John Miller Vandegrift was born on 15 May 1808 in Philadelphia, Pa. to Jacob Vandegrift & Elizabeth Miller. He married Mary Worn (born 13 Jul 1809) at Philadelphia on 17 Feb 1831. He died 19 Jul 1875 in Red Rock Twp., Mn. His wife died 30 Nov 1890 at Austin, Mn.

Their children were:

Amanda Louise, born 1 Jun 1832 at Philadelphia, Pa.

William Rives, born 15 Jan 1836 at New York, N. Y.

Elizabeth, born 4 Jul 1838 at Philadelphia, Pa.

Thomas Hart Benton, born 18 Jul 1840 at Philadelphia, Pa.

Mary, born 15 Dec 1842 at Philadelphia, Pa.

Charles Henry, born 20 Feb 1847 at Wilmington, De.

John Miller Jr., born 3 Apr. 1849 at Wilmington, De.

Virginia, born 24 Apr 1853 at Indianapolis, In.

Clara, born 24 May 1855 at Indianapolis, In.

Philip, born 1856, died in infancy.

He moved around a lot until finally settling at Red Rock Twp., Mower, Mn. In 1856 & changing occupations from Plasterer to Farmer. According to a 1935 newspaper article about John Miller Vandegrift Jr., the family moved to Indianapolis, In. in 1850 although it must have been after the 1850 census was taken in Delaware on 7 Sep 1850. His brother Jacob had been living in Indianapolis since 1836 & Jacob’s daughter Fannie is mentioned (Sanchez, p. 15) as exploring the woods around Indianapolis with her cousin Tom, who was the same age.

Following is a summary of Census data for John Miller Vandegrift.

1850 US Census: Wilmington, Newcastle, Delaware, Roll M432_53, p. 152, image 568, 7 Sep 1850.

John M Vandegrift (40, Pa), Plasterer, Real Estate Value $ 600; Mary (38, Pa); Louisa (18, Pa); William (15, Pa); Elizabeth (10, Pa); Thomas (12, Pa); Mary (7, De); Charles (4, De); Miller (1, De).

1857 Minn. Census: Town 103, R 17, 17 Oct 1857.

John Vandegrift (50, Pa); Mary (47, Pa); William (21, NY); Thomas (17, Pa); Charles (10, De); John (7, De); Betsy (19, Pa); Mary (14, Pa); Virginia (4, In); Clara (2, In); Amanda (Vandegrift) Griffith (25, Pa); Mary Griffith (7/12, Il).

1860 US Census: Red Rock, Mower, Minn., Roll M653_572, p. 0, image 98, 15 Jul 1860.

John M Vandegrift (52, Pa), Farmer, Real Estate $ 500, Personal Property $ 1500; Mary (50, Pa); Children: William (24, NY) Plasterer; Thomas (20, Pa), Farmer; Charles (13, De); John (11, De); Virginia (7, In); Clara (5, In); Amanda Griffith (28, Pa); Mary Griffith (3, Il).

1870 US Census: Red Rock, Mower, Minn., Roll M593_8, Image 113, 11 July 1870.

John Vandegrift (62, Pa), Farmer, Real Estate $ 8000, Personal Property $ 1000; Mary (60, Pa); Children: Jonathon (21, De) Works on farm; Virginia (17, In); Clara (15, In); William (35, NY) Plasterer; Wife Hattie (26, NY); Myrtle (2, Mn).

1875 Minn. Census: Roll MNSC_12, P. 521, 1 May 1875. J M Vandegrift (67, Pa); Mary (66, Pa); Charles (27, De); J M (25, De); Clara (20, In); Augusta (18, In).

1880 US Census: Red Rock, Mower, Minn., Roll, 30 Jun 1880:

Mary Vandegrift (70, Pa) Widow; Charles H. (33, De) Farmer; Augusta F. (24, Germany, wife of Charles); Edith A (3, Mn) Granddaughter; Bertha M (1, Mn) Granddaughter; John M (31, De) Farmer.

The family’s big adventure was told in the newspaper article that is given below: