Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, Rev. Van Dyke became a well respected figure on the rivers and streams of the Northeast.He served as Pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City from 1883-1899. During such time he was a fishing companion to many of the more notable anglers of his day, including Dr. George Parker Holden. An educator at Princeton University and author of some of the most treasured essays on the angler's life. "Little Rivers" pub. in 1895 and "Fishermans's Luck" pub. 1899 are two of his notable works.