Isaac Van Pelt, grandfather of our subject, was born in Bucks County, Pa. He became a farmer and moved to Virginia, thence to Belmont County, Ohio, where he was among the original settlers, and as such assisted in clearing away the heavy timber from the site now occupied by the city of Zanesville. He there spent the remainder of his life, dying at the venerable age of ninety years. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ellis, were born four children, Jacob, Ellis, Mary and William R.
