Robert VanDyke, son of Richard and Elizabeth Vandike, was born January 9, 1820, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, 2 miles east of Harrisville. (For the history of Robert's ancestors, see the section on the "Early VanDykes" in Robert's granddaughter Ruth VanDyke's memoirs.
Rebecca Jane McGill, daughter of James and Isabelle McGill, was born April 16, 1829 in Butler County, Pennsylvania, 4 miles east of Harrisville.
Robert and Rebecca were married on May 17, 1848, and had eight children:
| William VanDyke | Born May 25, 1849. |
| John A. VanDyke | Born May 2, 1851. |
| Harriett Isabelle VanDyke | Born July 9, 1853. |
| Otis James VanDyke | Born August 12, 1855. |
| Clara E. VanDyke | Born January 4, 1858. |
| Minnie N. VanDyke | Born December 17, 1859. |
| Loyal Boyd VanDyke | Born March 15, 1862. |
| Richard Ellis VanDyke | Born December 27, 1867 |
Robert died February 5, 1890, in the same house in which he was born. Rebecca died January 14, 1899, in the home of her daughter, Minnie McAllen.