USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 62
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VANAUSDALL, Allen Mccrary, one of the substantial business men, engaged in the grocery trade at Jerseyville, is recognized as a representative citizen of this county. He was born in Monroe County, Ill., August 4, 1839, a son of John and Mary (Peagen) Vanausdall, natives of Pennsylvania and Marietta, Ohio, respectively, and of Irish descent. They were married in Ohio, from whence they moved to Indi- ana, and later to Monroe County, Ill. By trade John Vanausdall was a cooper, but when he located near Otterville, in Jersey County, he became interested in farming, having sold his property in Monroe County.
Allen McCrary Vanausdall attended the common schools until he was twelve years old, at which time he began earning his own living, first by piling brush for the wood choppers, and later as farm helper. Still later he worked for his father, assisting him in clearing eighty acres of timber which work was completed in 1858. He was then engaged in coopering for a time when he went to Grafton, and was there interested in a flour mill for two years. For several years thereafter, he was engaged in running an engine in a stone quarry, and one in a sawmill, and he also operated a threshing machine. When he was thirty years old he began doing carpenter work at Grafton, and continued there for three years. Mr. Vanausdall then located in Otterville and followed his trade for thirty years, working all over the county, and while living there rented a house, but later bought a residence at Dow. A year later he sold that and in April, 1908, moved to Jerseyville, and commenced working at his trade in this city. He bought property on the east side, and established himself in a grocery business as he decided to engage in something which would not take him away from home, his wife being in ill health at that time. From time to time he has invested in city property, and owns some very desirable residences and the building in which his business is located.
On May 6, 1860, Mr. Vanausdall was married to Agnes Ann Hill- man, born in Iowa, January 28, 1844, died July 28, 1915. She was a daughter of James and Anna Hillman. Mr. and Mrs. Vanausdall be- came the parents of the following children : Rachel R., who is Mrs. V. A. Dodson, of Jerseyville, has two children ; Ethel, who married Clyde Sutherland, and Iola, who married Charles Dillings and has three
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children, Nordica, Charles and Robert; James, John, Sarah and Mamie, all of whom are deceased; Millie W. and Lillie W., twins, of whom the latter is deceased, and the former is Mrs. Richards Edsall, of Detroit, Mich., and has three children, Frelove, Allen and Clyde; Egbert, who lives at Alton, Ill., married Maggie Lessner; and Martha, Frederick and Edward, all of whom are deceased. In politics Mr. Vanausdall is a Democrat, and he served one term as constable of Otterville. In 1872, while living at Otterville, he joined the Odd Fellows, and still maintains his connection with that lodge.
VAN DIKE, Charles Henry, one of the substantial men of Jersey- ville, who is highly respected wherever known, was born at Rocky Hill, N. J., December 12, 1835, a son of Reoloff H. and Maria (Com- fort) Van Dike, natives of New Jersey. The maternal grandparents were Rev. David and Sarah (Trimble) Comfort, the latter being a daughter of Alexander Trimble, who was born in Ireland in 1726, and came to the American Colonies in 1749. The paternal grandparents were Reoloff and Charity (Bergen) Van Dike, the former of whom was a son of Reoloff Van Dike, born in 1767, and died in 1805. Reoloff H. Van Dike was a physician who, in 1836, at the solicitation of Dr. Edward A. D'Arcy, came to Jerseyville, and being satisfied with the outlook, returned to New Jersey for his family, driving back with them overland, and arriving the second time in Jerseyville June 30, 1837. On July 14, 1837, a little daughter was added to the family, and she was named Sarah Eliza. She was born on the present site of Jerseyville, being the first white child born in the neighborhood. She is now deceased. Dr. Van Dike continued in practice until his death, which occurred September 6, 1845. He and his wife had the follow- ing children : Charles Henry ; Sarah Eliza, who became Mrs. Marshall S. Parker; Edward Livingston, who died in 1907; and Margaret Jane, who died in 1913, was first the wife of Isaac V. Brown, and after his death she was married (second) to LeRoy H. Anderson, who is also deceased ; and two children died in infancy.
