Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Van Osdol, William A ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 12:19 am Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885 William A. Van Osdol, one of the most extensive farmers in Whiteside County, residing upon section 7, Hopkins Township, is a son of John and Nancy (Gibson) Van Osdol, natives of Pennsylvania. They married in Ohio Co., Ind., but finally settled in Dearborn County. Mr. Van Osdol died in February, 1870, in Ohio Co., Ind., where all of William's grandparents settled about 1820, coming from Pennsylvania. His wife, and the mother of William A., still survives and resides in that county. They had a family of 11 children, of whom William A. was the eldest. He was born in Ohio Co., Ind., Aug, 17, 1827. He passed his boyhood days and grew to manhood in that county and continued to reside there till 1856. He received a good common-school education, and for a time was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Aberdeen, Ind. In May, 1856, Mr. Van Osdol came to Whiteside County and located in Hopkins Township, where he has since lived, closely and largely identified with the interests and welfare of the community. He is the owner of 520 acres of land in this township, 500 acres of which is in a tillable condition. He also owns 440 acres of land in Ida Co., Iowa, all under cultivation and managed by his eldest son. This vast estate has been accumulated by Mr. Van Osdol in a very brief time, be it said to his credit. When 22 years of age he possessed only $37.50 of property, which was in a note given to him by his father. The secret of his splendid success, besides possessing good business ability, is industry and frugality. Young men about to enter upon an active business career might read the record of his life with no little profit. Mr. Van Osdol was united in marriage in Dearborn Co., Ind., Nov. 20, 1850, with Rebecca Turner. She was a native of Pennsylvania, born of Irish parentage, and the seventh of a family of nine children. Her parents were Robert and Martha (Woods) Turner. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Osdol have been born six children; John M., Sarah E., William S., Ida M., Robert R. and Frank A. John M. and Sarah E. are deceased. While never aspiring to public position, Mr. Van Osdol has held many of the minor offices of his township. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in political views is identified with the Democratic party. As a truly representative agriculturist and a worthy citizen of Whiteside County, we place Mr. Van Osdol's portrait in this volume in connection with this sketch. It is engraved from a photograph taken about 1878. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full- page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/whiteside/bios/vanosdol2012nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 3.4 Kb