Vanscoy, Milton

VANSCOY, SLAGEL, JACKSON, DAVIS, FLEECE, MILLER, WOODS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/23/2009 at 07:36:56

Vanscoy, Milton

Milton Vanscoy, who is a prosperous farmer living near the little station of Murphy, in Buena Vista Township, is a fine example of what a man can accomplish by industry and thrift. He was born in Randolph County, West Virginia, in the year 1849, and is the son of John and Emily (Slagel) Vanscoy, both natives of West Virginia, and of Randolph County. In 1870 John Vanscoy and his wife came to Iowa, where their son Milton had preceded them a couple of years. They did not locate here permanently, but proceeded on to Kansas, and established a home in Coffey County, that state. It was not long until the home was broken up, by the death of John Vanscoy, which occurred in 1871 in the little town of Leroy. He was sixty-five years of age at the time of his death, and was the last of the surviving members of a family of ten children. The mother, Emily Vanscoy, who died in 1880, was the daughter of Jacob and Susan Slagel, and was one of thirteen children, three of whom still survive. Two of them, Ely Slagel, eighty-two years old, and Elizabeth Slagel, eighty-four, neither of whom ever married, make their home with their nephew, the subject of this review. Jacob Slagel, another brother, lives in Hayworth, Illinois, and is eighty years old.

Milton Vanscoy was one of ten children, six of whom are now living, namely: Isaiah, born in 1848, lives in Rockville, Nebraska; Perry, born in 1856, lived in Revenna, Nebraska, but is now dead; Jacob L., born in 1864 and who makes his home in St. Louis, is a railroad carpenter and travels a great deal; W. A., born in 1868, lives in Jasper County, Iowa: Lucy. J., born in 1870, married Daniel Jackson, and lives in Killduff, Jasper County, Iowa; Noah D. died at the age of forty years at Tacoma, Washington; Elizabeth died in infancy; and Jasper, who died at Van Cleve, Marshall County, Iowa, in 1909, at the age of sixty-eight years.

Milton Vanscoy came to Iowa in 1868 and was employed as a farm hand and at other labor. He saved a little money and in 1870 went to Coffey County, Kansas, but was there defrauded and swindled out of his savings. He managed to obtain enough money to pay his way back to Iowa, and returned here in 1871. In a short time after his return to Jasper County, he commenced buying land. He bought in small tracts, the first being eight acres, and has from time to time since added to it until he now owns one hundred and thirty-five acres of fine land. He also owns a tract of six acres in the city of Newton.

In 1882 Mr. Vanscoy was united in marriage to Mary C. Davis, who was born in 1846 and is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Fleece) Davis. Her mother died near North Salem, Indiana, when the daughter Mary was a small child. Her father a few years later married Mary Zimmerman.

To Mr. and Mrs. Vanscoy have been born two children: Nora, born in 1884, who married A. K. Miller, a street car motorman, now living in Los Angeles, California; they have two children, Ralph and Harold; Pearl, born in 1886, married Wildman M. Woods, a machinist, living in Jasper County; they have two children, Meryl and Francis. Both of Mr. Vanscoy's daughters are accomplished musicians.

Mr. Vanscoy was at one time director of the schools of his district. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Protestant Church, to which they give an earnest support. Public spirited, enterprising and honorable in business, genial in social intercourse, and stanch in his friendships, Mr. Vanscoy has won and retains the good will and esteem of all who know him. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1015.