Charles Henry Van Dike lived in Jerseyville until he was ten years old, when he was taken to Alton, Ill., by Dr. D'Arcy. They went by wagon to Alton, thence down the Mississippi River to the Ohio River, and thence to Pittsburgh, Pa. From that city the travelers went by canal and railroad to Johnstown, Pa., where they took a trip over the mountains on a railroad operated by a stationary engine, and after a stop at Philadelphia, Pa., went on to Kingston, N. J., where the lad was left with his maternal grandfather, David Comfort. There he attended a preparatory school, and later Princeton University. In August, 1848, he was joined by his mother and the other children, and after a visit with relatives they returned, by way to Chicago and Alton, to Jerseyville, where the family conducted a hotel known as the Jersey House. Mr. Van Dike assisted in this until 1860, when he bought a livery stable and conducted it a year. He then moved to Christian County, Ill .. where he was engaged in farming until 1882,
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with the exception of two and one-half years when he was engaged in conducting a 5,000-acre farm thirty miles from San Antonio, Tex., and in raising cattle and horses. In 1882 Mr. Van Dike went to St. Louis, Mo., where he was in a coal and ice business until 1915, at which time he sold his interests and returned to Jersey County and retired and has since made Jerseyville his home.
On February 15, 1857, Mr. Van Dike was married to Martha E. Smith, who was born in southern Illinois, May 26, 1837, a daughter of John F. and Sarah (McGuire) Smith, the former of whom was born April 17, 1811, in South Carolina, and died February 25, 1877; and the latter was born October 12, 1814, in Tennessee, and died May 20, 1890. They were married December 15, 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Van Dike became the parents of the following children: Frank, who lives at St. Louis, Mo .; Maria Louise, who lives at Salt Lake City, Utah; Hattie, who died at St. Louis July 29, 1918; Walter Knox, who lives with his father; Gussie, who is deceased; Mary C., who lives with her father; Charles D., who is deceased; and Margaret, who lives at St. Louis. Mrs. Van Dike died November 22, 1913. Mr. Van Dike is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and served for five years as supervisor while living in Christian County. His fraternal connection is with the Odd Fellows. While living at St. Louis he was a member of the choir of the Central Pres- byterian Church, and has a handsome gold-headed cane which was presented to him by the Sunday school of that church for twenty-six continuous years service as chorister.
VAN HORNE, Augustus Knapp, M. D., now retired at Jerseyville, was for years one of the eminent physicians of Jersey County, and is remembered with gratitude and affection by the older generation. He was born at Glenham, N. Y., April 2, 1831, a son of Elijah and Polly (Wychoff) Van Horne, natives of New York state. At an early day the family migrated by the way of the Erie Canal to Cleve- land, Ohio, and thence over the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to St. Louis, Mo. There they took a boat to Alton, Ill .. from whence they journeyed by team to the home of the Skerritt family. Remaining over night, they resumed their trip as far as the site of the John William's residence, and remained there a month, while Elijah Van Horne built a log house, one and one-half stories in height. When it was completed it was regarded as one of the best residences in that community. He later put siding boards on the house, and added other improvements. His original entry from the government was 360 acres of prairie land and eighty acres of timber land, about six miles south of Jerseyville. He improved the prairie land, and later en- gaged in the manufacture of brick, and built a residence from his own product, and this house is still standing. In it he died March 23, 1868, having been born February 19. 1786. His wife was born No- vember 3, 1792, and died June 14, 1871.
Augustus Knapp Van Horne spent his boyhood on the farm, and
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attended the local schools, until he was twenty years old. During that period he did much hard work, including the breaking of prai- rie land. Coming to Jerseyville, he read medicine with Dr. Charles Knapp, and his father, Dr. Augustus Knapp, for eighteen months, and later attended the Missouri Medical School, where he was under Dr. Joseph McDowell, during the winter of 1853-4. He then went to Greene County, Ill., and practiced medicine, continuing his studies as well, for eighteen months, and then entered Jefferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1856. Fol- lowing that Dr. Van Horne came to Jerseyville, and embarked in a practice that was gradually extended until it covered a wide terri- tory. For five years he was almost totally blind, but fortunately recovered his eyesight through an operation. Since 1902, however, he has lived practically retired.
