Print Off 1957 Political officesPreceded byGeorge Sargent Merrill Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic1882 1883 Succeeded byRobert Burns Beath Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Vandervoort amp oldid 1191106562, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
