His father Samuel Van Leer, served as a captain during the American Revolutionary War.
[1] In 1814, Van Leer purchased land and the Hibernia Iron Works in West Caln Township, Pennsylvania.
[4] In 1816, he declared bankruptcy and gave the Springton Forge property to his wife's family in order to settle his debts.
All children would own or be involved with the iron industry, except Lindford who died as a child from a fall.
[4] His son, Wayne, moved to Texas in the 1800s[5] and enlisted with the Union Army during the American Civil War at age 15.