Compendium of Biography
Of Henry County, Indiana
B.F. Bowen
Surnames in this biography are: Vandenbark, Williams, Bundy,Bryket, Smith,
WILLIAM M. VANDENBARK.
Wayne Township,Henry County, Indiana, has been the home and scene
of labor of many men who have not only led lives that should serve as an
example to those who come after them, but have also been of important service
to their community through various avenues of usefulness. Among them must be
named William M. Vandenbark, who led a life of industry and onerich in those
rare possessions, which only a high character can give. For many years he
labored with all thestrength of a great nature and all the earnestness of a
true heart for the bettering of the world around him,and when he was called
to the rest and reward of the higher world his best monument was found in the
love and respect of the community in which he had lived and in whose progress
and development he had been an important factor.
William M. Vandenbark was born in Wayne Township, HenryCounty, Indiana, on
the 9th day of March, 1857. His parents were James and Charlotte (Williams)
Vandenbark. The boyhood days of the subject were spent upon the parental
farm, where he early became inured to the toil incident to an agricultural
life, meantime taking advantage of the educational advantages afforded by the
public schools of the neighborhood. This elementary educationhe afterward
supplemented with study at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso.
After his marriage, in 1883, he settled on a part of the farm onwhich his
widow resides. It originally contained two hundred and sixty acres,but
because of the division of the tract with his brother he possessed at the
time of his death but one, one hundred and thirty-eight and a half acres.
Mr.Vandenbark was an energetic man thoroughly understood his calling, and by
hard work and the exercise of sound judgment was enabled to accumulate a fair
share of this world’s goods. During his life the residence now occupied by
his widow was erected. He was a natural mechanic and was never better
contented than when working around machinery. He was busily engaged for
several years in operating a threshing machine doing a large amount of
threshing for other farmers, and also took great pride in the possession of
several fine road horses. Mr. Vandenbark’s death occurred on the 9th of July,
1894. He was injured by a kick from a horse,which was followed by congestion
with fatal results. Mr. Vandenbark was united in marriage on the 25.th of
April. 1883to Miss Belle Bundy, the daughter of Josiah and Eliza (Bryket)
Bundy. Josiah Bundy was a native of North Carolina, but when a boy
was brought by his parents to Indiana,where he was reared and where
he married Miss Eliza Byrket. The latter was the daughter of Andrew and Susan
Byrket and was a native of Henry County. Josiah Bundy died in May, 1888, and
his widow afterwards became the wife of Asa Smith and is now residing near
Middletown. At the time of their marriage Mr. Vandenbark was twenty-six years
old and his wife four years his junior. She proved a helpmate to her husband
in the true sense of the word, and by her earnest efforts assisted in paying
for their property. This marriage resulted in thebirth of two daughters,
Bessie and Hazel. The former supplemented her commonschool training by
attendance in the high school at Knightstown, while the latter is now
attending school. Mrs. Vandenbark still retains her home upon the farm and
successfully operates the same, in addition to the products of the soil,
being also to some extent interested in stock raising. Politically Mr.
Vandenbark was an active anduncompromising Republican and took a keen
interest in the success of his party.Fraternally he was a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, affiliating with the lodge at Wilkinson,
and by that body his funeral services were conducted at Knightstown, his
remains being interred in the Glencove cemetery. Possessed of an ambitious
nature, commendable zeal, integrity and an unconquerable determination to
succeed. He was in a measure enabled to realize his hopes. Because of his
genial disposition, courteous manners and genuine worth he commanded the good
will and regard of all with whom he was associated
I typed this for those that are researching these surname. Sorry, but I
don’t know any more about thisfamily, or this biography. Typed by Lora
Radiches.