Clarence Van Sant
My mother’s father, Clarence Rowley Van Sant (1891-1963), was the second of the three children of Margaret Rowley Van Sant (1867-1951) and Joseph Edward Van Sant (1866-1955). In my mother’s family, Clarence was always referred to as “Van”.
February 14, 2023
Clarence Van Sant with his siblings Merritt and Inez in about 1903 or 1904.
My mother’s father, Clarence Rowley Van Sant, was born in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa on July 14, 1891. His parents, Margaret Gertrude Rowley Van Sant (1867-1951) and Joseph William Van Sant (1866-1955), had three children: Inez Mae Van Sant Sears MacGregor (1888-1959), Clarence (1891-1963), and Merritt Eugene Van Sant (1898-1864).
From Iowa to Utah
In the 1895 Iowa State Census, Joseph, 28, and Gertrude, 27, were living in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa with their two children, Inez, 6, and Clarence, 3. Joseph’s recorded place of birth was Van Buren County, Iowa and Gertrude’s was Massachusetts. Joseph’s occupation was listed as Stationer and Gertrude’s was Keeping House. Both he and Gertrude were Methodist and of white parentage.
At some point in the late 1890s, Joseph, Gertrude and his parents, Edward J. and Marian Wells Van Sant, moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. In the 1897 city directory, Joseph W. Vansant was recorded as a “trav agt”, likely a sales representative or traveling salesman, living at 722 Owen. There was no entry for his father Edward. The 1898 city directory listed J.W. Van Sant as a manager at the Cable Piano Company at 238 S. Main Street. His home address was given as 227 S. 11th East. Joseph’s father, Edward J. Van Sant was listed as an employee of the Cable Piano Company. His home address was given as 922 East 1st South.
Interestingly, in the 1900 federal census, Joseph, 34, was recorded twice in Salt Lake City. He was listed as a resident in his parents’ residence on 4th Avenue. His father, Edward, 63, had no occupation. His mother, Marian, 55, had no occupation and had given birth to three children, only one of whom was living. Edward and Marian had been married 35 years.
Joseph, 34, was also recorded as the head of household at 1808 5th East Street, where he was living with Gertrude, 31, and their three children: Inez, 11, Clarence, 8, and Merritt, 1. Joseph’s occupation was manager of a piano company. No occupation was given for Gertrude. She had given birth to three children, all of whom were living.
The 1901 Salt Lake City city directory listed J. W. Van Sant as a factory agent for Cable Piano & Organ Company at 32 South Main Street. His residence was at 1808 S 5th East. On November 2, 1901, an announcement in the Salt Lake Herald stated that Vansant and Chamberlain of the Cable Piano and Organ Company had decided to change the name of their business to Vansant & Chamberlain. In January 1906, Joseph W. Vansant and John Chamberlain announced that they were dissolving their partnership and that the business would continue under Mr. Chamberlain.
Los Angeles, the California National Guard, and the US Army
In the 1910 federal census, Joseph W. Van Sant, 44, proprietor of a piano store, was living in Los Angeles, California with his wife, Gertrude, 42. His sons, Clarence, 19, and, Merritt, 11, were also residing in the household. Clarence’s occupation was piano salesman. Several years later, on July 7, 1913, Clarence married Agnes M. Shanks. Their daughter, Gertrude or Trudy, was born on June 23, 1914. Agnes died a year and a half later on December 21, 1915. Her obituary stated that she had lived in Santa Monica with her husband Clarence, a sales associate at Van Sant and Reynard, and their eighteen-month-old daughter.
Clarence joined the California National Guard in 1916 and was assigned to Company E, Seventh Infantry Regiment. On June 18, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson federalized the California National Guard to serve along the Mexican border as part of the US Army’s Mexican Expedition, formerly known as the Punitive Expedition. Led by Brigadier General John J. Pershing, the Mexican Expedition was the United States’s response to Pancho Villa’s raid into Columbus, New Mexico on March 9, 1916.
On June 29th, Company E was immediately posted to Nogales, Arizona. They returned to Los Angeles in October and were de-federalized in November 1916. Several months later, on April 10, 1917, the Seventh Infantry Regiment was again federalized for service in World War I. On October 14th, 1917, Company E was renamed Company C, 160th Infantry Regiment, 40th Division.
Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia
A year later, on October 29, 1918, the Los Angeles Times reported that Clarence R. Van Sant had graduated second in the machine gun training school at Camp Hancock in Augusta, Georgia. He had been commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and had begun teaching at the school.
At some point during his army service at Camp Hancock, Clarence met Sarah Theresa Casey, a nurse who worked in the camp hospital during the Great Infuenza Pandemic of 1918-1919. Clarence and Sarah were married at her parents’ home in Augusta on June 9, 1919. My mother was the third of their four children.
