My Genealogy Hound

JOHN B. VANSANT, a prominent farmer in Upper Dublin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born near Fox Chase, August 3, 1840. He is the son of James and Jane (Blake) Vansant. He was reared to farm pursuits, and educated in the public schools of the vicinity.

James Vansant (father) was the son of Charles Vansant, of an old colonial family of Pennsylvania. He was married three times, and had children by each marriage. By the first he had one daughter; by the second, two sons, Garrison and William Vansant; and by the third marriage a son and daughter-James, the father of John B. Vansant; and Mary (Mrs. Jonathan Knight). In politics he was a Democrat, and in religious faith a member of the Presbyterian church.

James Vansant always resided in eastern Pennsylvania, and died in April, 1876. He learned the trades of wheelwrighting and carpentry, but later became a farmer, which occupation he continued through life. He affiliated with the Presbyterian church, although not a member, as his father had been. He was a Democrat in politics, but never aspired to public office. He married Jane Blake, of a well known Fox Chase family. She was a daughter of John and Jane (Worrall) Blake, also Presbyterians, and farmers by occupation. The children of John and Jane Blake: Jonathan, Jacob, Charles, George, Robert, Jane, mother of John B. Vansant; Elizabeth (Mrs. Edward Thornton).

The children of Mr. and Mrs. James Vansant: Eliza J., Mrs. James Haas, of Philadelphia; John B., subject of this sketch; Mary (Mrs. A. Tompkins). Mrs. Jane Vansant died in 1842, and her husband married Elizabeth Sweeny. Their children: Lillie (Mrs. J. Longstreth), and Charles, of Philadelphia.

John Blake Vansant remained under the parental roof until he married in 1867. He then farmed on the homestead for five years, and then removed to another farm which he occupied one year. He then removed to a farm which he purchased in 1873, and on which he yet resides. It is located about a mile from Fort Washington, and contains fifty-two and one-half acres of fertile land. Mr. Vansant has since added sixty-eight acres to his original purchase. He gives his undivided attention to farming, and is very successful in obtaining good crops, and in making the best of everything. He has an excellent stone quarry on the farm, from which he supplies much of the material used in building at Fort Washington, Ambler, and other towns in the vicinity. He now operates a dairy, shipping his milk to the city of Philadelphia, where he gets good prices for his product. In politics Mr. Vansant is a Republican, but he is liberal enough in local matters to vote for good men, irrespective of their political predilections. He is not an office seeker in any sense of the term. He is a man who stands high in the community, enjoying the respect and esteem of all his neighbors. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the Patrons of Husbandry, Wissahickon Grange.

Mr. Vansant married Miss Elizabeth Butterworth, born in Philadelphia, January 12, 1843. She is the daughter of Willoughby and Christiana (Klein) Butterworth, the father of Berks and the mother of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. Willoughby Butterworth is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Dollman) Butterworth, both of Pennsylvania. Jacob Butterworth was a carpenter, and followed that occupation through life. He was a member of the Universalist church, and a worthy man in every respect. He died in Philadelphia, where he had made his home for many years previous to his death. His children: Willoughby, father of Mrs. Vansant; Lydia (Mrs. J. Myers); Sarah (Mrs. A. Barnes); Mary (Mrs. G. Corey). Willoughby Butterworth was born in Berks county on February 1, 1818, but when he was a small boy removed to Philadelphia with his father, and grew to manhood there, learning the carpenter trade which he followed through life. He died in Philadelphia, March 22, 1901.

He was an enthusiast on the subject of building associations, and one of the organizers and strong supporters of those useful institutions. He and his wife were both members of the Universalist church. His wife was born March 3, 1818, and died October 19, 1884. She was the daughter of Michael Klein, a tailor by trade. The children of Michael Klein were: Tobias, Hannah, Caroline, Leanna, Sophia, Salome, Christiana (mother of Mrs. Vansant); Michael, Charles and Maria.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Vansant: Willoughby, born February 28, 1868, married Anna L. Clayton, and has three children; Florence, Elizabeth, and John A., who farms the homestead.