John Van Nuland

Birth:  

Family Information: Brother of Anton Van Nuland.

Description:  

Pre-Colony History: In 1900 he was living in Illinois with his father and five siblings and working as a day laborer.

He joined the colony while it was located in California and made the trip to Louisiana in one of the autos that left the old colony on November 15, 1917 and arrived in early December at Stables (later to become Newllano), Louisiana.

His companions for the trip were Enoch Irwin, John Suhre and his brother, Anton. When they left Llano they "were all cleanly shaven and wore white coveralls with the word "Llano" sewed on their sturdy chests. When they arrived at Wildhorse, Texas, their chests were still sturdy, but their coveralls were not white and they were not cleanly shaven."  

Home in Colony: In 1918 he was living in the colony at "Stables, La." and was listed as his brother's next of kin on his draft registration.  

Job in Colony: He briefly served as a supervisor in the California colony, but was soon replaced. 

Other Info:  

Post-Colony History: In 1921 he was the county manager for the National Non-Partisan League, and wrote that he'd had a turkey dinner with the Jewett family.

In May 1930 he attended a picnic of ex-colonists at Fullerton, California. Each brought a lunch, sufficient for his needs and the needs of several others. Long tables were arranged under the shade of the park trees. The coffee was furnished by Minnie Pickett and John Will saw to it that everyone was generously served. It was unanimously agreed to form an organization that would organize future semi-annual social gatherings for the group. Minnie Pickett was chosen secretary-treasurer and Dr. Robert K. Williams was appointed assistant secretary.

The picnic was attended by more than 65 ex-colonists including: Minnie Pickett, John and Frances Will and Dorothy, Lottie Brown, Professor Lowell H. Coates, Bert Engle, Victor and Alma Swanson and Elwin, Jess and Mildred Morris, Louis and Grace Petty, Louis and Jennie Conlin, Mrs. M.E. Babb, Norman and Ethel Johnson, Ernest and Pearl Wooster, H.L. and Guy Ward, Mrs. Clara Powers and son, George, Mrs. Ada Harper, Ethel Wright, E.E. Vaughn, J.H. Ryan, Val Brown and wife, Lottie Brown, Miss A.C. Austin, Walter Millsap, Jr. and his mother, Cara Millsap, Dr. Robert K. and Dr. Cecil C. Williams, E. Krause and family, John Van Nuland (who passed around a tub of Llano candy sent by Anton, and it was "great stuff" by all those who tasted it) Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Kilmer, Professor Lowell B. Coate, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wallace, Mr. and Mrs. Charley Earl, Mr. and Mrs. Suhre, A.L Spann, Frederick R. Johnson, A. Hansig.

Death: He died in 1961 and was buried in the Memory Lane Cemetery at Silver City, New Mexico.  

Sources: US Census: 1900; "Western Comrade": December 1917-January 1918; WWI Draft Registration Cards: Anton Van Nuland; "Vernon Parish Democrat": February 10, 1921; "Llano Colonist": May 10, 1930, January 28, 1933 (The Story of Llano); FindAGrave.com