NICHOLAS
W. VAN EMAN, M. D.-- One of the most successful of the physicians who
ever practiced in Mercer county was Nicholas W. Van Eman, now deceased,
who was widely and reverently known. Born in Lawrence county.
Pennsylvania, in 1815, and representing an excellent old Pennsylvania
family, he was reared to the life of a farmer and oh-tamed a fair
English education in the early primitive schools. Finally deciding to
devote his life to the medical profession he took up the study with a
local physician as his preceptor. and later entered and was graduated
from the Cincinnati Medical College. His first two years of a
professional life were spent at Harlansburg, Pennsylvania, and coming
to Grove City, which was then known as Pine Grove, about the year of
1856. He soon was accorded an extensive patronage. As the town was
small in those early days his practice was mainly in the country and
covered a large territory, and this necessitated many hardships and
privations, for the country roads not being then the well laid out
thoroughfares of the present day necessitated much horseback riding.
Thus for thirty years he continued as an active practitioner, but this
long and arduous service for the relief of others so undermined his
health that he retired from the profession in 1886 and went South to
recuperate. While in Virginia, where he was temporarily located, he was
accidentally killed in 1887 by being run over by a railroad train. He
was seventy-two years of age at the time of his death, and thus ended
the life of one of Mercer county's truest and best citizens. His life
was beautiful in its goodness and Christian virtues, and his name is
reverently recorded among the pioneers and builders of this county, He
was a member of the Presbyterian church.
During his early
manhood Dr. Van Eman had married Miss Elizabeth Stevenson, who survived
him many years, and died in 1907, when seventy-three years of age. She
was several years his junior, but she was a faithful wife and the
mother of his ten children, of whom three are now deceased. Her
influence was beneficent to all who had the pleasure of her friendship,
and hers was a beautiful Christian character. She also was a member of
the Presbyterian church.
William W. Van Eman, the fourth of the
ten children born to Dr. Nicholas W. and Elizabeth Van Eman, was born
in Grove City on the 14th of March, 1862, and here he was reared and
attended school, first the public school and then for four terms the
Grove City College. At the age of twenty he joined his grandfather on
the farm, and for six years followed an agricultural life. Leaving the
farm he engaged in the livery business in Grove City, an occupation
which more or less claimed his time and attention until the year of
1901. During all of his mature years he has supported the measures of
the Democratic party, as did also his revered father, and in 1895 he
was appointed by President Cleveland as the postmaster of Grove City,
and during his four years of office he rendered acceptable service.
Since retiring therefrom in 1890 he has been variously engaged, and
during the past three or four years has been an oil producer, holding
at the present time several valuable leases. He is also associated with
a life insurance agency. In his fraternal associations Mr. Van Eman is
a Master Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He
has been twice married, wedding first in 1887 Mary Offutt, who died in
the year of 1891, leaving one son, in 1895 Mr. Van Eman married Mrs.
Mollie J. Patterson, nee Wallace, his present wife. He is a member of
the Presbyterian church, and he is not only well known, but all who
know him hold him in the highest regard as a citizen and as a man of
affairs.
Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, pages 945-946
|
|