W. Va., in 1823, and is one of sixteen children, the result of the marriage of Aaron and Jane (Grimes) Vanscoy, both natives of the Old Dominion. Aaron Vanscoy was born in 1770, and was the son of Aaron Vanscoy, Sr. His brothers and sisters were named as follows: Sarah ( wife of Robert Darling, of Jackson County, Ohio), Timothy, Jonathan, and Elizabeth (who became the wife of George Tidrich, of Highland County, Ohio). Our subject's maternal grandparents, John and Jane (Tough) Grimes, were natives of Virginia, and his mother was one of five children born to this union: John, Henry, Solomon and Sarah. Jesse Vanscoy grew to manhood in his native State, moved to Ohio in 1846, and located in Jackson County, where he was married, in 1847, to Miss Mary Vanscoy, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Lohry) Vanscoy, natives of that grand old State of Virginia. Of the eight children born to this union five are still living: Cynthia A. (now Mrs. John Corkin, of Washington Township), Levi, John (was struck by lightning in April, 1889, and left a wife and one child), Orilla L. (wife of B. Neth, of Dakota, died in 1888), JAmes, Henry and Ellsworth. Mr. Vanscoy came to Story County in 1882, located where he now resides, and is the owner of 157 acres of excellent land. His buildings are all first-class, and his improvements are of the same order. He comes of Democratic parentage, and supports that party at all times. He extends a helping hand to all worthy enterprises, and is especially liberal to churches and schools, giving the land on which the United Brethren Church, south of Ames, is erected. He was identified with the I. O. O. F. while a resident of Illinois.
William J. Veneman, farmer and stock-raiser, Maxwell, Iowa. Mr. Veneman was born in Kosciusko County, Ind., on the 5th of June, 1844, and is the son of Lemuel Veneman, a native of Ohio, who went to Indiana when a young man. There he married Miss Matilda Cory, a native also of the Buckeye State, and they became the parents of two sons and five daughters, all of whom are living and heads of families. Mr. Lemuel Veneman farmed in Indiana until 1849 and then moved to Iowa, settling in Polk County, where he followed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in November, 1868. His wife survives him and is married again. William J. Veneman grew to manhood in Polk County, and remained with his father until August 11, 1882, when he enlisted in the Union army, Company B, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served until honorably discharged on the 5th of June, 1865. He was promoted from private to corporal, and participated in the battles of Cross Roads, Resaca, Atlanta and Altoona, and a number of smaller engagements. He was taken prisoner at Altoona and held about two months, when he was paroled and returned to his regiment. After this he was in two active engagements and was with Sherman on his memorable march to the sea. He participated in the Grand Review at Washington City, and after being discharged, returned to his home in Polk County. There he tilled the soil and attended school at Des Moines, also taking a course at Commercial College. On the 30th of August, 1867, his nuptials to Miss Maggie Kirby, a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., occurred, and he after ward engaged in teaching, following this for one term in Story County. The parents of Mrs. Veneman, Jacob and Harriet (Ames) Kirby, resided in Indianapolis for some time, and then moved to Iowa in 1863, settling in Polk County. He now resides at Des Moines. After finishing his term as teacher, Mr. Veneman began farming and has continued in that occupation ever since. He settled on his