Tracing Clarence’s Lineage Back to Lt. Garret Van Sant and Elizabeth Larue Vansant
Clarence was the great-great-great grandson of Garret Vansant (1745-1797), who served in the US Continental Army during the American Revolution, and his wife Elizabeth Larue Vansant (1759-1835). He was descended through Garret and Elizabeth’s son, Abraham Vansant (1779-1821) and his wife Mary Singley Vansant (1786-1840) and their son, John Singley Vansant (1806-1883). In the 1850 federal census, John, a merchant, and his wife, Ann Shearer Vansant (1815-1871) were living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with their five children. Ten years later, in the 1860 census, John, Ann, and their five children were living in Keokuk, Iowa. John’s occupation was listed as grocer and Edward Vansant (1836-unknown), 24, his oldest son, was working as a clerk.
Edward Vansant married Marian Augusta Wells (1844-1914) in Iowa in 1865. They had two children, William Joseph Van Sant (1866-1955) and Anna M. Vansant (1872-1899). Anna became a Christian missionary and fell ill while living in Port Said, Egypt. She died in 1899 on board a ship while crossing the Atlantic Ocean to return home. She was 26 years old.
Clarence Rowley Van Sant (1891 IA-1963 CA) and Sarah Theresa Casey (1895 GA-1994 GA), Tulie’s maternal grandparents
Joseph W. Van Sant (1866 IA -1955 CA)and Margaret Gertrude Rowley (1867 MA-1951 CA)
Edward J. Van Sant (1836 PA-about 1920, probably CA) and Marion M. A. Wells (1844 IA-1914 UT)
John Singley Van Sant (1806 PA-1883 IA) and Anna Shearer (1815 PA-1871 IA)
Abraham Vansant (1779 PA-1821 PA) and Mary Singley (1786 unk-1840 PA)
Garret Vansant (1745 PA-1797 PA) and Elizabeth LaRue (1759 PA-1835 PA)
Sources and Notes
1850 U. S. census, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Northern Liberties Ward 1, Philadelphia, p. 2 (left side), dwelling 12, family 12, John S. Vansant; digital image, 2009, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4205114_00008?pId=4919418 : accessed 28 June 2023); citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Notes: John S. Van Sant was recorded as a merchant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His son Edward Van Sant was recorded as 14 years old.
1860 U. S. census, Lee County, Iowa, population schedule, Ward 1, Keokuk City, p. 128, dwelling 1061, family 978, John S. Vansant; digital image, 2009, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4218138_00146?pId=2334773 : accessed 30 June 2023); Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Notes: John S. Van Sant was recorded as a grocer living in Keokuk, Iowa. His son Edward Van Sant was recorded as 24 years old and a clerk.
1885 Iowa state census, Lee County, Iowa, population schedule, Jackson Township, p. 878 (handwritten 160), John Van Sant; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1084/images/IA_58-0448?pId=9394933 : accessed 30 June 2023); citing original data: Microfilm of Iowa State Censuses, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925 as well various special censuses from 1836-1897 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest.
1895 Iowa state census, Wapello County, Iowa, population schedule, Ottumwa Center Township, 4th Ward, p. 357 (handwritten 51), Joseph Vansant, Gertrude Vansant, Inez Vansant, Clarence Vansant; database with images, no date, Familysearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTQ5-LPG : accessed 6 December 2023); citing original data from the State Historical Society of Iowa.
1900 U. S. census, Salt Lake County, Utah, population schedule, Farmers Precinct, sheet no. 16 (54 handwritten), dwelling 283, family 293, Joseph W. Vansant; digital image, 2004, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4115260_00393?pId=71092260 : accessed 3 July 2023); Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. Notes: Joseph W. Vansant, 34, "Mngr. Piano Co.”, was recorded as the head of household. Also recorded in the household were: Marian, 31, wife; Inez, 11, daughter; Clarence, 8, son; Marritt [sic] 1, son.
1910 U. S. census, City of Los Angeles, California, population schedule, Assembly District 70, precinct 174, sheet no. 15a, dwelling 388, family 393, 2726 Western Avenue, Joseph W. Vansant; digital image, 2006, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/31111_4327269-00714?pId=1116742 : accessed 10 December 2023); Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Bensalem Presbytarian Church Cemetery, established 1705, 2826 Bristol Road, Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, database, no database date, The Van Zandt Society (http://vanzandtsociety.com/bensalempres.html : accessed 7 July 2023); burial entries for: Garret Vansant (1743-1797), his wife Elizabeth LaRue Vansant (1759-1835), and her parents Abraham LaRue (1734-1790) and Alice Vandergrift LaRue (1731-1801).
