In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1850, Harrison County
From 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908)
JOSEPH VAN HORN, senior member of the Van Horn & Gilbert Lumber Company, of South Charleston, Ohio, dealers in hardwood and lumber, which is the largest concern of its kind in this section of the country, was born August 31, 1850, in Harrison County, Ohio, and is a son of Edward and Eliza (Gilbert) Van Horn.
Edward Van Horn was a native of
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, of which his father, Christopher Van Horn, was also a native. The family was an agricultural one. Edward was one of seven children, three boys and four girls, all of whom are now deceased. When about fifteen years old his parents moved to Harrison County, Ohio, and later to Cedarville, Gf-greene County, where they both died. Edward engaged at various kinds of work, operating a well drill during his younger days and farming prior to his military service. For four years he was a member of the Tenth Ohio Battery during the Civil War and saw much hard service, his death, which occurred in Cedarville, Greene County, being due to rheumatism, which was contracted while in the army. He married Eliza Gilbert, of Harrisonville, Harrison County, Ohio, and to them were born four children: Edward, who died in 1885; Martha F., who married Thomas Carlyle, of Yellow Springs; Susanna, who married Frank Hilttabridle, of Baltimore, Maryland; and JoseiDh.
Joseph Van Horn was two years old when his parents moved from Harrisonville to Cedarville, Greene County, and there was reared and received his education. He remained at home, working at various things, as opportunity offered, until his marriage at the age of twenty-eight years, after which he remained in Cedarville for four years as lumber buyer for a Dayton firm. He then moved to Plarmon Township, Madison County, Ohio, where he owned a mill, which he operated three years and then moved to South Charleston, where he has since been engaged in the lumber business. About 1903 Mr. Gilbert was made a member of the firm.
which is one of the substantial business enterprises of Charleston.
Mr. Van Horn was married in 1878 to Sally Milburn, of Cedarville. Politically Mr. Van Horn is a believe in the doctrine of the Republican party and has served as a member of the town council. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fel-
As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name Joseph Van Horn: C. F. Gilbert (b. 1872)
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.