The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-10-26
Obituary..

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Robert Skinner Vanatta was born
near Belvidere, New Jersey, May
9th, 1892. He was the son Of Sam
uel and Jane (StouD Vanatta. His
mother died when he was an infant
and when he was four years Of age
his father removed to New York
City, where he lived with him un-
til fifteen years of age. He then
returned TO Washington village,
New Jersey, where he learned the
trade of moulder in the foundry
of his uncle Sesse s. Vanatta, re-
naming there two years.
In the fall of 1858 he came with
his father aud his uncles Jesse,
Nelson and Ralph Vanatta to Ohio,
and the following spring settled
and founded foundry five miles
north of Newark on the Mount
Nernon road at what was after
wards called and is now known as
Vanattavile. He worked in their
foundry four years when he start
ed out as a journeyman moulder,
working in Pomeroy, Dayton, New
ark and back again TO Vanattavil.
le unlil 1913, when he came TO I.o-
gan and in June of that year be-
came associated with Raymond
Belt,and founded The Logan found
ry under the name of Belt & V. =
natta. In April 1853 he retired
from the firm and returned to Va
nattaville and with his uncle Mel
son and Noah Clouse formed the
firm of Clouse & Vonatta, and be-
came proprietors of the Vanatta
foundry. Mr.. Clouse remained
with them number of years when
he retired, the firm then becoming
N. and r. s. Vanatta. In 1S. 8
while he was member Of the firm
Of Clouse & Vunatta he started fer
Pixies Peak but on reaching Foci
Kearney he changed his mind, and
returned in July, 1862. MIR. Vanat-
Ia retired from The firm and was
employed as machinist In the
shops of the Pan Handle railroad
O Newark, Ohio, until the follow
ing spring. In 1868 he returned to
Logan, aud has ever since been a
residence of this place. During
this time he was employed at the
Logan foundry until 1856, when he
accepted a position with the g. II.
V, & r. Ry. company, which he
held until February, 1897, Very
often he was really physically in
capacitated for the work he had to
perform but yet was never found
absent from his post of duty.
November l4th, 1850, Mr.. Vanat-
ia married Martha Jane Alexander
Of Logan, Chic, who preceded him
in death, something more than a
year and half, having died jan
aary LIST. 1896.
They were the parents of five
children, four Of whom survive
him, viz: Frank A., Albert b,
Harry b, aud Florence Ella. A
daughter, Mary Alice having died
in 1865, aged six months.
Mr.. Vanatta WAS Master, Roy
al Arch, and Council Mason, and a
member Of the lodge, chapter and
council ut Logan.
sir. Vanatta made a profession
uf h:,l faith in Christ and unit, d
With The First Presbyterian church
"f Logan, March list, 1851, under
the ministry of Rev. Mr.. Sheldon,
He was man who loved and
mediiatcd upon the word Of God,
aud wa a constant attendant upon
The 0rG;nancts of Gods house. He
would have been in Gods house
the last sabbath he spent on earth,
but for The miseries of physical all
ment; and two weeks from that
Sabbath God took him, aad he en-
tered into heavenly rest. 1t was a
rule with him TO express his appre-
citation of the reached word be-
fore he left Gods house, and in his
home in our social converse, he
never failed to speak Of religious
matters. / believe, hat as far as
it is nossible for frail human be-
ing to do so, he fulfilled the word OF
he inspired apostle: "Not slothful
in business, ferveut in spirit serv-
lug the Lord" His last words
were Il prayer, "Lord Jesus forgive
my sins"
/ WAS his pastor, he was my friend
and while shall miss him from
his accustomed place before me in
the house of God, his presence and
friendship shall ever abide in my
heart.