[1] He studied law in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1846 to 1848 and crossed the plains in 1849, remaining a short time in Los Angeles and then moving to Northern California.

[6] In 1888, he was elected a Los Angeles County Superior Court in Department Four, and in 1894 was reelected to a six-year term, serving until December 28, 1899.

[11] In November 1888, he ran for a seat as an associate justice of the California Supreme Court, and on January 4, 1899, he began a 12-year term after winning the election as a fusion candidate[12] of the Silver Republican,[13] Democratic,[14] and Populist parties.

[15][16][2] He was elected to the remaining term of William Cary Van Fleet, who died in office, ending in 1910.

[20] On September 21, 1854, Van Dyke married Rowena Cooper in Humboldt County, California, and they had eight children.