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John Shellette Van Bergen was born to William F. and Ella Van Bergen on October 2, 1885. The second of four Van Bergen children, John was an impetuous but shy young boy. (John was always shy, in part, because of his looks. He was short and was embarrassed because he felt that his nose was too large.) John was closer to his younger brother, Frank, who was born in 1887, and his sister Jessie Permelia, than to his older brother, William Charles (Will).
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The Van Bergen children.
Left to Right: John, Jessie, Will and Frank.
(photo courtesy Nancy V.B. Brigham)
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Growing Up In Oak Park
In 1885, when John was born, Oak Park was all open prairies to the north of the house where the Van Bergens lived, at 332 (now 232) N. Euclid. That house, where the family first lived as renters, is no longer standing. It was on the property which was owned by C.A. Sharpe who was planning soon to build his new estate in Oak Park. Of course, all of the smaller buildings on the property had to go, to make room for Mr. Sharpe's new mansion and gardens. However, the Van Bergens by now had enough money to acquire land (through Ella's brother and brother-in-law) and build a new house of their own. In 1893 they did so, moving to 632 N. Scoville (now 532 Fair Oaks) in the new Fair Oaks subdivision in northern Oak Park.
John, then eight years old, was attending grammar school at Ridgeland School (now Beye School). He was also being primed for his future. Seeing the construction of his own family's house, observing his uncles' busy construction business, and seeing all the other new buildings going up around the neighborhood, John was fascinated by it all. He wanted to be part of it.
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The Van Bergen home at 532 N. Fair Oaks - (note the two children that can be seen faintly in the lower right had corner)
photo courtesy of Nancy V.B. Brigham
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The Van Bergen children with some of the Wood family, Ca, 1891.
(As listed on back of photo)
Top Left to Right: "Marnie & Fred, a girl friend, Florence Wood, Brother Edw Wood"
Middle: "Jessie Van Bergen, Mrs-, Brother Frank, Nell Van Bergen"
Bottom: "Will V.B., John VB., Frank VB, The friend's daughter
"Taken at Lake Mills Resort"
(photo courtesy Nancy V.B. Brigham)
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