KAY LASH COLLECTION, CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, ANGOLA, INDIANA. PULISHED IN THE STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1912 JOHN WILSON VanFOSSEN, 11 Feb 1834 - 02 Nov 1912 JOHN WILSON VanFOSSEN Was born at Newark, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1834, and died at his home in Orland, Ind., Nov. 2, 1912, aged 78 years, 8 months and 21 days. When but an infant his parents moved to Dearbonville, Michigan, now included in Detroit, and in the year 1838, the family took up its residence in Williams county, Ohio, and settled in an unbroken wilderness, the father cutting a road through the timber some three miles beyond the nearest settler, to reach the land that he had previously entered from the government. Here they were surrounded by wild beasts of the forest and by the Indiana. This was their permanent home; there he grew to manhood, doing a full share in the arduous labor of subduing the wilderness. His education was secured in the common schools of his day, supplemented by a course at the Northern Indiana Institute at Orland, during the years 1856 and 1857. He taught school in Ohio and Iowa during the winters and during the balance of the year labored on the farms of at least three states. On the 31st day of October, 1862, he heard the call of his country and enlisted in the 5th Independent Company of Ohio Sharp Shooters, and served in the Army of the Cumberland until discharged at the close of the war; serving with the distinction of not being absent from duty a single day. He was actively engaged in the battle of Chicamaugua during the two days terrible fighting and some four months later was engaged for six weeks in the disagreeable duty of gathering up and burying the dead on the fields. This record in the service of his country was what might have been expected from his life as a citizen. As a boy he was moral, truthful and upright on all occasions; always a model of propriety in his conduct with his fellowmen. In middle life he, with his wife, united with the Eagle Creek church in Williams county, Ohio, and was early selected as a ruling elder, and labored faithfully for the peace and efficiency of the church until his removal to Orland in the year 1891, when he changed his membership to the local Congregational church, where he made his church home until his demise. In his life both as a citizen and a christian, he was quiet, earnest and undemonstrative. He was one of those who was unable to point to a definite period of conversion, but as he often said, from his earliest remembrance considered himself a christian. His consistent life is an earnest proof that he was not mistaken. He was united in marriage to Eliza Jane Gillis, Feb. 22, 1866. To this union were born seven children, Arthur A., the oldest son, preceding his father in death. All the others are living and were present during his last days caring for him attentively. They are, Harvey C., Mrs. Floy Heath, Roy A., Dr. Wm. S., of Columbus, Ohio, Mrs. Jennie Salisbury, and Miss Ella. He also leaves surviving him, one brother, Thomas S., and three sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Waller, Mrs. Margaret Goshorn, Mrs. Jane K. Coldsnow, and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at his late home in Orland, Nov. 4, 1912, conducted by Rev. R. W. Gray of the Congregational church. Interment in Green Lawn cemetery. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION; John Wilson VanFossen, 11 Feb 1834 - 02 Nov 1912, on 22 Feb 1866, married Eliza Janae (Gillis) VanFossen, 05 Aug 1840 - 27 Dec 1918. They are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery, Orland, Steuben County, Indiana. John was the son of William and Mary Ann (Sloss) VanFossen. CHILDREN OF THE MARRIAGE: Arthur Alma VanFossen, 21 Aug 1868 - 10 Jun 1905, is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. The cemetery book states he was born in 1865 but that would be a year before his parents were married so www.familysearch.org is probably correct. Harvey Gillis VanFossen, 27 Dec 1869 - 02 May 1954, married Susan (Ingram) VanFossen. No other information. Floy (VanFossen) Heath, 13 Jun 1872 - 07 Dec 1958, on 12 Mar 1900, married George Arthur Heath, 12 Nov 1870 - 27 Oct 1960. They are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. George was the son of Horace H. Heath, 23 Jul 1835 - 02 Nov 1918, and Elizabeth (Culbertson) Heath, 28 Jan 1831 - 22 Feb 1899. Leroy /Roy Addison VanFossen, 12 Jul 1874 - 20 Feb 1957, married Allie (Casebeer) VanFossen, 18 Jul 1876 - 22 Aug 1959. They are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. Allie was the daughter of Samuel Peter Casebeer and Gelania (Lucas) Casebeer. Dr. William S. VanFossen, born 06 Nov 1877 in Williams County, Ohio. Jeanette (VanFossen) Salisbury, 26 Feb 1880 - 11 Dec 1966, on 12 Sep 1906, married Earle C. Salisbury, 30 Jun 1881, no other information. Ella/Ellen Letitia VanFossen, 1883 - 03 Oct 1973, buried at Greenlawn Cemwtery. SIBLINGS: Elizabeth Ann (VanFossen) Waller, 23 May 1831 - 10 Nov 1912. Margaret (VanFossen) Goshorn, age 23 in the 1880 Census, married Hugh Goshorn, age 27 in the 1880 census. "Collins Family History," Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County, Angola, Indiana, Jeanette (VanFossen) Salisury. Audree Seibel Lewis' Card File, Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County, Angola, Indiana, Obituary of Floy (VanFossen) Heath. "Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990," by Audree Seibel Lewis, Vol. 1, page 865; Vol. 2, pages 1864, 1865. www.familysearch.org; Family Group Record for John Wilson VanFossen,(3 records). IGI Individual Records for Jeanette VanFossen, John Wilson VanFossen, Harvey Gillis VanFossen, Margaret VanFossen, William Sloss VanFossen, Elizabeth Ann VanFossen. 1880 United Sates Census, Hugh Goshorn, North West, Williams County, Ohio, Family History Library Film #1255077, NA Film #T9-1077, page #434D. Submitted by Mona Hilden-Beckwith e-mail: hilbeck123@att.net