“Casey-Van Sant”, Augusta Chronicle (Georgia), 1 June 1919, p. 2; digital images, Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1252FEAF2D2D3A44%40GB3NEWS-127EEC8C060E3338%402422111-127EEC8C0ED5C613%4010-137BB0EDDD12842C%40Matrimony%2BNotice?fname=&lname=Van%20Sant&fullname=&kwinc=&kwexc=&rgfromDate=01/01/1918&rgtoDate=01/01/1920&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&h=1# : accessed 13 December 2023).
“Marriage of Lieut. Van Sant and Miss Sarah Theresa Casey”, Augusta Chronicle (Georgia), 10 June 1919, p. 5, col. 1; digital images, Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com//doc/newspapers/image/v2:1252FEAF2D2D3A44@GB3NEWS-127EECB378AA4814@2422120-127EECB384E4A900@4?h=2&fname=&lname=Van%20Sant&fullname=&kwinc=&kwexc=&rgfromDate=01/01/1918&rgtoDate=01/01/1920&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=pxofepxggplnjvxsquzuuqntxinqcimc_ip-10-166-46-88_1702485700542# : accessed 13 December 2023).
“Near Head of Class,” The Los Angeles Times (California), 29 October 1918, p. 17 (original print p. 7), col. 4; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/380528826/?terms=%22Van%20Sant%22&match=1 : accessed 1 December 2023).
“Notice”, Salt Lake Herald (Utah), 2 November 1901, p. 6, col. 4; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/99443206/?terms=%22Vansant%22&match=1 : accessed 13 December 2023). Notes: This notice stated that the store Van Sant & Chamberlain was dropping Cable Piano and Organ Co. from its name.
“Notice Dissolution of Partnership”, Salt Lake Herald (Utah), 4 January 1906, p. 3, col. 3; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/467685966/?terms=%22Vansant%22&match=1 : accessed 13 December 2023). Notes: Announcement of the dissolution of the partnership Van Sant and Chamberlain in Salt Lake City. Chamberlain was to continue the business.
“Old Fashioned Christmas In 8th Co., Group One”, The Trench and Camp (Augusta, Georgia), 24 December 1918, Vol. 2, Issue 12, p. 5 (print original p. 4); digital images, Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1816DDA74F49C31B%40GB3NEWS-1817124CD36CA0FD%402421952-18171257D0E4F276%404-18171257D0E4F276%40?fname=&lname=Van%20Sant&fullname=&kwinc=&kwexc=&rgfromDate=01/01/1918&rgtoDate=01/01/1919&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&h=2 : accessed 1 December 2023); The full title of the publication was The Trench and Camp: The Official Newspaper of Camp Hancock, The Machine Gun Training Center of the US Army.
R. L. Polk, compiler, Salt Lake City, Utah, City Directory (Salt Lake City: R. L. Polk Directory Company, 1897), p. 52; also subsequent years by the same title: (1898) p. 762, (1901) p. 758, Joseph W. Van Sant or J.W. Van Sant; digital images, 2011, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/ : accessed 10 December 2023).
Vandegrift Cemetery, established about 1775, Cornwells Heights, Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, database, no database date, The Van Zandt Society (https://www.vanzandtsociety.com/vandegrift.html : accessed 7 July 2023); burial entries for: Abraham Vansant (1778-1821), son of Garret and Elizabeth LaRue Vansant and Mary Singley Vansant (1775-1810), Abraham’s first wife. Notes: Abraham and Mary Singley Vansant were the parents of John Singley Vansant who moved with his wife and children from Pennsylvania to Iowa in the 1850s.
Works Progress Administration (WPA), “The California National Guard at the Mexican Border, 1916”, 1940, pp. 1-70; digital images, California State Military Museum and Museums Program, California Military Department (https://www.militarymuseum.org/MexBorder1916.pdf : accessed 13 December 2023); Original data: This history was completed in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA official project no. 665-08-3-128) in conjunction with the California National Guard and the California State Library. Digitized by the History Office, Camp San Luis Obispo, 23 January 2015.
Works Progress Administration (WPA), “California National Guard at the Mexican Border: 7th Infantry Regiment, 1916”, 1940, pp. 1-2; digital images, California State Military Museum and Museums Program, California Military Department (https://www.militarymuseum.org/MexBorder1916-7thInfRegt.pdf : accessed 13 December 2023); Original data: This history was completed in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in conjunction with the California National Guard and the California State Library. Digitized by the History Office, Camp San Luis Obispo, 24 January 2015. Original document on file at the California State Library
Works Progress Administration (WPA), “History of the 7th Infantry Regiment, Company E, National Guard of California, 1887-1917”, 1940, p. 7; digital images, California State Military Museum and Museums Program, California Military Department (https://www.militarymuseum.org/7th%20Inf%20Regt%2C%20Co%20E%2C%201887-1917.pdf : accessed 13 December 2023); Original data: This history was completed in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in conjunction with the California National Guard and the California State Library. Digitized by the History Office, Camp San Luis Obispo, 24 January 2015. Original document on file at the California State Library.