John Van Wie submitted by Carrie Fowler

John Van Wie, a farmer and stock raiser settled in Mitchell Co., Iowa in 1865. He was born in Cayuga Co., NY, September 10, 1833. He is a son of Henry A. and Lavina (Cornue) Van Wie, who had a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters. In 1844 the parents settled in Calhoun Co., Mich. remaining there until 1848 when the family settled in Walworth Co., Wisc., and from there in 1852 they located in Adams Co., Wisc. where the father died in 1870, the mother in 1875.

John was a soldier in Company C, 22 Wisc. Infantry. He was captured near Nashville, Tenn. in 1863 by Forest's command and sent to Libby prison but soon after was paroled and sent home. During the same summer the regiment was re-organized and he joined it again in Murfreesborough where he spent the winter and the following spring participating in the Atlanta campaign.

After the war he returned to Wis., where he remained a short time and in the fall of 1865 came to Mitchell Co., Iowa where he has since resided. He was married April 20, 1867 to Mrs. Sophia L. Proebsting, a widow with two children Edward L. and Fannie A. Her maiden name was Sophia L. Beebe. They have four children, Kate D, Lillie May, Frankie H. and Grace E. Mr. Van Wie came to the county a poor man buy by frugality, industry, and judicious management, he has secured for himself a good home and competency. He has 80 acres of land under good cultivation, valued at $35 per acre. His wife is a member of the congregational church where the family attend religious services.