VanEvera

VANEVERA, STOWITTS, CESSNA, VIETS

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/3/2012 at 08:06:52

Among the honored citizens of Poweshiek county who have passed to their reward may be named John Edwin VanEvera, who for many years was well known as one of the most prosperous farmers of the county. He was born at Canajoharie, Montgomery county, New York, June 3, 1849, a son of Rynier and Katharine (Stowitts) VanEvera. The family traces its ancestry to an enterprising Hollander who established his home in New York at an early date in the history of the colonies and whose descendants may now be found in various states of the Union. Rynier VanEvera was married in New York state to Miss Katharine Stowitts and they began their wedded life on a farm in Montgomery county. In 1855, he came to Scott county, Iowa, where our subject's grandfather, John VanEvera had previously settled. Rynier VanEvera was a farmer and devoted the remainder of his life to agriculture and stock-raising. There were four children in his family, the subject of this review being the youngest.
John Edwin VanEvera was reared to manhood upon his father's farm and received his education in the district schools and at Hopkinton, Iowa. He continued in Scott county until 1884, when he removed to Poweshiek county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres near Grinnell, cultivating his farm to such good advantage that he became the owner of four hundred acres, which he developed into one of the most valuable properties in the county. He raised stock upon an extensive scale and also fed stock for the market. In 1902 he took up his residence in Grinnell. About two years previous to this time he had become identified with the loan and insurance business, in which he was very successful, and after removing to the city he devoted his attention largely to those lines. His health, however, had become impaired and he and his wife spent a year traveling in the west in the hope that a change of scene and climate would restore him to his usual vigor. He was unusually active and efficient in business affairs and was treasurer of the Poweshiek County Mutual Insurance Company and also of the Poweshiek County Agricultural Society.
In January, 1873, Mr. VanEvera was united in marriage to Miss Ella Cessna, a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Thomas R. Cessna, a record of whom is given in the sketch of N. W. Cessna which appears elsewhere in this work. Four children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. VanEvera, namely: Ray, now engaged in stock business at Wessington Springs, South Dakota; Rynier, a manager of Kansas Milling & Export Company of Kansas; Jay, a member of the firm of Crow & VanEvera, who are engaged in the real-estate and loan business at Kansas City, and Gertrude, now Mrs. H. L. Viets, of Grinnell.
Mr. VanEvera died July, 1904, and the general expression of regret which followed the announcement of his death gave evidence of the high esteem in which he was held by the community. Religiously he affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was an earnest supporter. Politically he gave his adherence to the democratic party. He was essentially a many of business and his judgment was usually so correct that his neighbors regarded him as an authority on subjects pertaining to agriculture and stock-raising. He was a man of kindly and genial temperament who attracted friends wherever he was known. Mrs. VanEvera still resides at the family home. She is well known and has many warm personal friends in Grinnell and Poweshiek county.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 383-384