City Attorney, 1836, 1838, 1839
State Prosecuting Attorney, 1840-43
Alderman, 1840-44
Mayor of Detroit, 1847
Organizer of Fire Department; President, 1847-51
Member of Protection Fire Co. No. 1, first duty organized company in Detroit
Education
private tutors at Mercersburg
Madison College in Uniontown, Penndylvania, 1832
Received his legal education in law offices in Chamberburg, Pennslyvania, Hagerstown and Baltimore, Maryland
Admitted to bar, 1834
Notes
When James Van Dyke died the Detroit Fire Department prepared a resolution honoring his service to the Fire Department and issued a memorial volume containing proceedings of the Fire Department, the Detroit Bar and the Common council and several tributes to his memory
Van Dyke Ave. and school named after him
Occupation
Formed law partnership with C.W. Whipple, 1835
Attorney for the Michigan Central Railroad. When C.W. Whipple was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1838, Van Dyke entered a partnership with E.B. Harrington and when Harrington died in 1844, he became a partner of H.H. Emmons
Member of Board of Waterworks, 1853-1855
President of Fire Department, 1947-1951
Retired from private law practice in 1852.
Father
William Van Dyke
Mother
Nancy Duncan
Spouse
Elizabeth Desnoyers, m. 12/29/1835, Detroit, Michigan
Children
One unnamed child
George William (b. 1840)
Mary Helena (b. 1841)
Philip James Desnoyers (1843-81)
Ernest Emile (b. 1845)
Josephine Desnoyers (b. 1846)
Victoria Elizabeth (b. 1848)
Elizabeth Emily (b. 1850)
Helena Duncun (b. 1852)
James Anthony (b. 1854)
