The Van Fossen Family were among among the earliest settlers in Bennington Township. In 1808, Jessie Van Fossen Sr. and his wife, Catherine, moved from Virginia to Ohio. Jessie built the second cabin in the nearby village. They reared a family of 13 children, including Daniel L. Van Fossen. Daniel owned roughly 120 acres of land in this area, including the plot that this house was built on. Daniel married Sarah E. Lake in 1855 and reared a family of 5 children.