A well cultivated farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres in
Girard township annually nets a very comfortable income to the owner,
David Charles Vaniman, who has been engaged in its cultivation for
twenty-eight years. Montgomery county, Ohio, was the scene of the birth
of Mr. Vaniman, his natal day being the 3d of January, 1857, and his
parents were David and Elizabeth (Bowser) Vaniman, the father being a
native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Ohio. In 1863 together with his
wife and family David Vaniman came to Illinois, purchasing a farm in the
western part of Virden township. He cultivated this property for some
years then bought another place nearer to Virden to which he removed,
continuing to reside there until his death in 1898.
David
Charles Vaniman was a little lad of only six years when the family
located in Virden township, to' whose district schools he is indebted
for his education. From his early boyhood he devoted much time to
assisting his father with the farm work and the care of the stock, his
responsibilities increasing with the development of his strength and
ability. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-two
years old, during the last four years of that time being associated with
his father in operating the home farm. In 1879, he began farming
independently upon the old homestead, west of Vir den, his father having
moved to his place near Virden. In the course of four years, having
acquired sufficient capital to buy a farm, he invested in his present
place in Girard township, and here he has ever since resided. In
connection with the operation of his fields Mr. Vaniman has for many
years run a threshing machine with most excellent financial success. A
man of progressive, practical ideas, keen judgment and foresight his
efforts have always been substantially rewarded and he owns, in addition
to his farm, stock in various enterprises, among them being the Farmers’
Mutual Telephone Co., and the Virden Grain Co., of which he is also a
director.
In Girard township on the 31st of December, 1879, was
celebrated the marriage of Mr. Vaniman and Miss Elizabeth Brubaker, a
native of Ohio. Mrs. Vaniman’s parents were Jonathan and Susan (Frantz)
Brubaker, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Ohio. The
paternal grandfather, Jonathan Brubaker, was also a native of Virginia.
Five children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Vaniman: Alva
T., a resident of Girard, who has one daughter; Pearl J., the wife of J.
E. Bowman of Girard township, who also has one daughter; Ada May, the
wife of E. S. Snell of Virden township and the mother of one daughter;
and Arthur E. and Iva E., both of whom are still at home with their
parents.
The family affiliate with the Church of the Brethren of
which Mr. Vaniman has been a deacon for twenty years, and he is also a
director and trustee, of the Brethren Home of Girard. In matters politic
he is ever loyal to republican principles in all state and national
issues, but casts an independent ballot for county and township offices,
giving his support to the men he deems best qualified to serve the
people generally. He never takes a prominent part in local governmental
affairs but has served for several terms as a school director. Mr.
Vaniman is a man of high principles and strict integrity and is always
found willing to support any movement that promises a higher standard
either morally or intellectually in the community.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 512-513.
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