In 1859 Dr. Van Horne was married to Elizabeth Bacon, and their children were as follows: Ellen, who is the widow of Charles Casey, of Wilmette, Ill .; Walter, who died at the age of two and one-half years; Hugh, who lives at Pawnee City, Neb .; Mary V., who is Mrs. Leonard Cutting, of Jerseyville; Lucy, who is Mrs. Perry Schrock, of Santa Anna, Cal .; and Elizabeth, who is Mrs. W. K. Graham, of East Auburn, Cal. Mrs. Van Horne died October 18, 1881. On De- cember 23, 1881, Dr. Van Horne was married (second) to Sarah M. Steele, born at Cincinnati, Ohio, June 27, 1845, a daughter of Rea R. and Matilda (Gould) Steele natives of New York state and New York City, respectively. They were married at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was engaged in a contracting and building business. In the carly fifties the Stcele family came to Illinois, and after a time spent at Quincy, moved to Jerscyville, and still later to Upper Alton, Ill. Dr. and Mrs. Van Horne have one daughter, Stella A., who is at home. Mrs. Van Horne attended the schools of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Van Horne is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and while not a member of any religious organization, Dr. Van Horne has assisted in building every church at Jerseyville. In politics he is a Democrat, while fraternally he belongs to the Chapter and Com- mandery of the Masonic order, and is an Odd Fellow and has held all of the offices in the latter organization. He is a charter member of the Jersey County Medical Society, which he served as president for many years; and he also belongs to the American Medical Associa- tion. Dr. Van Horne and his family live on the income derived from land he bought while engaged in the practice of his profession.
VAN HORNE, George H., one of the substantial residents of Jer- seyville, has been connected with important business interests of the county, and is now interested in agricultural matters. He was born in Mississippi Township, Jersey County, Ill., November 20, 1848, a son of James E. and Nancy (Wilson) Van Horne, natives of New York state. They were married April 4, 1837. The grandparents were Elijah and Polly (Wychoff) Van Horne, natives of New York
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state, who came to Jersey County at an early day, entering land in Mississippi Township in 1833. James E. Van Horne returned to New York state in the middle of December, 1836, and on the way spent Christmas and New Year Day at New Orleans, La. On January 8, 1837, he took a sailing vessel for New York City, and the ship was stranded on a sand bar for ten days, and after it was released it took sixteen days to complete the journey. After being married, James E. Van Horne brought his bride back to Jersey County, and in 1839 he bought eighty acres from his father in Mississippi Township, and on it he built a house. On August 15, 1853, he added eighty acres more, and after his father's death he heired from the estate 193 acres, and engaged in farming until 1864, when he returned home to take care of his mother. She was born in 1813 and died August 30, 1898. He died September 25, 1875. He was a schoolteacher and was a school director for many years.
Until 1886 George II. Van Horne remained on the family home- stead, and attended the local schools. In that year he came to Jer- seyville and was a post office elerk for a year, and then went to Blue Springs, Gage County, Neb., where he was employed in the bank of J. C. Williams as cashier, from February 15, 1887, until May 1, 1890, when he went to Teeumseh, Neb., and helped to build an ele- vator. In the fall of 1890 he returned to Jerseyville, and bought an interest in the English-Eaton Hardware Company, which lie re- tained until 1892, when he moved to his farm, and eondueted it until the fall of 1898. In that year he eame baek to Jerseyville, and later on engaged with his son in condueting the Van Horne homestead, although he still resides at Jerseyville.
On October 6, 1875, Mr. Van Horne was married to Mary A. Jones, born at Batavia, N. Y., a daughter of Alvah and Amelia Jones, and they had one daughter, Fannie A., who died in infancy. Mrs. Van Horne died in January, 1877. On November 15, 1880, Mr. Van Horne was married to Mary Isabella Cummings, born in Jersey County, Ill., a daughter of Christopher C. and Phebe (Hamilton) Cummings, natives of Jersey County and New Jersey. Her grand- parents were Thomas and Mary Ann (Carroll) Cummings, natives of Monroe County, Ill., and Bergen County, N. J. Mr. Cummings came to Jersey County in 1818, and was one of the three commissioners who had Jersey County set off from Greene County, and later was made one of the first eounty commissioners of the newly formed county of Jersey. The second Mrs. Van Horne died in November, 1885, hav- ing borne her husband two ehildren: Sarah Ann, who died in in- fancy ; and Columbus C., who lives at Ft. Worth, Tex. On April 18, 1894, Mr. Van Horne was married (third) to Sarah Charlotte Cummings, born in Mississippi Township, a sister of the second Mrs. Van Horne. By his third marriage, Mr. Van Horne has had two chil- dren, namely: George H., who is conducting the home farm; and Phebe, who is at home. In addition to attending the Black Jack district sehool, Mr. Van Horne went to the Eastman's National Busi-
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ness College, in Chicago, from which he was graduated March 18, 1867. Mrs. Van Horne attended the district schools of her native township. Mr. Van Horne is a Presbyterian and has served as an elder since 1903. A Democrat, he served as a school director for many years, was town clerk for four years, and supervisor for one term, of Mississippi Township, and served six years on the Jerseyville school board. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows and Rebek- ahs. Mrs. Van Horne's grandfather served in the Black Hawk War. In 1846 he was elected to the Illinois State Assembly, and he was a prominent man in many ways. An amusing incident is the follow- ing: Prior to his removal to Illinois, Mr. Van Horne's grandfather was given a piece of leather, in lieu of money, and this he took to Buffalo and received cash for it, but some years later, after his set- tlement in Illinois, the mails were so slow and insecure for business transactions, that having some further business dealings with the man who gave him the leather, he took the precaution of sending one half of a ten dollar bill in a letter, and when he received word that it had reached its destination, he mailed the other half.
