VanVleet & Pruden History

Letitcia Pruden was born in New York to Boyce John Pruden IV and Mary Jane Hulse in February of 1825 (family information-Pruden history). The Pruden family played a role in the development of the New World in that they (we) descended from Rev. Peter Prudden who founded Milford, New Haven, Connecticut in 1638 (I will write more about him in the next blog). Boyce and Jane had 10 children. Letitcia and her family moved from Romulus, Seneca, New York to Michigan some time after 1840. All of the Pruden children where born in New York except the youngest son, George W. who was born in Jackson, Michigan in 1842.

Harvey VanVleet was born in the state of New York on April 16, 1822 to Tunis and Mary VanVleet.  It appears that Harvey had 2 brothers, Dennison and Hiram. The VanVleets are first found in Michigan in the 1850 Federal Census and eventually made their way to Clinton County.

 Letitcia married Harvey VanVleet in Olive, Clinton Co., Michigan on February 15, 1845.  Harvey was a farmer and Letitcia was housewife, and mother to their 6 children, among them my great grandfather Frank VanVleet. They raised their family in Clinton County until about 1870,  in that census year they were found in Eaton County, Michigan.



Harvey VanVleet and family, Eaton Co. in 1870 (click to enlarge image)

 Some time before 1880 they moved to Greenwood Twp., Oceana Co., Michigan with Frank and his brother Emery on the old farm land on Loop Rd. that I am so familiar with.

Harvey VanVleet and family, Oceana Co., Michigan 1880

The farm passed hands from Harvey when Frank and Emery came of age. It appears the land was shared between the two brothers and their families. They are living side by side in 1900 caring for their aging parents.

Frank & Emery VanVleet/ 1900 Federal Census

Letitcia VanVleet died November 12, 1903 and is buried at the West Hesperia Cemetery in Hesperia, Michigan.


Letitcia's headstone



Harvey's resting place is known but I haven't made time to pay a visit to the site to find him. According to his death certificate he was buried at North Ensley Cemetery in Newago County. I'm not sure why he was buried so far away from his family.  



Harvey VanVleet death certificate

Frank Adelbert VanVleet was born in Clinton County, Michigan on February 16, 1866. He met Phoebe Jane Ward and in 1885 they were married at Ferry Twp.,Oceana, Michigan on July 5, 1885. Phoebe was the daughter of William Henry Ward and Lydia Keech. 

Phoebe Jane Ward-VanVleet



Together they had 7 children, among them my grandmother Ozelma Charlotte VanVleet, born June 24, 1903.

Frank VanVleet



Frank and Phoebe's headstone. West Hesperia Cemetery



Phoebe died in 1929 of Consumption (known today as Tuberculosis) Her obituary: 

VANVLEET, PHOEBE JANE MRS. (WARD) Obituary Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan, 13 May 1929, Page 11HESPERIA RESIDENT DIES IN NORTON HOME.  Mrs. Frank A. VanVleet, of Hesperia, 60 years old, died Sunday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Clarence Baker, in Norton township, after a long illness.  She was born in Berlin, Mich., June 22, 1868.  The past two months she made her home here with her daughter.  Her maiden name was Phoebe Jane Ward and her marriage to Frank VanVleet took place June 28, 1885 at Ferry, Mich.  She was a member of the Presbyterian church of Hesperia.  Mrs. Van Vleet is survived by her husband; one son, Charles L. VanVleet, at home; six daughters, Mrs. W. S. Rowland, of Magnolia, Minn., Mrs. Clarence Baker, Mrs. Maurice Baker, Mrs. Tressa Winters, Mrs. Jesse Golden, all of Muskegon, and Mrs. Harrison Davis, of Whitehall; 12 grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. William Spencer, of Rockford, Mich.; two brothers, L. A. Ward, of Ferry, Mich., and W. A. Ward, of Jackson.Page 14VANVLEET – Mrs. Frank A. VanVleet, of Hesperia, passed away Sunday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Clarence Baker, Norton Township.  The funeral will be held at 1:30 p. m. Tuesday at the Presbyterian Church in Hesperia.  Interment will be made in West Cemetery at Hesperia.  Friends may view the remains at the Clock Funeral Home.


Frank VanVleet died on January 29, 1943 and is buried with his wife Phoebe and family at West Hesperia Cemetery.