My Genealogy Hound

John M. Vann, merchant and postmaster, Vanndale, Ark. Ever since his connection with the affairs of Cross County, Mr. Vann has displayed those sterling qualities, industry, perseverance and integrity, that have resulted in awarding him a representative place in matters pertaining to this community. He owes his nativity to Fayette County, Tenn., where his birth occurred in 1845, and is the eldest in a family of seven children born to Renselear and Emily M. (Maget) Vann, natives of North Carolina. The father was a farmer and came to Arkansas, in 1850, settling in St. Francis (now Cross) County, about three miles south of the present town of Vanndale. In the same year he erected a cotton-gin and grist-mill, which was the first mill and gin in this section. He bought 640 acres of land on which he made many improvements, clearing about 200 acres, erecting buildings, etc., and made a good home for his family. He was well known as a thrifty and enterprising citizen, and was for a long time postmaster at Mill Ridge, the only post-office in that section for a long time. He was also justice of the peace for a number of years. His death occurred on April 30, 1887, at the age of sixty-nine years. His estimable wife had died two years previous. John M. Vann remained at home until his twentieth year and attended the common schools of the section. He was preparing to go away to school when the breaking out of the war caused him to throw aside all thoughts of books. In 1867 he engaged as clerk for J. Q. Thomas & Co., at Wittsburg, with whom he continued for one year, and after which he began business for himself at Cleburne, at that time the county seat. He continued in this business until 1879, when he moved to his farm and there erected a store, where he continued business until 1882. In October of that year he came to a place on the Iron Mountain Railroad that had just been named in his honor, Vanndale, and here he erected a store and dwelling. He has since been increasing his business and now carries a full line of general merchandise, and has a stock of goods valued at $5,000. In 1870 he was appointed postmaster at Cleburne and has continued as such at that place and Vanndale ever since, being the only one ever at the latter place. Mr. Vann owns 440 acres of good tillable land, 100 acres of which is under cultivation and the balance mostly covered with good timber. He was married in 1870 to Miss Ida Hare a native of Tennessee and the daughter of Rev. Thomas P. Hare, a pioneer preacher of this section. Three children were the result of this union: Claude (at present publishing the Register at Forrest City), Thomas and Bessie. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Vann is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor. He has served as school director for ten years and takes a deep interest in educational matters.