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			HENRY AND CORNELIA (POTTER) VANALLEN

	Henry Vanallen, one of the early settlers of Montcalm County, was born in Franklin, Vt., 
March 13, 1821.  When he was six years of age his mother died, leaving a family of five children.
At this event the family was broken up; the children scattered among the friends.  Henry, having 
no permanent home, as soon as he was old enough went to work at such jobs as came his way until 
1840 when he came to Michigan, stopping in Oakland County, where he married, April, 1848, to 
Cornelia A. Potter, from North Chili, N. Y., where she was born October, 1831.  Soon after they 
were married Mr. Vanallen brought his wife to Eureka, where he had previously purchased one 
hundred and twenty acres of land, upon which there was a small log house of the most primitive 
kind, with little or no other improvement.  There were a few settlers in the neighborhood, and 
Mr. Vanallen hired his wife's board until fall, when they moved into the log house and commenced 
the arduous task of making a home in the wilderness.  With no capital save their own energies, 
and by judicious management and untiring industry, they have made a farm of one hundred and sixty
acres, under a good state of cultivation, with commodious buildings, and  have raised a family of
three children, two daughters and one son.  The oldest daughter, Mary Melvina, married E. T. 
Miller.  She died February, 1876.  Leander L. occupies the old home and works the farm.  Effie L. 
lives with her parents.  Mr. Vanallen, wishing to be relieved from the cares of the farm, has 
erected a fine residence near the old home, where this pioneer couple propose to enjoy their 
well-earned competency.  Mr. Vanallen is a man of strong common sense.  In all the relations of 
life "honesty and economy" has been his motto.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Page 402-3, Eureka.