Why is there a Verbeke Street in Harrisburg

For those of you who don't know, Harrisburg has a Verbeke street. I've seen this for years as I've gone to Farm Show. Back in 2003 I sent the following E-mail to our family members about the name. Our branch of the Verbeke family is a recent addition to these shores. My Grandfather, Victor Verbeke, arrived from Belgium in 1912. So we have no connection to the Verbeke Street in Harrisburg that we know of.

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All:

Well, I was off yesterday and did some digging on the Internet. Below are some references I found from the Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Transcription Project at the following address.

Below are some references I found from the Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Transcription Project at the following address.

http://maley.net/transcription/

It says that "The purpose of the project is to make genealogy and historical material available to the researcher for free. The 1st transcription project will be the Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and Many of the Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers. 1896. I hope to have the project completed by the mid 2001. The next project will be The History of Harrisburg and Dauphin County by Dr. George P. Donehoo. The third project is scheduled to be the Willow Grove Cemetery in Linglestown, PA."

There are several references to Verbeke's on this site. The Steckley bio is the most telling. It speaks of a William Verbeke. He had property that Steckley purchased. It was on Broad Street that is now Verbeke Street. I then when looking for William Verbeke and found his record as well, It seems very likely to me that this William is who the street is named for. You can read the following and see if you agree.

It appears that at the very least he was Harrisburg's Controller for a good many year's but was also Mayor for a period. "He helped to organize the Good Will Fire Company and has been its worthy president ever since, except during the years he was filing the office of mayor and was compelled to devote his entire attention to that office."

There is also a bio of William's wife - Marion. Also, there was a reference to William in another record as well.

So, just in case someone ever asks you if you're related to the Verbeke of Verbeke Street - probably not (but Maybe). At least you will know who is was named after.

It does say in his bio that "His people excelled in mathematics, an aptness which he seems to have inherited". I can only think about Dad doing all those numbers in his head. So maybe we are related way back.  ;-)

Sincerely,

Vince

http://maley.net/transcription/Sketches/steckley_matthew.htm

STECKLEY, REV. MATTHEW,was born in Germany, September 15, 1836, son of the late Ansulmes and Juliama (Fresse) Steckley. The parents were both natives of Germany and died in their native land. The father was a cabinet maker by trade, and was three times married. Matthew had but one brother. He received his education in Germany, having attended school until he was fourteen years of age. He came with some of his friends to this country, when he was eighteen years of age, and when nineteen years old began an apprenticeship at the trade of shoemaker with a man by the name of Bickel, on Walnut street in Harrisburg. After completing his apprenticeship he worked at his trade as a journeyman for Mr. Desh on Market street, for many years. He subsequently bought the property of William Verbeke, No. 404 Broad street, now Verbeke street, where he was engaged in business for himself until the war broke out.

http://maley.net/transcription/Sketches/verbeke_william_k.htm

VERBEKE, WILLIAM K., city controller, was born in Harrisburg over three score and ten years ago, and has seen Pennsylvania's capital grow from a village to a most important municipality. His parents came from Holland and lived for some years in Philadelphia, subsequently moving to Harrisburg in 1817, when it was but a borough of about 2,000 inhabitants. Mr. Verbeke received a liberal education, is a fine scholar and a writer of much strength and elegance. His people excelled in mathematics, an aptness which he seems to have inherited. It is doubtful if there is a single individual in Harrisburg who can calculate with the rapidity and accuracy he does. This faculty which he possesses makes him a valuable officer to the financial department of the city. In addition to this he is a thorough financier, surveying with an eagle eye the financial situation, and drawing conclusions there from which seldom fail to be verified and sustained. His efficiency in the office of controller and the esteem in which he is held by the citizens generally are clearly shown in his having been elected to the position of controller consecutively since 1883, though he was pitted against the strongest candidates that could be found.

Almost from the time Harrisburg was created a borough down to the present time, he has represented the citizens of Harrisburg either in council or on the school board, and they regarded him with such favor as to make him mayor of the city previous to his election as controller. He is modest and unassuming in manner, and his personal worth and ability to discharge his official duties, the spirit in which he beautified the city in various ways with his means, his charity manifest in giving homes to many homeless, his generous contribution to the cause of humanity in the late war, have endeared him to the people and they consider that there is nothing too good to bestow upon him. He is their beau ideal of a man, a careful, prudent and efficient officer, loved and esteemed by all, and it is predicted that as long as Mr. Verbeke will consent he will continue to fill the office of controller.

