Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 977
THOMAS F. VANDERHOOF

Thomas F. VANDERHOOF came to Harrison County, landing at Harris Grove, May 16, 1852, taking a claim and remained there about two years when he removed to Magnolia Township, and lived three years, and removed to the site of his present home on section 30, of Jefferson Township. He now has five hundred and sixty acres of farm land, besides ninety-five acres of timber. At the time he came to the county he only possessed $130, which was the corner stone for his present Valuable property.

He was born in Marion County, Ohio, in 1827, and is the son of Thomas and Rebecca VANDERHOOF. When our subject was three years old his parents removed to Cass County, Mich., that being in 1830, and 1840 his mother died, and the father in 1851. After the death of his parents our subject came to Harrison County, Iowa. He was married July 4, 1854, to Miss Jane DUNGAN, a native of Clay County, Ind., the daughter of James DUGAN. As a result of this marriage, four children were born: Mary R., William H., Amelia and David W. All are deceased but Amelia and David W. All are deceased but Amelia, who married Dr. J. L. WITT, of Logan, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

It may be stated in this connection that Mr. VANDERHOOF commenced to learn the harness-maker's trade when seventeen years old, at Cassopolis, Mich., and served two years as an apprentice, and then in company with two or three others, bought out a tan yard, and ran a boot, shoe and harness shop in connection, with which he connected three years, at the end of which time he sold and bought a harness shop at Dowagiac, Mich., which he sold in 1851, but was unfortunate in the securities he took, and lost $4,000 by the operation.

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