LANAM, William , Among the self-made men of Clinton county who have succeeded in 
overcoming many serious obstacles, acquiring a comfortable competence and 
establishing for themselves an upright character in the community; the name of William 
Lanam is justly entitled to specific mention.  Mr. Lanam is of German lineage and 
inherits many of the characteristics and virtues of his worthy ancestors. His grandfather, 
Thomas LANUM, came to the  United States when a young man, settled in Pennsylvania, 
and thence, shortly after his marriage, emigrated to Morgan county, Ohio, where he 
purchased land and became a well- to-do farmer.  He is remembered as a man of many 
excellent parts, a democrat of the Jackson school, and he lived to a ripe old age. Jesse 
Lanam, son of the above and father of William, was born in Virginia and followed tilling 
the soil for a livelihood.  In his native state he married Martha STEWARD, and shortly 
thereafter emigrated to Ohio, settling in Morgan county, where in time he became a 
farmer of large means.  Like his father before him he was a strong supporter of the 
democratic party, and for many years was a member of the old Christian church, in which 
he held various official positions and the teachings of which he endeavored to practice by 
a life devoted to the good of his fellow-man.  After the death of his wife, which occurred 
in Morgan county, Ohio, Mr. Lanam became a resident of Clinton county, Ind., where he 
remained for but a limited period, then moved to Illinois, in Champaign county of which 
state he died two years later. William Lanam, whose name introduces this biography, was 
born at a romantic spot a stone house in the Alleghany mountains, and at the age of three 
years was taken by his parents to Ohio, in which state he grew to manhood on a farm. 
What education he received was imparted to him in the old-fashioned log school-house, 
descriptions of which are found elsewhere in this volume, and he began life for himself as 
a common laborer at very small wages.   He came to Clinton county, Ind., in 1850, and 
for some years there-after worked for the very modest compensation of six dollars per 
month, later received twelve dollars per month, and from his earnings succeeded in 
laying by sufficient means to enable him to furnish a home and prepare for housekeeping.  
After his marriage, which was solemnized with Mary J. WYANT, daughter of William 
and Elizabeth (NEWHOUSE) WYANT, Mr. LANAN settled in Sugar Creek township, 
Montgomery county, where he lived for a short time, afterward purchasing an eighty-acre 
tract of land in Clinton county, where he has since made his home. Beginning life with 
but little encouragement and no financial assistance, he has succeeded in surmounting the 
numerous difficulties which would have discouraged a man of less determination, and is 
now rewarded with a comfortable competence of this world's goods, including a valuable 
farm of 170 acres in the township of Perry, Clinton county.  His place is well stocked and 
well drained, the buildings are substantial, and he ranks with the best farmers of his 
neighborhood.  He is a deacon in the Christian church, to which his wife also belongs.  
The following are the names of the children of Mr. and Mrs. LANUM:  Jessie, Wesley, 
Eliza J., Mary, Martha, Thomas, Catherine, Alice and Almedia, all of whom, with the 
exception of Almedia, who died at the age of nine years, are  married  and  doing  for  
themselves. Thomas LANUM married Lissie VALE, daughter of Lee arid Rebecca 
(COLTRAM) VALE, and has two children--Lloyd and Ernest.  The parents of Mrs. Mary 
J. LANAM emigrated from Virginia to Montgomery county, Ind., in 1831, making the 
trip to Cincinnati on a flat-boat and from that city by ox team to their new home in the 
Hoosier state.  They were pioneers in the true sense of the term, and the mother was 
accustomed to walk to Thorntown and back the same day in order to obtain groceries for 
the family, the distance traversed being sixteen miles.  Mr. WYANT entered 160 acres of 
land, and with the assistance of his wife, worked hard in order to bring it to a state of 
cultivation, but did not live to accomplish his aim, dying three years after coming to the 
country.  Deprived of her strong stay, Mrs. WYANT was compelled to support her family 
by working on the farm, and right nobly did she perform this duty.  She succeeded in 
keeping her family of seven children together, and lived to see them grow to manhood's 
and womanhood's estate and become heads of families. pp. 764 -766
Source I          Transcribed by Chris Brown