W.H. VAN was born in Jones County, Iowa, October 23, 1843. His father, R.T. Van, was one of the first settlers in Jones County, and the first to settle in Wyoming Township, he having located there in 1840 when Iowa was a Territory. R.T. Van was a son of James Van Voltenburg, a son of Holland Dutch parents. The last part of the name was dropped by the consent of Judge Huber, in 1847. The mother of our subject was Esther An Van, a native of Ohio. She and Mr. Van were married in Indiana, and, their bridal tour was made by ox team to their new home in Jones County, Iowa. When they first settled in that county Dubuque was the nearest post office, and it took a week to make the trip there and back with an ox team. Mr. and Mrs. Van had nine children of whom five are living, namely: W.H., S.F., L.A., Azilda and Mary A. Those dead are Mary Ellen, Melissa, Luman E., and John W. The mother died in October 1884. The father is still living in Jones County, and, at this writing is seventy-two years old. He has been a farmer all his life; casts his vote with the Republican Party, and worships with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

W.H. Van was reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the log schoolhouse near by. When the great war of the Rebellion broke out, he entered the service of his country, enlisting in Company K, Twenty-Fourth Iowa, February 22, 1864. He was in the battles of Sabine Cross Roads and Fort Derusha, and the Red River Campaign. He was at Winchester, September 22; and at Cedar Creek, October 19. Mr. Van received two slight wounds, but was not sent to the hospital and no record was ever made of them. He was honorably discharged at Savannah, Georgia, and was paid off at Davenport, Iowa.

After the war he returned to his home in Jones County, where he remained until 1873. In that year he came to Waveland Township, Pottawattamie County, where he has since resided. He first bought eighty acres of wild prairie land in Section 4, which he has increased by more recent purchase, now owning 225 acres of well-improved land. He has a good house, which was erected at a cost of $1,300. It is built in modern style, with bay window and porch, and all the lumber used is of the very best, there being only two knots in the entire building! The main part of the house is 16 x 24 feet, two stories, with an L, 16 x 16 feet. It is beautifully located and makes a comfortable and attractive home. Mr. Van's other farm buildings are in good condition, and much of his time is devoted to stock raising.

In Jones County, Iowa, in 1866, Mr. Van married Miss Esther A. Lowe, a lady of intelligence and refinement, who was born in England, and was reared and educated in Jones County, Iowa. Her parents, Richard and Esther Lowe, lived in Jones County until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Van have four children, namely: Ella L., who is now attending the Iowa Western Normal at Shenandoah, Iowa; Willard R., Henry Harlan and Eva Azilda. Mr. Van is a member of the G.A.R., Worthington Post, No. 9, of Griswold, Iowa. Politically he is a Republican. He and his wife and their daughter, Ella, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Walnut Valley.