Charles H. Vananda

As printed in 1902

CHARLES H. VANANDA.

Charles H. Vananda was born in Springfield, January 20, 1856, and has spent his entire life in Clark county. His father, John Wesley Vananda, was born in Maryland, August 19, 1828, his home being near Middletown, Frederick county. He was a wagonmaker by trade and would go to the timber districts, where he would get out the material for constructing wagons. These he made of a mammoth size, such as were used for freighting over the mountains. native state he was married, February 6, 1850, to Ann Elizabeth Sigler, who was born in Maryland, June 26, 1824. While they were still living in that state they became the parents of one son, John Henry, born March 6, 1853, and soon afterward they came to Ohio, traveling by rail and Here Mr. Vananda built the first four-wheeled dray used in the city, and also the first-six horse The latter was owned by wagon.

wagon.

John and

In his

David Snyder, early millers of Springfield. For three years Mr. Vananda followed wagonmaking, after which he learned the butchers’ trade and entered into partnership with John Swanger in the conduct of the business, which they carried on for a number of years. Mr. Vananda afterward turned his attention to the huckster business, traveling with a four-horse wagon over a radius of fifty miles into Madison, Fayette, Logan and Champaign counties. His business was extensive and profitable and he carried on the general hucksterine business and gained a wide circle of friends among his patrons. He wás known throughout Clark and surrounding counties and on his trips he would drive turkeys into the city for sale in the markets here, and he also shipped poultry to various points. After giving up the huckstering business he turned his attention to farming and later was employed by D. S. Morrow $ Son in the grocery and ice business. Subsequently he assisted his son in conducting a retail fruit store. He'made his home in this city until his death, which occurred in 1888, while his wife passed away November 30, 1872, both being buried in Ferncliff cemetery. They were members of the First Lutheran church and reared their children in that faith. In politics Mr. Vananda was a Democrat, and was a member of one of the early military companies of Springfield. Of domestic tastes he was fond of his family and did all he could to promote their welfare and happiness. Unto the parents of our subject were born six children. John H. was killed in Houston, Texas, in December, 1898; Charles Hamilton is the second in order of birth; Willtam Carlton, born December 1, 1859, is married and is employed in the store of his brother, Charles; Cordelia Titus, born April

22, 1862, is the wife of Thomas E. Wren, of Springtield, and has five living children, Floy Birdie, Arthur, Ruth and Earl, and has lost two, Maude and Evan; Theodore Keller, born September 18, 1866, is married and lives in Muncie, Indiana, where he is employed as a meat cutter; and Margaret Helwick, born November, 17, 1869, is thé wife of George Jackson, of Springfield, and they have two children, Monroe and George. After the death of his first wife John W. Vananda was married, in February, 1874, to Hester M. Poland, the widow of James Poland, a native of Ohio, They have one child, Ann Elizabeth, who was born April 13, 1875, and is the wife of Martin Dobbs, of Dayton. James C. Vananda, an elder brother of John W. and an uncle of our subject, was a painter by trade and entered the service of the United States as a captain in an Ohio regiment of infantry during the Civil war. He was afterward promoted for meritorious conduct to the rank of major, and being captured was incarcerated in Libby prison. He was born in 1823, and died in 1882, leaving a daughter, Mrs. George Stevens, who resides on Yellow Springs street. William, another brother, who was also a painter by trade, joined the Union army as a drummer in his brother’s company and died in the Soldiers’ Home at Dayton, in 1892. Charles H. Vananda attended the public schools of Springfield until fourteen years of age, when he began driving an express wagon on his own account, continuing that business for four years. He then began hauling water for masons, as the city had no water works. When two years had passed his father removed to a farm in Springfield township and our subject assisted in its cultivation for seven years. He then returned to the city and again began teaming, hauling many loads of brick for the East street shops, and also stone for Kelley's arcade. He continued to do heavy teaming for about two years, but gave up that work in 1883 and accepted a position as a driver of a grocery delivery wagon for the firm of McCracken € Morrow. In 1885 hie left that employ and accepted a clerkship for W. S. Straley, a grocer, in the room in which Mr. Vananda now carries on business for himself. For a number of years he worked as a grocery clerk for various men and in 1888 he began business on his own account, retailing fruit, game and vegetables in the store now occupied by Lobenherz. Then he sold out to E. M. Baker in 1891 and began working for him, remaining with Mr. Baker until the business was sold, when he entered the employ of Baldwin McGrew and on the 11th of April, 1899, purchased his stock. The business was started on a small scale, but he now conducts one of the largest retail trades in groceries and general provisions in the city. He carries a full line of high grade goods and employs six men as salesmen and to deliver the purchases. In his business he has made a splendid success, giving to it his personal attention.

In Springfield, on November 27, 1883,. Mr. Vananda was married to Miss Ida Belle Sparrow, who was born in this city, November 30, 1862, and is a daughter of Elisha and Julia (Hoak) Sparrow. Her father died here at the age of forty-seven and the mother is now living in a home-adjoining that of her daughter at the age of sixty-six years. Mr. Vananda is the eldest of five children. Charles Oscar, who was born in 1867, was married and died at the age of twenty-seven years. Cora Ann, born.

in, 1868, is the wife of John W. Adams, of Springfield, and their children, are John W., William, Chester and Julia. William F., born in Springfield in 1872, is married and is clerking in the store of Mr. Vananda. They have one daughter, Gladys. Mary E., born in 1873, is the wife of C. S. Olinger, an attorney, and they have two children, Francis and Robert S. The father of this family was a carpenter by trade and did fine cabinet work and finishing for three years. He served as a soldier in the Seventeenth Ohio Battery. The Sparrows were of Scotch-Irish descent on the paternal side and German lineage on the material side. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vananda have been born two children, Daisy Belle, born May 3, 1885, and Julia Blanche, born September 3,

In national affairs Mr. Vananda is a Democrat, but at local political elections he votes independently. His wife is a member of the Center street Methodist Episcopal church, and he was reared in the Lutheran faith. He belongs to the National Union, an insurance order, holds membership in the Commercial Club, and is treasurer of the Grocers’ Association of Springfield. In early life he showed that he possessed good business ability and from the age of fourteen years he has made his own way in the world, achieving the success which comes from earnest, persistent labor when guided by sound judgment and supplemented by unfaltering honesty in all trade relations.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.