VAN PELT, Winfield Scott, who has served continuously since 1909 as a justice of the peace in Jersey Township, Jersey County, is one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of this section. He belongs to old families of Holland and England, very early settlers in New Jersey and among the pioneers of 1830 in Jer- sey County, Ill. He was born in this county, May 2, 1848, and his parents were Ralph Hagaman and Penelope (Stout) Van Pelt, both natives of New Jersey.
There is an exceedingly interesting, although harrowing story, that appears in the records of the Van Pelt family concerning a ma- ternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Penelope Van Princess. She was born in Holland and evidently was a young girl when she accompanied a party of Dutch colonists who took passage on a sail- ing vessel for America. The vessel was wrecked during a violent storm when near the New Jersey coast. The majority of the voyag- ers managed to get to shore by means of the ship's boats and the captain set off with a number of them for New Amsterdam, appar- ently the original proposed destination. The others landed in a grove of heavy timber, the girl Penelope among them, and there they were attacked by a band of savage Indians, who scalped them and left them for dead. In addition to her other injuries, Penelope suffered from such severe wounds in her abdomen as to cause her bowels to protrude. Nevertheless she finally revived and with her apron bound up her terrible wounds and managed to crawl into a hollow log. After suffering agony for several hours she saw a deer speed by with an arrow in its side and thus she knew that Indians were near by. In the hope that they would mercifully complete their savage work and thus relieve her sufferings, she crawled out in the path and soon two Indians found her. The young brave started to again use his toma-
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hawk, but the old Indian intervened and together they made a litter of saplings, on which they carried the almost unconscious girl to their camp. There she was nursed back to health by the Indian women and it would be pleasant to think it was because of human sympathy even in the savage breast. However it probably was for business reasons for as soon as she was well again the old Indian took her to New Amsterdam and there bargained for her with her friends, finally selling her for 125 pounds of tobacco. Later she was happily married to Richard Stout, who was born in England and came early to New Jersey, and subsequently she became the mother of seven children, one of whom was the founder of Hopewell, N. J.
The parents of Judge Van Pelt were married in New Jersey. Early in 1830 they drove the long distance across the country to Illinois, settling in Jersey County, which was then a wilderness. The father was a farmer all his subsequent life and died in 1857. He was twice married and was the father of nineteen children.
Winfield Scott Van Pelt was reared on his father's pioneer farm and knows something about early times in the county. When oppor- tunity offered, he attended the district school near home, but in his boyhood there were no such advantages as are afforded the youth of the present day. After marriage he followed farming for some years and then moved to Jerseyville and was employed in a pork packing house until 1887. He had always been apt with tools and then learned the carpenter trade and in the course of time became a first class builder, branching out into contracting. For a number of years prior to 1909, when he retired, his method of business was to pur- chase desirable city lots and build attractive residences on them, easily disposing of the same.
Judge Van Pelt was married November 16, 1869, to Miss Sarah J. Morris, who died in the fall of 1875. She was a native of Preble County, Ohio. One son survives her, Charles E., who is a resident of Chicago, Ill. Judge Van Pelt was married again, on July 6, 1876 to Miss Alice Burch, who was born at Jerseyville a daughter of David and Mary (Fields) Burch, of Kentucky, and they have three daugh- ters : Sarah Virginia, who is the wife of George Wood, of Jerseyville; Penelope Alice, who perpetuates the name of her noted ancestress, is the wife of Thomas Krause, who is county clerk of Jersey County ; and Abbic Lenore, who is the wife of Leonard Grassbrenner. In poli- tics Judge Van Pelt is a Democrat. He attends the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and he is identified fraternally with the Modern Wood- men of America.
