Biography of John M Vann, St Francis County, AR

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Submitted by: Paul V Isbell
        Date: 22 Jan 2009
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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John M. Vann, merchant and postmaster at Vanndale, Ark. Ever since his
connection with the affairs of Cross County, Mr. Vann has displayed those
sterling qualities, industry, perseverance and integrity, that have resulted in
awarding him a representative place in matters pertaining to this community. He
owes his nativity to Fayette County, Tenn., where his birth occurred in 1845,
and is the eldest in a family of seven children born to Renselear and Emily M.
(Maget) Vann, natives of North Carolina. The father was a farmer and came to
Arkansas, in 1850, settling in St. Francis (now Cross County), about three miles
south of the present site of Vanndale. In the same year he erected a cotton gin
and grist mill, which was the first mill and gin in this section. He bought 640
acres of land on which he made many improvements, clearing about 200 acres,
erecting buildings, etc., and made a good home for his family. He was well known
as a thrifty and enterprising citizen, and was for a long time postmaster at
Mill Ridge, the only postoffice in that section for a long time. He was also
justice of the peace for a number of years. His death occurred on April 30,
1887, at the age of sixty-nine years. His estimable wife had died two years
previous. John M. Vann remained at home until his twentieth year and attended
the common schools of the section. He was preparing to go away to school when
breaking out of the war caused him to throw aside all thought of books. In 1867
he engaged as clerk for J. Q. Thomas & Co. at Wittsburg, with whom he continued
for one year, and after which he began a business for himself at Cleburne, at
that time the county seat. He continued in that business until 1879, when he
moved to his farm and there erected a store, where he continued in that business
until 1882. In October of that year he came to a place on the Iron Mountain
Railroad that had just been named for his honor, Vanndale, and here he erected a
store and dwelling. He has since been increasing his business and now carries a
full stock of goods valued at $5, 000. In 1870 he was appointed postmaster at
Cleburne and has continued at such at that place and Vanndale ever since, being
the only one ever at the latter place. Mr. Vann owns 440 acres of good tillable
land, 100 acres of which is under cultivation and the balance mostly covered
with good timber. He was married in 1870 to Miss Ida Hare, a native of Tennessee
and the daughter of Rev. Thomas P. Hare, a pioneer preacher of this section.
Three children were the result of this union: Claude (at present publishing the
Register at Forrest City), Thomas and Bessie. The family are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Vann is a member of the Knights and
Ladies of Honor. He has served as school director for ten years and takes a deep
interest in educational matters. 

Goodspeed Memoirs and Biograhies-1890