As a representative fireman, being the oldest but one in point of continuous service, he is just as highly esteemed for the valuable service he has rendered the city in that way. He helped to organize the Good Will Fire Company and has been its worthy president ever since, except during the years he was filing the office of mayor and was compelled to devote his entire attention to that office. Nothing pleases him more than to relate incidents of by-gone days or to participate in public occasions with his brother firemen.

Verbeke, William K., p. 317 & 318

http://maley.net/transcription/Sketches/verbeke_marion.htm

VERBEKE, MARION, wife of William K. Verbeke, was born in Harrisburg, November 9, 1829, and died March 8, 1896. Her body rests in the family burying ground in the Harrisburg cemetery. She was the eldest daughter of Charles and Eliza Anderson, and was married, January 3, 1849, to William K. Verbeke, the present city controller of Harrisburg. In speaking of Mrs. Verbeke's death the Harrisburg Telegraph of March 9, 1896, says:

"The friends and acquaintances of Mrs. Marion Verbeke will be pained to learn of her death, which occurred last evening, at 7:30 o'clock. Her sickness was of long duration, and of much suffering, which she bore patiently and uncomplainingly. Being of a mild, gentle and happy disposition she made home one of unalloyed bliss and tenderness. Her affection and solicitude for the welfare, comfort and care of her family were unbounded. Her friends loved her for her sunny ways, and their friendships were strong and enduring. She has passed away, but the memory of this good, true woman remains.

"We recall her active life in the church which was dear to her heart. Steadfast to her duties to the end, what a noble Christian character she leaves behind as a solace to the loved ones of her household. With her family cares and her numerous public duties, which were of daily occurrence, she found time when the first soldiers of the war were brought into the improvised hospitals, with a heart full of love for her country and pity for the poor, unfortunate volunteer, sick and wounded, many of them mere boys away from home and friends, to minister to their daily wants. She took with her the choicest delicacies, wines, liquors, preserves -- everything that was nice, palatable and strengthening to them, which they so much needed -- and with a mother's care and tenderness nursed them and watched them until recovery, and when they left they blessed her for what she had done. She never tired of this work, but from the earliest period of the war until the close she was the constant attendant at the hospitals, caring alike even for the wounded Confederates from the battlefield of Gettysburg and though she done this she was bold enough to condemn them for the part they took in their unholy war. Often she was opportuned to prepare a history of the hospital service of Harrisburg, for which she was offered pay, her services and knowledge of them being complete, so much so that no other one person could have given the facts she knew and the different actors who were associated with her. In honor of these great services, as a token of their real appreciation of her noble work, one of our Pennsylvania regiments conferred the honor upon her of electing her "Daughter of the Regiment." Well she deserved it. No history of the participants of the bloody struggle from I861 to 1865 can be written without giving Mrs. Marion Verbeke a prominent place as an active, energetic, untiring agent in the military hospital service. All her labors were free, given with heartfelt pleasure, never looking for remuneration, with no other motive than to do good to a fellow-being. Such a lovely, generous woman, one of our own people, has passed away, but the memory of her will be ever fresh and green among us and shall never perish. She leaves, beside her husband, two sons, William K., of Phoenixville, and Marion, of this city, and a daughter, Miss Gertrude."

http://maley.net/transcription/Sketches/gough_henry_w.htm

Henry W. Gough was married in Philadelphia, August 25, 1885, to Miss Jennie L. Cope, daughter of John and Mary Cope, residents of Harrisburg. They had three children, Mary Lewis, William Bailey, and John Edwin. Mr. Gough is a member of Robert Burns Lodge, NO. 464, F. & A. M., Dauphin Lodge, No. 160, and Dauphin Encampment, No. 10, I. O. O. F. He is an active politician in the ranks of the Republican party. he has creditably represented the First ward in common council for two terms, and is now a member of select council from that ward He was twice nominated for the office of city comptroller, but was defeated by W. K. Verbeke, the present incumbent. Mr. and Mrs. Gough are consistent members of the Market Square Presbyterian church.