Mary Jane Van Orden was born on November 13, 1857 in Haverstraw, New York. Her parents were John Van Orden and Margaret Blauveldt. She married George Ransom Bronson on April 2, 1881 in Derby, Connecticut. They had 10 children. Click here to get to a tree listing their children.

She is buried in Oak Cliff Cemetery, Derby, CT., alongside her husband who died in 1899, just one month after his youngest child was born. Her mother is also buried in Oak Cliff Cemetery.

Below are pictures of her with her grandson Charles Burdette Thomas (left) and with her son Lewis George Bronson (right).