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    BYRON P. VANLOON, a prominent citizen of Wapello, in this county, was born on the 10th day of September, 1823, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. He was the third of seven children, whose parents were John Vanloon and Olive White. His father followed agricultural pursuits through life, and died at Keokuk, in this state, during the year 1852, of cholera. The early education of the subject of this sketch was in the branches pertaining to an ordinary English education. At the age of fifteen he accompanied his father to Burlington, in this state, and remained in Des Moines County for a space of two years, being employed as mail agent between Burlington, Mount Pleasant, and Fairfield. This was about the year 1839, when the early settlers were coming in, and the country was unimproved and devoid of many white inhabitants. In 1840 he accompanied his father to Columbus City, in this county, where the family settled. He soon returned to Burlington and began an apprenticeship as a carpenter under John W. Patterson, then a prominent master mechanic of Des Moines. His attention and energies were given entirely to this trade in various portions of the Union till 1853. In this year he renounced mechanical pursuits as an avocation, and began the drug business in Wapello. He has been assiduously engaged in this business ever since, and has attained the rank of one of the most liberal and public spirited men of the place. It will perhaps not be out of taste to remark that his business has always been carried on with energy and success, and with the view of selling cheaper to customers than any firm of a like nature can do in Wapello.

    In 1843 he was united in marriage to Jane Clark, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Wm. Clark, a prominent early settler of this county. Mr. Vanloon is the father of eight children, all of whom are living. Politically, he is a strong democrat; voted at the commencement of the civil contest for Stephen A. Douglas. He is enthusiastic in his admiration of that democracy whose true exponents have been Jackson and Douglas. Religiously, his views are by no means circumscribed by the doctrines of any particular church. He is a firm believer that real religion will advance in the world just in proportion as the real character of our Savious and his mission on earth are understood. Socially, Mr. Vanloon is pleasant, affable, and courteous; is quiet and unassuming in manners, is evidently devoid of all sinister motives, and moves through life without any ostentation. His entire appearance indicates coolness and a regard for the interests of his fellow beings.