Information shows Susan Flory was born in Ohio to Jacob and Magdalena Flora (records has named spelled this way) in 1840.

1860 census records she is married living in Wayne, Ohio with one infant daughter Minerva C. Vandorsten, husband Harmon, and Harmon's brother Cornelius.

1870 census shows Susan is 32 living in LaGrange, Indiana with her husband H J and their 4 children.

1880 census reveals Susan and Harmon now have living at home with 7 children. The oldest Minerva has moved out.
Flora: 18
Charles: 15
Samuel: 12
Captola: 10
Lula: 6
Ethel: 4
O. Othna: 3

1900 Census reveals Susan (60) and her husband Harmon J. Van Dorsten (67) living with two of their children:

Othney: 23
Frank E.: 16

1930 census shows Susan widowed and living with one of her daughters Othney O. Jacobus (52) and her husband Edward E. Jacobus ( 65).


Additional info:

HANNON J. VAN DORSTON, one of the enterprising citizens of the township, purchased and located on his farm of 107 acres in the spring of 1864, and is living in the oldest frame house in the township. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 4, 1833, and came to Indiana soon after celebrating his twenty-first birthday. One year he passed in Elkhart and La Porte Counties; then returned to the home of his parents. In April, 1855, he started for California, going via New York and the Isthmus of Panama. After arrival there he engaged in mining for fourteen months; then went to Portland, Oregon, where he worked at lumbering until the fall of 1858, when he returned home and, March 24, 1859, was married to Miss Susan Flora. They have had eight children - Minerva C., now Mrs. Gideon Lehman; Flora T., Charles E., Samuel J., Capitola, Lula D., Ethel E. and Othny Ono. Mrs. Van Dorston is the daughter of Jacob and Magdalena (Lesher) Flora, natives of Pennsylvania, and was born in Wayne County, Ohio, May 8, 1840. Mr. Van Dorston was Justice of the Peace four years, and then re-elected but did not qualify. His parents, Samuel and Mary (Flickinger) Van Dorston, natives of Pennsylvania, moved from Ohio to St. Joseph County, Mich., in 1865; Samuel Van Dorston died in 1880; his widow is now living in Three Rivers, Mich., and is eighty-four years old. The subject, his wife, and two daughters are members of the Lutheran Church.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County