James I. Van Alen
James Isaac Van Alen was an American politician from Kinderhook, New York. A Democratic-Republican, he served as a United States representative, a member of the New York State Assembly, and Surrogate Judge of Columbia County, New York. Van Alen was law partners with U.S. President Martin Van Buren, his younger half-brother.
Early life
Van Alen was born in Kinderhook, New York, on December 31, 1772, to Johannes Van Alen and Marytje Goes Van Alen. On January 1, 1773, he was christened Jacobus Van Alen at Kinderhook's Dutch Reformed Church. He had two siblings, Marytje Van Alen and John Isaac Van Alen. After the death of his father, his mother married Abraham Van Buren in 1776. His mother had five more children with Van Buren including Dirckie "Derike" Van Buren, Jannetje Van Buren, future U.S. President Martin Van Buren, Lawrence Van Buren, and Abraham Van Buren Jr.Van Alen attended the common schools, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1794.
Career
After being admitted to the bar in New York, he practiced in Kinderhook, later practicing in partnership with Martin Van Buren. From 1797 to 1801, he was Kinderhook's Town Clerk. Van Alen was also involved in various businesses, including serving as secretary of the board of directors for the Chatham Turnpike Corporation.He was a member of the State constitutional convention of 1801, and was a justice of the peace from 1801 to 1804. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1804. Van Alen was surrogate judge of Columbia County from 1804 to 1808.