Nicholas Van Voast, 1810-1882
VAN VOAST, VANVOAST, CORYELL, ANDREWS, SYPHERD
Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 6/21/2026 at 12:05:26
NICHOLAS VAN VOAST.
The subject of this sketch was born in Schenectady, N.Y., March 30, 1810, his ancestors having emigrated to this country from Holland. Having reached his majority, he left his early home for what was then known as the West, remaining for a time in Butler county, Ohio. Here he met the one who was destined to be the partner of his joys and sorrows for nearly half a century, Miss Sarah D. Coryell, to whom he was united in marriage, March 14, 1832. Very soon after this he established his home in Indiana, where he continued to reside until 1840. Four children were here born to him. In this year he removed his household to what was then known as the Territory of Iowa, locating on a farm of 80 acres in the neighborhood of Trenton, in this county. To his new home he brought little besides his wife and the children whom God had given them. The country was new, with but few inhabitants, widely separated and almost entirely without those improvements which we now consider essential to our comfort and almost to our existence. The pioneers of those early days, when there were no railroads and but few good wagon roads, with such poor facilities for communication and transportation, endured hardships and encountered trials which are now almost unknown by the immigrants to even the most distant West. When he kindled the fire upon the hearth-stone of the humble log cabin that was to shelter him and his alike from the rain and heat of summer and the storm and cold of winter, his entire cash capital amounted to twenty-five cents. No store had been laid by for the future, no provision gathered in for his family. Upon this small margin he began the heroic struggle of founding a new home and rearing his family. With a brave heart and strong will, the difficulties of his now position were encountered and overcome. His land was soon in a good state of cultivation and a comfortable frame dwelling took the place of the log cabin. He was also able to give his children a good common school education. It was very soon after his removal to this county that, remembering the instructions and prayers of a faithful mother, he made choice of his God and Saviour, uniting with the Presbyterian church of Trenton. Like Joshua, he resolved that whatever others might do, as for himself and his household, they should serve the Lord. In 1853, he sold his farm and purchased another within the present corporate limits of Mt. Pleasant, southwest of the University grounds (a few years after he donated the vacant block of ground immediately west of the University to the IWU). Here he lived until the railroad was located through his land when he sold and purchased a block in the northwest part of town. This was his home until 1867, when he bought a farm three miles southeast of Mt. Pleasant upon which he lived for several years; at the expiration of this time, he went with his wife and one daughter to Virginia and made his home with his son-in-law, Mr. T.H. Sypherd, who resided three miles from the national capitol. Here his wife, after a long illness, died in 1874, in the same year the daughter who had gone with them was married to Mr. N.B. Andrews, of our city. Four years later, he followed his daughter back to this county, where he had already spent a large share of his life, making his home with her. In 1879, he formed a partnership with his daughter’s husband in the queensware business in which he remained until failing health obliged him to retire several months before his death. For nearly a year, his friends had noticed symptoms of failing health, but hoped they would soon pass away. Throughout the winter he complained of weakness and seemed to apprehend his approaching end. About two months since he took to his room and despite all that the warmest affection and best skill could accomplish in his behalf; he gradually wasted away. Upon last Thursday, it was manifest that his end was near and Friday, a little before midnight, he passed quietly away from early friends to meet those who had gone before him to the other world. During all his sickness, he was firmly persuaded that he would find relief only in death. He felt satisfied that it was his last sickness and nothing could remove this conviction. He had set his house in order and felt no fear or reluctance to depart when the summons should come. He had committed his soul and all his interests to the hands of a faithful Creator and knew that he was able to keep that which he had committed to him against the last day. Wherever Mr. VanVoast lived, he will be kindly remembered as a good citizen, a kind and sympathizing neighbor, and warm-hearted Christian. Here especially in Henry County are there many friends who will mourn his loss while they fondly cherish his memory. The Presbyterian church of this place, of which he was a constant and active member for the greater part of nearly thirty years, loses in him an earnest friend and supporter.
The funeral services ere held in the Presbyterian church on last Sabbath afternoon at 3 o’clock, attended by a large concourse of friends, a sermon appropriate to the occasion being preached by the pastor from the text, Prov. 14-32, “The righteous hath hope in his death,” and then his mortal remains were laid beneath the green sod of Forest Home Cemetery, thus to wait the resurrection of the just.
(“Mount Pleasant Journal,” Thursday, May 11, 1882, page 2)
Gravesite of Nicholas Van Voast
Henry Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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