U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Vantromp, Homer O. (1877-1958) ------------------------------------------------------------------- The History of Upshur County West Virginia From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time by W. B. Cutright Buckhannon, W. Va., July 1, 1907 Pages 590-591 HOMER O. VANTROMP, born at French Creek, September 26, 1877, and is the son of John A. and Margaret J. Vantromp. Margaret J. was a daughter of Johnson Ward, whose wife was Martha Reger, a daughter of Abraham Reger, who was a daughter of Jacob Reger, the first settler of the now town of Burnersville, Barbour County, one of the pioneer Methodists of West Virginia. He came from Germany in 1776. (See history of Reger family). John Ward was a son of Job Ward, who was a son of Joshua Ward, who came from Ireland in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Johnson Ward was born February 16, 1804, and married Martha Reger in 1893. In Johnson Ward's family there were eight children: Hanson, Mary, Abraham, Rachel, Aquilla, Margaret, David and Nancy, all of whom are dead excepting the last three. Johnson Ward with his family settled on Big Run, in Barbour County, when the surrounding country was almost a wilderness. His cooking utensils and other iron ware he carried from Winchester, Va., on a pack horse over paths made by marking trees. In later years he hauled salt from the Ohio River for himself and neighbors. His home was known for miles around, and all were welcome at his fireside. Here the neighbors would meet and offer up prayers and songs. God would hear their earnest prayers and send His Spirit in such power that the forests would ring with praises. The weary circuit rider would find rest from his long journey, and no stranger ever left his door hungry, for such as they had was free to all. Their clothing were all made by hand. The soft clatter of the hand cards, the buzz of the spinning wheel and the crash of the loom could be heard week in and week out. He was a strong Union man and used his influence for the North. When West Virginia was made a State, he was one of the commissioners appointed to lay off Barbour County into townships. After the war he moved to Peck's Run, thence to Lewis County, where he died January 3, 1888. John O. Vantromp, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Rockingham County, Va., February, 1840, He, in company with Nathaniel Hanna and sister, crossed the Alleghenies and settled on Peck's Run, October 1855. He decided to procure an education; so the winter of '60 and '61 found him in school in Marion County. The war soon broke up the school, and he joined the army. After the war was ended he completed his education and taught the first free school in Elk township, Harrison County. He then married Margaret Ward and settled on French Creek. He spent several years teaching, and was one of the leading teachers of Upshur County. John O. Vantromp was a soldier in the 4th Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry Volunteers under Colonel Snyder. Enlisted July, 1863, and was discharged at Wheeling March, 1864, by reason of expiration of term of enlistment. He has been for forty years a member of the M. E. Church at French Creek, and one of the good citizens of Upshur County. In John O. Vantromp's family there were seven children, viz; John M., born October 23, 1869, completed his education at the Wesleyan College of West Virginia, married Alma Young October, 1906, daughter of O. B. Young; Hubert A., born September 18, 1871, died December 11, 1890; Lula M., born February 18, 1873, married to D. P. Ross, March, 1905, who died one year later; Homer O., subject of sketch; Iva L., born September 1, 1881; Mary E., born July 18, 1886; Martha Oeleta, born January 19, 1888. Homer O., subject of sketch, was educated in the public schools and is now employed as a teacher in the Boys' Reform School of Washington, D. C. He worked on the farm at French Creek until the year 1903, then procured a position in the West Virginia Reform School as electrician. After working there for two and one-half years he resigned to accept the position he now holds. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Sons of Veterans, and was Captain of C. B. See camp for two years. Afterwards he was made a member of the division staff. Is a Republican in politics and a Methodist in religion. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Upshur County, WV #'58-017122 FULL-NAME: Homer Ovid VanTromp BIRTH-DATE: September 26, 1877 BIRTH-PLACE: West Virginia DEATH-DATE: December 16, 1958 (at 81 years of age) DEATH-PLACE: Leonard Memorial Hosp., Buckhannon, Upshur County, WV USUAL-RESIDENCE: French Creek, Upshur County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Physician, Medicine FATHER: John A. VanTromp MOTHER: Margaret Ward CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Prostate Carcinoma INFORMANT: Blanche VanTromp (of French Creek) BURIAL: French Creek Cemetery, French Creek, W.Va. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Upshur County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/upshur/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------