My Genealogy Hound

HORACE M. VAN METER, who was born near Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Ky., August 28, 1828, is a son of William and Elizabeth (Goodin) Van Meter. He is now residing in the village of Rockwood, and is the owner of a fine farm which he cultivates, and which is located but a short distance from his residence.

The father of our subject was probably a native of Pennsylvania, and a descendant of old Dutch stock. His father bore the name of Jacob. He died July 4, 1876. The good wife and mother, who was a daughter of an English emigrant, was born January 1, 1800, in Hardin County, Ky., and died April 29, 1886. Horace Van Meter left Kentucky in 1837, with his parents, who resided one year in Clay County, Ind., after which they removed to Edgar County, Ill., settling near Grandview, where they continued to reside until their death.

In 1844, when seventeen years of age, our subject left the parental roof, and walked to the Ohio River, where he took passage on the steamer “Concord,” and went to Louisiana. Near Baton Rouge he engaged in coopering, making sugar hogsheads and molasses barrels. He continued at that occupation in the immediate neighborhood until February, 1853, when he ascended the river to Chester, this county, then quite a village. Remaining there for a year, he studied anatomy with Dr. William Vance. In June, 1854, he came to Rockwood, and in the fall of the same year purchased land near this village, in Jackson County, and began the operation of a farm, which he continued until the outbreak of the war.

When the outbreak of the Rebellion called for the energetic efforts of every loyal American citizen, Mr. Van Meter offered his services to the Union, enlisting September 10, 1861, in Company K, Fifth Illinois Cavalry, at Sparta, Ill. This regiment was mustered in at Springfield, and was assigned to duty in Missouri and Arkansas, traveling as far south as Mississippi, doing some service also in Tennessee, and participating in the siege of Vicksburg. After more than three years of fighting, our subject was discharged at Vicksburg, October 31, 1864, having served under Generals Steele and Sherman.

On returning from the war, Mr. Van Meter sold his farm in Jackson County, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres near Rockwood, about one-half of which is fine bottom land. Here he has since continued to carry on agricultural pursuits. February 4, 1851, he married Adelaide, daughter of William and Chloe (Whitney) Vance, residents of Louisiana, who removed to that state from Iowa, where the mother was born. Of this marriage five children were born, three of whom survive: Cornelia, the wife of Warren Hooker, of St. Louis; Willie, the wife of John A. Malone, of De Soto, Mo.; and Charles C., at present in the state of Oregon.

On the 6th of March, 1870, our subject was a second time married, taking as his wife Mrs. Caroline Gilbreath, a daughter of Jere and Chloe (Whitney) Hill. Mrs. Van Meter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Rockwood. In politics our subject is a Republican. Socially, he belongs to Chester Lodge No. 72, A. F. & A. M.; Rockwood Lodge No. 351, I. O. O. F.; and Rockwood Post No. 734, G. A. R. He has served as Trustee and President of the Village Board of Rockwood, and as Trustee and Director of the public schools. He and his wife are held in the highest esteem by the citizens of Rockwood.