As a boy, he and his parents migrated westward and became pioneer settlers of near Grand Rapids, Wood County, OH.

On Feb. 10, 1848, James married Catherine Cornell (1825- ? ), the daughter of Gideon Cornell.

The pair is thought to have borne two children, Avery Van Horn and Angenette Van Horn.

They resided near Gilead (Grand Rapids), Wood County.

Sadly, the marriage only lasted five years. On Jan. 30, 1853, at age 24, James died, of causes unknown. There apparently is a legible tombstone marking his grave, but the location is not known.

The following year, widow Catherine married James' younger brother, William Van Horn (1829-1889). See William's biography for more.

~ Daughter Avery Van Horn ~

Daughter Avery Van Horn (1849- ? ) was born in about 1849 in the area of Weston, Wood County, OH.

She does not appear in her mother's household in the United States Census of 1860 and may have died young.

~ Daughter Angenette "Jenette" Van Horn ~

Daughter Angenette "Jenette" Van Horn (1851- ? ) was born in about 1851 in or around Weston, Wood County, OH.

At the age of nine, she was enumerated in the 1860 federal census of Weston with her mother and stepfather.

By 1870, she and her parents had migrated to Napoleon, Henry County, OH.

This family seems lost to history.

Copyright © 2003, 2021 Mark A. Miner