Cornelius A. B. Vanarsdall, a retired farmer and prominent citizen of Whiteland, was born in Mercer County, Ky., October 3, 1823, and was the son of Simon and Catharine (Whitenack) Vanarsdall, both of whom were also natives of Mercer County, Ky. His father was born December 22, 1799, and was the son of Cornelius A.B. and Mary (Brewer) Vanarsdall. Simon Vanarsdall died in Franklin Township, November 14, 1882. The mother of our subject was born June 11, 1803, and was the daughter of Henry and Eva (Terhune) Whitenack; she died in Franklin Township, August 14, 1875. When the subject of this sketch was but four years old, his parents emigrated from Mercer County, Ky., to Johnson County, Ind., and located on a tract of land in the northern part of Franklin Township, in September, 1827, a time when the woods still abounded with wolves and game. The tract of land on which his parents located, was developed into a farm, and upon this the father and mother spent the rest of their lives. Our subject spent his boyhood and youth helping to clear and cultivate the farm. He was married November 25, 1847, to Nancy J. Clem. She was born in Henry County, Ky., September 24, 1831, and was the daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Shepherd) Clem, the former of whom was born in Henry County, Ky., in 1797, and was the son of Philip and Phebe (Miller) Clem. He died in Miami County, Ind., December 27, 1881. Her mother was born in Shelby County, Ky., March 17, 1792. She died in Pleasant Township, September 2, 1847. After his marriage, Mr. Vanarsdall pursued the vocation of a farmer until the fall of 1884. On the 10th day of October, 1884, he and wife retired from the farm, and have since resided in Whiteland, where they have a beautiful home. They have had five children, as follows: Nancy C., born October 20, 1849; Maggie J., June 5, 1851; William D., April 22, 1853; Sarah E., March 5, 1855, deceased, and Samuel E., February 3, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Vanarsdall are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Vanarsdall is one of the county’s thoroughly reliable men, and he and wife are among its honored and respected citizens.