Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 989 - 990 

JOHN W. VANNEMAN, a worthy representative of the drug business at Garden Plain, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 29, 1859, and is the son of George and Mary (Williams) Vanneman, also natives of the City of Brotherly Love. The father, a carpenter by trade, was born July 1, 1835, and the date of the mother's birth was Sept. 12, 1840. They were married July 10, 1858. The father passed away in 1874, and the mother Jan. 10, 1875.

            The subject of this sketch acquired his education in the common schools of his native city, which he attended until he had reached the age of fourteen years, when he was left an orphan by the death of both parents. Being then thrown upon his own resources, he went into New Jersey, where he worked upon a farm until the spring of 1879. Then, seized with an attack of the Western fever, he migrated hither as far as Cook County, Ill., whence after a short sojourn he went into Peoria County, where he remained until in December, 1884. Upon leaving Peoria our subject continued on his Western pilgrimage, crossing the Mississippi and landing in this county. After farming one year in Garden Plain Township, he in the latter part of 1885 moved to town and engaged in the drug business with Mr. John Kiefner, Jr., and they have since operated together under the firm name of Kiefner & Vanneman.

            Mr. Vanneman is now and has been for four years holding the office of Justice of the Peace, and enjoys in a marked degree the confidence and respect of his neighbors. In politics he is a stanch Republican, one of the stalwart brand, and is an active worker in his party. He was married, Jan. 12, 1882, to Miss Maggie, daughter of Thomas and Rosetta (Green) Andrew, natives respectively of England and Niagara County, N. Y. Their daughter Maggie was born in French Grove, Peoria Co., Ill., Dec. 1, 1863, and died at her home in Garden Plain, Feb, 6, 1887, before reaching the twenty-fourth year of her age.

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