Pronk, James N.

JAMES N. PRONK was born in the city of Boston, Feb. 27, 1822. His father, Dr. John N.D.V. Pronk, a native of Amsterdam, Holland, was there educated a physician, and emigrated to America in 1811, settling in Boston, Mass. He practiced his profession in that city until 1839, when he retired from practice, removed to Middletown, Orange Co., N.Y., and there resided until his decease, at the age of seventy-two years, in 1848.

Dr. Pronk’s wife, who survived him twenty-five years and died at the age of eighty-two years, was Azubah Little, a native of Orange County, with whom he formed an acquaintance while traveling through her native county upon first coming to this county, and whom he married in 1812.

Only three of their eleven children survived them, viz., Edwin, a resident of Boston; James N., subject of this sketch; and Azubah L., wife of Silas L. King, of Bradford, Pa.

James N. Pronk received his early education in the English high school and public Latin school of his native city, and was graduated at the Teacher’s Seminary at Andover, Mass. He removed with his parents to Orange County, and for several years thereafter was engaged here in teaching. He studied law with Judge John G. Wilkin, of Middletown, and was admitted to the bar of this State, as attorney and counselor, at the January term of the Supreme Court held in New York City in 1849.

Immediately after his admission to the bar he opened a law office in Middletown, where he has actively pursued the practice of his profession since,—a period of thirty-two years,—and is now one of the oldest members of the Orange County bar, only Judge Wilkin being his senior in Middletown.

During his residence in Middletown, Mr. Pronk has been an active participant in nearly all of its worthy-local enterprises.

He was largely connected with and one of the prime movers in the incorporation of the village, for many years its clerk, and for nine years its president.

He was one of the incorporators of the Middletown Lyceum, a society that existed and held a leading influence for some thirty years; of the Hillside Cemetery, of which association he has officiated as president since its incorporation, and has filled the position of trustee and director of various other organizations.

Mr. Pronk was also one of the incorporators of "The Middletown and Bloomingburgh Plank Road Company," "The Middletown and Unionville Plank Road Company," "The Middletown and Unionville Railroad Company," "The Midland Railroad Company of New Jersey," and of the "Wallkill Bank."

During the late civil war he was active in support of the Union cause, and served as provost marshal of the Eleventh Congressional District, New York, with his office at Goshen.

As a citizen Mr. Pronk is public-spirited and enterprising. All projects for the benefit of the community and to promote the best interests of society in which he lives receive from him willing and liberal support.

As a counselor he is careful, systematic, and judicious, and his opinions are always given with the strictest integrity after a thorough analytical treatment of the subject at issue, and as an advocate his retentive memory, his knowledge of the fundamental principles upon which the law is based, enable him to command the attention of judge and juror.

Mr. Pronk married, in 1841, Mary Ellen, daughter of Gilbert F. Mondon, of Port Jervis.

Their surviving children are Francis A.R., Ferris M., Devin N., Ashbel C.K., Louisa, Mary, wife of N. Tate, of Middletown, and Nellie R.