Born: 1831, Manhattan, New York.
Died: July 22, 1902, Manhattan, New York.
Buried: Mount Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth, New York. Phoebe Knapp paid for his burial.
Van Alstyne was the husband of Fanny Crosby (married 1858).
Like her, he was blind and taught at the New York Institute for the Blind. He is said to have been one of the finest organists in New York.