Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 343
DAVID H. VANATTA, residing on section 2, Seventy-Six Township, is a representative farmer and a native of Muscatine County, Iowa. He was born on the 10th day of September, 1857, and is a son of William and Matilda ( Brobeck ) Vanatta. The genealogy of the family is given in the sketch of William Vanatta, which appears elsewhere in this work. Until eighteen years of age David remained at home assisting in the labors of the farm, but at that age his father gave him his time and leased to him a portion of the farm, which he cultivated for nine years, or until the year 1884. When he left his father's farm in 1884, it was only to take possession of a farm of his own, which he had recently purchased. It consisted of eighty acres of improved land, part of the best farming land in the county, for which he paid $32.50 per acre. Since that time our subject has had the entire management of his land, having scarcely any assistance in its cultivation, and has been very successful, but he has now rented it for a term of three years, and in a short time will remove his family to the city of Muscatine, where they will make their home.

In 1878 Mr. Vanatta was united in marriage with Miss Anna Zaehringer, who was born Sept. 16, 1857, and is a daughter of Joseph and Augusta ( Schmer ) Zaehringer, who were both natives of Germany, and came to America in the year 1852. The former was born April 18, 1832, and the latter Oct. 17, 1822. The father died April 28, 1872, while the latter is still living, making her home with her youngest son, Henry. They were the parents of six children, all living except one, namely; Antony, a farmer residing in Carroll County, Iowa; John, who is engaged in saw-filing in Clinton County, Iowa; Anna, wife of our subject; Joseph and Henry, who are both living in the city of Muscatine. To Mr. and Mrs Vanatta have been born four children : Roy, born Feb. 1, 1880; Sidney, Oct. 2, 1882; Edward, May 2, 1884; and Eldon, Aug. 16, 1887.

In his political sentiments Mr. Vanatta is a supporter of the Republican party, while socially, he is a Mason, a member of Iowa Lodge No.2 A. F. & A. M., Muscatine, Iowa. He also carries $3,000 in the Iowa Masonic Benevolent Society. He is one of the most enterprising and progressive young citizens of Muscatine County, and is highly respected by all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.

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