MAIN  PAGE

Belgians in the Civil War

Emigrants arrival

links

Sources

BELGIANS IN AMERICA:    Biographies of Belgian settlers  

Nicholas Lanan, farmer on section 22, Mayfield. Township, is a son of John and Margaret Lanan, who were natives of Belgium. In their family were Nicholas, John, Henry, Joseph and Catherine. The first mentioned was born in that country, Dec. 21, 1817, and came to America in the fall of 1833 ; after a perilous voyage of three months and three days, he landed in New York, and remained in that State four years and a half; he then came to Illinois, in a sailing vessel from Buffalo to Chicago. The lakes were very rough during the entire voyage. He then came by wagon to De Kalb County, and purchased a quarter of section 22, Mayfield Township, where he still resides. He is therefore one of the first pioneers now living. At present he owns 190 acres, most of which is in a state of good cultivation. He raises cattle, horses and hogs.
He was married in Chicago, Ill., Nov. 13, 1851, to Phillipine Becker, who was horn in Germany, in October, 1818, and came to America with her mother, Mary Ann (Hoffman) Becker, her father Nicholas Becker having died when she was a child. Her mother was a second time married, in Germany. After coming to America she settled in Chicago, where she died, Nov. 28, 1878,
Mr. and Mrs. Lanan are the parents of seven children: Mary was born June 29, 1852, and was married in April, 1872, to John Delles; Elizabeth was born Nov. 7, 1854, and married William Gregory in November, 1882; Margaret was born Feb. 18, 1856, and married John Witte, in May, 1877; Catherine was born July r5, 1857, and was married in May, 1876, to August Ullrich; John was born Jan. 24, 4858.
Source : Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1885, 896  pgs.
note : on board Samuel Cunard : From Shields to New York, Aug. 26, 1833

Henry Lanan, a farmer on section 4, Mayfield Township, is a son of John and Margaret Lanan, natives of Belgium, who emigrated to America and settled first in Albany, N.Y., and came to Illinois in 1837, locating in De Kalb County; they died in the township of Mayfield, in 1862, the father March 16, and the mother June 16. Mr. Henry Lanan was also born in Belgium March 25, 1821,came to this county with his parents and has since lived in Mayfield Township. He owns 280 acres of good farming land. Politically he is a Democrat, and in religion he is a Catholic, as is also his wife. He was married in Chicago, Ill., March 24, 1854, to Anna M. Gregory, daughter of Anton and Christine Gregory, natives of Germany. She was born April 26, 1825, also in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Lanan have five children, namely: Martha, born Jan. 28, 1856; Caroline, April 9, 1857, became the wife of George Tower, April 11, 1876; Joseph, born Feb. 3, 1860, married July 4, 1881, to Hattie Tower; Henry was born May 11, 1868.
Source : Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1885, 896  pgs.
note : on board Samuel Cunard : From Shields to New York, Aug. 26, 1833

*CRANE THOMAS, Farmer, Sec. 2; P.O. Sycamore; born in England, June 24, 1815 came to state in 1842, has lived in county since; Rep; owns 120 acres, value $6,000; personal property $1,500 wife was Catharine Lanan, born in Belgium in 1825; married in 1847; has five children.
*LANAN HENRY, Farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. Sycamore; born in Belgium, in 1821; came to America in 1833; 207 acres, value $10,350; personal prop. $800; wife was Miss Mary Ann Gregory, from Germany; married in 1854; four children; Dem; Cath.
*LANAN NICHOLAS, Sec. 22; 160 acres, value $6,400; Dem; from Germany(???)
Source : The Voters and tax-payers of De Kalb County, Illinois : containing, also, a biographical directory of its tax-payers and voters, a history of the county and state, map of the county, a business directory, an abstract of every-day laws, officers of societies, lodges, etc., etc.Chicago: H.F. Kett & Co., 1876, 342  pgs.

LANAN Nicholas born 02/12/1817; death 14/12/1898; Mt Carmel cemetery; Sycamore Township of Dekalb County, IL.
Source : web link : https://sites.rootsweb.com/~ildekalb/