ELIAS VANDER HORST, PASSED MIDN, USN

Elias Vander Horst, '47

Date of birth: February 20, 1825

Age: 25

Loss

Elias died on March 17, 1850 in Bota Fago, near Rio de Janeiro, of yellow fever.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In the fall of 1838, Elias and his brother Lewis attended the Flushing Institute run by the Rev. William Augustus Muhlenberg. Elias' friend wrote to him and wished them well. He rode Elias' horse in Charleston, and he hoped to join them next year. He thought Elias and Lewis would join a boat club. [Reference: Vanderhorst Family Papers 1728-1850 from the South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C.]
After Elias' death, Thomas R. Ware, Bursar of USS Lexington, wrote to Elias' father describing his death and burial. He described Elias as “noble, generous, kind, and honorable in the extreme; by his numerous virtues he won the hearts of many, and the respect of all with whom he was associated.” Elias was buried in the English cemetery's grave #29 as it was unsafe to bring Elias' remains home at that time. Ware sent back Elias's clothes, books, papers, and personal property consisting of “a watch, a miniature his daguerreotype likenesses.” [Reference: Vanderhorst Family Papers 1728-1850 from the South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C.]
Elias' mother was Ann Elliott (Morris), and her sister was Sabina (Morris) Rutherfurd. They were granddaughters of Lewis Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Sabrina's son was the famous astronomer Lewis Morris Rutherford (1816-1892).
Elias' grandfather was General Arnoldus Vanderhorst who fought in the Revolution under General Francis Marion. He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and later became Governor.
Elias' cousin was Margaret Ann (Morris) Grimball. Her son John Berkeley graduated from the Naval Academy in 1858. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate Navy and was one of five lieutenants on the Shenandoah. The Duke University Library has documents from both families.

The South Carolina Historical Society has his naval journal from 1842-43 while on board the frigate Columbia.

He was born in, and appointed to the Naval Academy from, South Carolina.

He is buried in South Carolina; his tombstone reads "To the memory of Elias Vanderhorst U.S.A. Passed Midshipman who died in the service of his country at Rio De Janeiro." Elias was survived by his parents, a brother, and a sister.