Samuel C. Van Ness, 1819-1897

The History of Appanoose County, Iowa

Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878

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  Vanness, S. C., farmer and stock-grower, Sec. 16, P.O. Seymour; born in Lycoming Co., Penn., in 1819; his father was of Holland descent, and his mother of English; they were married in New Jersey; his father was a blacksmith;p moved to Pennsylvania; thence to Columbiana Co., Ohio; were early settlers, and so poor that they wore wooden shoes; thence to Trumbull Co., Ohio; returned to Pennsylvania, where his parents died--his father at the age of 86 years, his mother at 84. In December, 1842, he married Miss Mary Cronk; she was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio (afterwards Mahoning Co.), in 1823; her parent, Isaac C. and Margaret (nee Deal), were born in Pennsylvania; they moved to Ohio, where her father died, the family moving to Indiana. In 1857, came to this county; owns 340 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre. Have five children living, lost one--Madison M.,  born in 1845, died in May, 1848; Addison M., born in 1851; Canfield B., in 1853; William C., in 1855; Peter M., in 1856, and Abraham L., in 1863. The father of Mrs. Vanness, Isaac Cronk, was a lawyer; admitted to the bar, and practiced in Mahoning Co., Ohio; a highly educated man; for many years taught school, but from ill-health left it for other pursuits. Republican; have been members of the Baptist Church in Livingston for twenty-five years.

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  Note: Samuel C. and Mary (Cronk) Van Ness are buried in the Wright-Thommason Cemetery in Vermillion Township, Appanoose County, Iowa.