His father was born in Millstone, New Jersey, on February 7, 1808, moved to West Sparta in 1822, became a farmer, and eventually owned 500 acres (2.0 km2).

Their patrilineal ancestor was Auke Jans van Nuys, a Dutch carpenter who came to New Netherland around 1651 from Nuis, in western Groningen, and settled on Long Island.

In 1869, it had bought the southern half of Rancho Ex-Mission San Fernando totaling 60,000 acres (240 km2) and engaged in the raising of stock, principally sheep.

In 1880, Van Nuys and James Boon Lankershim formed the Los Angeles Farming and Milling Company from the San Fernando Homestead Association.

The Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company laid out plans for three new towns of Van Nuys, Marion (present-day Reseda), and Owensmouth (present-day Canoga Park and West Hills); a system of roads and streets; and incorporation into the city of Los Angeles to receive the upcoming aqueduct's water.

In the "Sale of the Century" in November 1910, it sold the remaining livestock and non-land assets of the Los Angeles Farming and Milling Company at auction.

[4] The syndicate also built the San Fernando Line, a new 20 miles (32 km) extension of the Pacific Electric railway system from Lankershim (present-day North Hollywood), through Van Nuys and Marion, to its Owensmouth terminus.

He was a member of the Masonic order, connected with Pentalpha Blue Lodge, Signet Chapter, Los Angeles Commandery, and Al Malaikah Shrine Temple.

On February 23, 1944, a Liberty Ship was named for Van Nuys and launched at Los Angeles Harbor in San Pedro, California.