In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1912) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912), The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography (1902)
SAMUEL T. VANNATTA. '
Samuel T. Vannatta who is extensively engaged in the garden seed business, was born in New Jersey in 1835. His maternal grandfather came to this state from Warren comity, New Jersey, where he became a wealthy and influential citizen, and his death occurred in Miller township, Knox county, in 1863, at the age of eighty-nine years. His father was a Revolutionary hero. Peter Vannatta, the father of our subject, wasi born in Warren county, New Jersey, and his death occurred in 1836. One of his brothers, Aaron Vannatta, left home and was never, heard from afterward, and his sister, Mrs. Philip Case, is a resident of New Jersey. Her husband is the oldest commission merchant in New York city, being now eighty-two years of age, but he still attends to his business interests. The mother of our subject was called to her final rest in 1882, having reached the seventy-third milestone on the journey of life. She was an active worker in the Christian church and was loved and honored for her many noble characteristics.
Samuel T. Vannatta, the immediate subject of this review, came with his mother to this locality in 1841, locatingon a farm in Miller township, and the educational advantages which he enjoyed in his youth, were those afforded by the common schools of the neighborhood. After laying aside his text-books preparatory to embarking on an active business career he engaged in farming on land belonging to his grandfather, Philip Weller, and after remaining there for a time he removed to the farm purchased by himself and mother. In 1895 he abandoned the tilling of the soil and removed to South Vernon, Clinton township. In 1888 he was elected one of the county commissioners, having been re-elected to that position in.1892, and during both terms he served as president of the board. While filling that responsible position he was instrumental in securing the erection of the viaduct at the foot of Main street, and many other needed improvements were added during his incumbency. For nine years he served as trustee of Miller township and for one term was land appraiser and for two terms appraiser of personal property. Although he does not engage actively in farm labor, Mr. Vannatta is a large land owner, having five hundred acres in Miller township, which is improved) with excellent buildings and is under a fine state of cultivation, and also has a farm in Monroe township. In addition to this valuable property he owns residence property in South Vernon, Dayton and Findlay.
The year 1862 witnessed the marriage of Mr. Vannatta and Miss Lovina Hawkins, of Mount Liberty, the eldest daughter of Isaac Hawkins, a prominent stock dealer and wealthy farmer of Knox county. He came to this locality from Rockingham county, Virginia, in a very early day, and he has now reached the ripe old age of eighty years. His wife was a Miss Hudleston before her marriage, and was also from Rockingham county, Virginia. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Vannatta. The eldest, F. A. Vannatta, is a successful farmer of Miller township. He married Miss Belle West, a daughter of Jay West, also of Miller township, and they have three children — Blanche, Samuel and Charles. The second son, C. O. Vannatta, resides on the old home in Miller township. He married Miss Maud Sperry, a daughter of Newton Sperry, of Miller township, and they also have three children — Olive, Enos and Anna. The only daughter of the family, Emeline., is nowi the wife of Calvin Forey, of Pleasant township, Knox county, and they have one child, Isabelle. In his social relations Mr. Vannatta is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically he cases his ballot in favor of the men and measures of the Republican party.
As printed in The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
SAMUEL T. VANNATTA.
As a citizen Samuel T. Vannatta, of Mt. Vernon, has always given his support to all measures for the public good, and his name has long been synonymous with honorable dealings in all the relations of life. As he has passed practically all his life in Knox county he has a wide acquaintance among its best citizens, many of whom are included within the circle of his warm personal friends. Some three score years have dissolved in the mist of time since he came to this part of the country, but during that time his integrity has never been questioned, nor has anything favoring in the least of dishonor ever attached to his name or reputation. He has always tried to measure up to the standard of correct manhood, and this locality is proud to number him among its progressive and representative men. He is now retired from active life and has a well-appointed home in the county seat, where he is passing his declining years in quiet and content.
Mr. Vannatta was born in New Jersey in 1835. He is the son of Peter Vannatta, and his mother was the daughter of Phillip Weller. Peter Vannatta was born in Warren county, New Jersey, and his death occurred in his native state when the subject was one year old. Phillip Weller came to Miller township, Knox county, about 1840 and became a wealthy and influential citizen. His death occurred at his home in Miller township in 1863. The mother of the subject came to Miller township, this county, from New Jersey, following the death of her husband in 1841, and here she spent the balance of her life, dying in 1882. She was a member of the Christian church and a woman greatly beloved for her many good qualities.
Samuel T. Vannatta located with his mother on a farm in Miller township and obtained his education in the county district schools here. When of proper age he worked at farming on lands owned by his grandfather, Phillip AVeller. Later purchasing a farm, he moved thereto and began life for himself and mother there. He managed well and closely applied himself and in due course of time had a good home and became one of the prosperous farmers and stock men of that township, adding to his original holdings from time to time until he became a large land owner, at one time owning five hundred acres in Miller township, also owned a farm in Monroe township, besides valuable real estate holdings in South Vernon, Dayton and Findlay, Ohio. He was very successful in whatever he turned his attention to, being a man of keen discernment, wise foresight and some judgment, and of such scrupulous honesty that he always enjoyed the confidence and good will of all.
Mr. Vannatta was married in 1862 to Lavina Hawkins, an estimable lady of Mt. Liberty, this county, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hawkins, he a prominent stock dealer and wealthy farmer of Knox county. Her parents came here from Rockingham county, Virginia, in early pioneer days.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Vannatta, namely: F. A., a successful farmer in Miller township until his death in July, 1908, married Isabelle West, daughter of Jay West and wife, of Miller township, and at his death he left a widow and three children, Blanche, Samuel and Charles. Charles O., the second son of. the subject, is mentioned in a separate sketch in this work; Emeline, the daughter, married Calvin Forey, a prominent farmer of Pleasant township, and they have two daughters, Isabelle and Edith.
The wife and mother passed to her rest on May 15, 1903. She always enjoyed the friendship of a wide acquaintance and was a favorite with them, having numerous attributes of a most commendable nature.
Samuel T. Vannatta has all his life been a very active man of affairs. Besides his extensive private interests he has been an influential factor in public matters. Politically, he is a loyal Republican, and for a period of nine years he served as trustee of Miller township, one year as land appraiser and two terms as appraiser of personal property. In 1888 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners and re-elected in 1891, serving two terms, and he was president of the board both terms. During his incumbency of this office the viaduct at the foot of Main and Mt. Vernon streets was constructed. largely through his efforts, and it stands today as a monument to his public spirit and practical business sense. As a public servant he has always discharged his duties most faithfully and conscientiously, winning the hearty approval of all concerned.
In 1895 Mr. Vannatta left the home farm and moved to South Vernon, where he has since resided, maintaining there an attractive, modern and well kept home, enjoying the fruits of his former years of labor, a justly earned respite.
Few men have been more active in both public and private life and few are better known or more highly esteemed in Knox county than he. Personally he is a pleasant gentleman to know, cultured, well informed, broadminded. charitable and obliging.
As printed in Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.