Guest Author - Linda Sue Grimes

Like Martha Jefferson and Rachel Jackson, Hannah van Buren did not live to perform the duties of First Lady. Also similar to Martha Jefferson, she died almost two decades before her husband was elected president.

Hannah Hoes was born to Johannes Dircksen Hoes and Maria Quakenbush Hoes March 8, 1783 in Kinderhook, New York. Her ancestry was Dutch, as was her future husband. They were distant cousins from both sides of their families. She had one sister and one brother.

Hannah belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church but later joined the Presbyterian Church in Albany, New York. Hannah’s first language was Dutch, and she attended a local school in Kinderhook.

Little is known about her life prior to her marriage to Martin Van Buren. It is said that they had been childhood sweethearts but did not marry until he had established his career as a lawyer.

Martin and Hannah married when Hannah was twenty-four years old. They had six children: five sons, one daughter, who was stillborn.

The Van Burens moved from Kinderhook to Hudson, New York, a year after they were married. Van Buren became involved in politics with the Democrat Party and took a county position. As her husband become more involved in political endeavors, Hannah served the usual function of political wife, but her main focus remained her children and charitable events of the local church.

Hannah died February 5, 1819, and was first buried in the Second Presbyterian Church cemetery, Albany, New York, but later removed to Kinderhook cemetery, Kinderhook, New York, 1855.

For the first two years of Martin Van Buren’s presidency, no one fulfilled the duties of first lady; then, after his oldest son Abraham married Angelica Singleton, Van Buren asked his daughter-in-law to perform the duties of first lady.

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Books by Linda Sue Grimes:

Singing in the Silence: Poems of Faith
In 1978, I began studying the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. I still study those teachings and strive to practice what I learn. I think of my writing as an extension and reinforcement of my spiritual studies. I am especially happy when the poems focus on my spiritual journey, as those in this volume do. I want to take sadness and turn it into joy, and I want to take anger and turn it into acceptance. But mostly, I want to acknowledge the beauty and mystery of God's presence in creation.



Jiggery Jee's Eden Valley Stories
Hello, my name is Jiggery-Jee. I live in Eden Valley. Eden Valley is located in the very center of the Land of the Imagination. Surrounding Eden Valley are such places as Tulip Grove, Carrot Valley, Bunnyville, Faultner Grove, and Flower Town. We have many residents in Eden Valley who came to the Valley from the surrounding places. They come here because Eden Valley is peaceful. All of the residents of Eden Valley work and play and live in an atmosphere of harmony. The weather is always perfect; the sun shines when we need sun, and the rain rains when we need rain. However, I must warn you that although things really are peaceful and harmonious in Eden Valley, sometimes they do not start out that way; we often have to work to make life peaceful and harmonious.
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