Harrison County, West Virginia          Biography of Moses Hoffman VAN HORN

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 201

MOSES HOFFMAN VAN HORN has been an active figure
in the educational affairs of West Virginia for thirty years.
Much of his time and talent have been devoted to his
alma mater, Salem College, at Salem in Harrison County,
where he is now dean and head of the department of
mathematics.

Mr. Van Horn was born in Harrison County, August 9,
1872, and is member of one of the oldest families in this
section of the state. The tradition is that the Van Horns
came to West Virginia from New Jersey. They were of
Holland-Dutch ancestry. The pioneer ancestor was Wil-
liam Van Horn, Sr., who settled in the eastern part of
Harrison County as early as 1781. Many of his descendants
still live in the county. The first settlement was made in
a community of Seventh Day Baptist Church people, and
while the Van Horns were not originally of that faith,
they embraced the church, and for generations have been
leaders in its affairs. The son of William Van Horn, Sr.,
was William Van Horn, Jr., and he in turn was the father
of Moses Van Horn, grandfather of the Salem College
dean. Moses Van Horn married Elsie Drummond. William
B. Van Horn, father of Moses H., was born in Harrison
County and became a well to do farmer there. Farming
has been the favorite occupation of the family through
the various generations. William V. Van Horn married
Elsie Kennedy, who was born in Harrison County, daughter
of William and Elsie Melvina (Reed) Kennedy.

Moses Hoffman Van Horn spent his early life on the
farm, attended rural schools, and in the intervals of teach-
ing he pursued the studies leading to his liberal education.
He was a pupil in Salem Academy, and then in Salem Col-
lege, where he graduated A. B. in 1897. In 1908 his alma
mater awarded him the Master of Arts degree. He also at-
tended Cornell University and West Virginia State Univer-
sity and took correspondence work at the University of
Chicago. Mr. Van Horn began teaching in rural schools,
remaining in that work for four years, for one year was
principal of the graded schools at Shinnston, for eight years
principal of the Salem High School, and eight years was
professor of Mathematics in Salem College. For six years
he was superintendent of city schools of Salem. In Sep-
tember, 1920, he became dean and head of the department
of mathematics in Salem College. Mr. Van Horn is a
member of the West Virginia State and National Educa-
tional Associations and the National Society for the Study
of Education, is a member of the Kiwanis Club and the
Seventh Day Baptist Church.

In 1896 he married Miss Metta Wilson, daughter of
Hiram and Mandane (Lowther) Wilson. They have one
daughter, Hallie Florene Van Horn, and a foster son, Wil-
liam Simpson.