The tract of 768 acres (311 ha) was first settled by John Van Nest in 1763, and subsequently owned by John and Abel Hoff during the early 19th century, followed by William M. Vannatta. In 1856, Vannatta (originally van Etten) acquired the southern half of what was by then a 590-acre (240 ha) tract containing the farmstead. Vannatta moved to the Italianate-style house overlooking the farmstead sometime in the 1860s, after which the farmstead was rented to a succession of tenant farmers. These tenant farmers included Jacob Fry in the 1860s, John Koch in the 1930s, Russell Reeder in the 1940s, and Shorty Featherman from 1945 to 1960.