VINSON, John W., who was one of the substantial retired business men of Jerseyville, for some years, was well and favorably known throughout a wide section. He was born in Jersey County, Ill., April 22, 1839, and died at Jerseyville, January 11, 1918, and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Jerseyville. He was a son of John L. and Cath- erine (Spangle) Vinson, natives of Scioto County, Ohio, where he was
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born April 18, 1810, and she March 29, 1814. They were married in Ohio, September 11, 1832. In 1838 they came on boats by way of the Ohio River to Cairo, Ill., and from thence up the Mississippi River to Alton, Ill. There they took teams for the overland trip to Jersey County, and settled on a farm they bought four miles south of Jersey- ville, which he operated, although by trade he was a plow and wagon maker.
The boyhood of John W. Vinson was spent on his father's farm. His mother died in 1854. He began teaching school, when only six- teen years old, and for the subsequent nine winters he was thus en- gaged, in the meanwhile studying to improve himself for his educa- tional opportunities had been meagre. During his vacations he at- tended Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton, Ill. He became a firm friend of the public school organization, and later for fourteen years served continuously on the school board of Jerseyville, and served as its sec- retary for six years. In 1865 he became manager of the Jerseyville Milling Company, and held that responsible position for twelve years, and at the same time was local agent for several insurance companies, so continuing until 1884, when he became an adjuster for the Lan- cashire Insurance Company of England. In 1892 this concern with- drew. and Mr. Vinson went with the Traders Insurance Company of Chicago, his field being Missouri and Southern Illinois. In 1906 he was made an independent adjuster, and traveled in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Arkansas and other states, but in 1907 he retired; and since then made Jerseyville his home.
On September 12, 1861, Mr. Vinson was married to Mary L. Stark- weather, born in Jersey County, Ill., May 9, 1841, a daughter of Asa and Louisa (Hervey) Starkweather, natives of Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Vinson became the parents of the following children: Lula, who is Mrs. James R. Frasier, of California; Anna, who is deceased ; Maude, who is Mrs. William Alderson, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Mattie, who died in infancy; Leona, who is Mrs. G. D. Pogue of St. Louis, Mo .; and Ruth, who is Mrs. B. F. Slaton, of Ashland, Ky. Mr. Vin- son was a Presbyterian, and served as an elder of his church for many years. For thirteen consecutive years he was superintendent of the Sunday school, and had charge of the choir for twenty years. A Republican, he served as a member of the city council, and in num- erous ways rendered very valuable service to his community. A Mason in good standing, he belongs to Jerseyville Lodge No. 394, A. F. & A. M., having been raised in 1865. Mr. Vinson was one of the organ- izers, and the secretary of the Jersey County Historical Society, from its organization until January 4, 1918, when he voluntarily resigned.
VOORHEES, George R. one of the substantial farmers of Jersey Township, owns and operates a farm in the eastern part of Jerseyville. He was born in Mississippi Township, July 1, 1848, a son of Peter P. and Maria (Kirby) Voorhees, he born in New Jersey in 1816. They
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crossed the country with teams in 1839, to Jersey County, Ill., and located in what is now Mississippi Township, where at one time Peter P. Voorhees owned 500 acres of land, the greater part of which was in timber. During his lifetime he cleared off the greater part of his farm, retiring to Jerseyville about 1865, after which he served as a justice of the peace. His death occurred June 15, 1872. His wife died in March, 1883. The maternal grandparents, Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Gaston) Kirby, died many years ago, he before the family came to Jersey County in 1839, she surviving him and dying in Jersey County. Peter P. Voorhees and his wife had the following children : Charles, who died in 1917, aged seventy-eight years; John B., who is deceased; Abbie, who was Mrs. Guy A. Snell of Litchfield, Ill., is deceased; Elizabeth, who was Mrs. T. F. Remer, died November, 12, 1912, having been born in 1846; George R .; and Margaret, who was Mrs. Dr. McAdams, died July 7, 1907.
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