VAN METER, ABRAHAM D., was born Nov. 9, 1801, in Hardy county, Virginia. When he was a boy his parents moved to Champaign county, Ohio. He came to Sangamon county in the spring of 1829, on business, expecting to make but a temporary stay, but he was married in 1830 to Nancy A. Hussey, and settled in what is now Fancy Creek township. They had seven children, namely

HENRY, born July 8, 1831, in Sangamon county, married March 16, 1854, to Mary G. Council. They had two living children, CHARLES F. and THOMAS D., and Mrs. Mary G. Van Meter died April 5, 1862. Henry Van Meter studied medicine and graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, at the session of 1854 and '55. He commenced practice at Williamsville, in the spring of 1855, and continued until after the death of his wife. September 1, 1862, he was commissioned assistant surgeon to the 114th Ill. Inf. December 8, 1863, he was promoted to surgeon of the regiment. He commenced his duties before the regiment was organized, and was never on detached duty, but remained with it until August 3, 1865, when he was mustered out at Vicksburg. Dr. Van Meter resumed practice at Williamsville, and was married Feb. 13, 1867, to Mary F. Zane. They had three children, JOHN R., ARTHUR L. and HENRY Z. Dr. Henry Van Meter died after a very brief illness, May, 1873. His family resides in Williamsville, Sangamon county, Illinois.

MARY H., born in Sangamon county, married Dr. Hiram J. Van Winkle, of Morgan county. In the spring of 1864 he became assistant surgeon to the 10th Minn. Vol. Inf. He was with the regiment in the field, taken sick, ordered home, arrived at Williamsville, Feb. 27, and died March 1, 1865. His widow, having no children, resides in Williamsville, Sangamon county, Illinois.

MARGARET A. married Thomas W. Dean, and died Sept. 14, 1858.

HARRIET E. married June 13, 1866, to Oren S. Webster, who was born Jan. 9, 1831, in Tompkins county, New York, came to Sangamon county in 1861, and in 1862 enlisted in Co. B, 130th Ill. Inf., for three years. He was detailed as chief clerk in the military postoffice, at Memphis, Tennessee, and remained there until he was mustered out in February, 1865. He was elected in November, 1865, for four years,, as superintendent of schools for Sangamon county. They reside in Williamsville, Sangamon county, Illinois.

CAROLINE died April 8, 1848, in her sixth year.

JANE E. died July 29, 1853, in her ninth year.

JAMES B. married Mary A. Thaxton. They have one child, JAMES E., and reside in the southeast corner of Menard county, Illinois.

WILLIAM E. married Martha E. Lester, and reside three and a half miles northwest of Williamsville.

CHARLES C. resides with his parents--1874.

Abraham Van Meter and his wife are both living and reside in Fancy Creek township, on the farm settled by her father, Nathan Hussey, March 10, 1819. It is five miles west of Williamsville, Sangamon county, Illinois.