A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 110

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans
Number of Pages: 1612

USA > Ohio > Scioto County > A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record > Part 110

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While Clerk of the Court he was also Master in Chancery, and a Master Commissioner, and, as such, made many sales. His sec- ond wife was Miss Susan Chenoweth, an aunt of Samuel Reed, Esq., Vice-President of the Portsmouth National Bank.

He retired from public office in 1857. He was taken sick Octo- ber 2, 1858, and the same day made his will and deeded all his real estate to his wife. He died, Friday, October 15, 1858, and was interred the following Sunday. He had the largest funeral ev- er held in Portsmouth.

The lot which he purchased of Henry Massie in 1813 for $30.00. was sold by his widow in 1889 for $2,500. He and his descendants had held the title for fifty-six years. He was a ready and fluent speaker, and ready to speak at any time. He could always improve every opportunity in the speaking line, and it could be a speech or a sermon, as he desired.

He was very fond of children, and delighted to show them at- tention. He knew how to keep in office, and how to please those having the appointing power.

He was always a Whig, but never disdained favors coming from his political opponents. Judge Joseph Moore, a strong Democrat, and Associate Judge from 1834 to 1841, was his friend, and concur- red in his appointment while he held the office. His widow, Susan Turner, died January 19, 1878, at the residence of Judge Moore.

Mr. Turner's character was one to be studied by the politicians. He knew how to keep in office, and how to please the public. He discharged the duties of all his offices well, and was an honorable and upright citizen. While he had his enemies they never worried him much, and he pursued his own course without reference to them. His memory will be sweet and fragrant so long as his adopted city endures.

Jerome Bonaparte Valodin

was born June 6. 1817. His father was Francis Valodin and his mother's maiden name was Nancy Slater, the second wife of his father. He was born in the French Grant, on the lot granted to his father. At the age of fourteen, he was bound out to learn the sad- dler's trade with a Mr. Burke at McArthur, Ohio. His master neg- lected to teach him and he could not read. He concluded to ruil away and did so. He went to Greenup and finished learning his trade and there attended school. He devoleped quite an aptitude for learning and began his career as a school teacher in Greenup Coun- tv, Kentucky. The second and third schools he taught were in Nile Township, in Judge Moore's District. He taught a school in the

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first school house erected where the Elm Tree school house now stands, and was thus engaged up to December 24, 1844, when he married Mary Jane Moore. a daughter of Judge Joseph Moore and of Mary Lawson, his wife.

He and his wife went to housekeeping in Rome, Adams County, Ohio, and lived there for three years. While there, he worked at his saddler's trade. In 1847, he went to Harrisonville, Scioto Coun- ty, Ohio, and sold goods until 1850. In that year, he went to Tur- key Creek and kept a store for a short time. In 1851, he moved on the Judge Moore farm and farmed for eight years. In 1859, he be- came a teacher in the public schools of Portsmouth, and taught until 1863. At that time, he was compelled, on account of the condition of his health to give up teaching, in which he had been eminently successful. He became a book-keeper and kept books for several firms until 1866, when he bought a grocery on the corner of Sixth and Chillicothe streets and conducted it until 1870. From that year until 1883, he was a book-keeper and collector for different business houses. In the latter year, he removed to the Judge Moore farm and remained there until his death on January 28, 1886.

Mr. and Mrs. Valodin had nine children: Susan Alice, now the wife of John Cooper, resides near Vanceburg; Mary Agnes died at eight years; Sarah Ellen, deceased. Laura Esther died at six years ; Minerva Moore died at eighteen months, and Joseph Moore died at three years: John Moore born April 15. 1859. is still living unmar- ried, with his mother on the home farm, the old Judge Moore farm ; William Francis died in his sixteenth year.

Mr. Valodin was a member of the Methodist church. From 1850, he was a Whig so long as that party was in existence, and after the dissolution of the Whig party. he became a Democrat and remained such during his life. Mr. Valodin was a master of arith- metic. He was very fond of mathematics. He was a man very strong in his likes and dislikes. There was no limit to either: withal. he was a very good citizen. Had he had a complete college educa- tion and followed teaching. he would have gained distinction in that profession, as his natural bent was in that direction.

Francis Valodin

was not one of the regular listed French emigrants. He was born in France in 1765, but was without property or education. He seemed to have been left upon his own resources. When he was 26 years of age, he wanted to go to the Northwest Territory: and having no means of going or enlisting himself regularly among the emigrants, he slipped on board one of the ships and secreted himself. He was not found until the vessel was out on the ocean some days. When the ship in which he sailed reached Alexandria, he was sold out for a year to pay his passage, and he worked out his time very cheerfully.

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After this, he walked to the colony at Gallipolis and cast his fortunes with them. He managed to be counted in as one of the French emigrants when the land deal came up, and he received a pat- ent for lot No. 5 of the French Grant. After obtaining his lot in the Grant, which was one of the very best and part of which is now the homestead of Peter F. Boynton, he cleared up the land and planted fine orchards of peaches and apples. He even went so far as to plant a peach orchard on the slope of the river from the top bank to the water. He was about the first of the French settlers to distill peaches and apples, and he sold great quantities of peach and apple brandy. He was also an excellent gardner and reared vegetables for the boat- ing trade.

In addition to his lot of 217 acres, he made the following pur- chases in the Grant. In 1807, he bought of Anthony L. Carpenter, 75 acres of French Grant lot No. 14 for $255. It was from the original French Grant lot granted Louis Cei. About the same time, he bought lot No. 4. of 15 acres of the little Grench Grant of Mons. G. C. Laforge, who at that time resided in New Madrid, Mo. He paid $400 for this. On December 11, 1816, he bought lot No. 21. in the French Grant of Joseph W. Devacht, for $605. September 8, 1817, he bought lot No. 12, of the French Grant of Louis Berthe. Jr. The reader will understand that a lot in the French Grant proper was always 217 acres, and a lot in little French Grant 150 acres. His last purchase was 10 acres lying on the river front for $200 of John Fitzer and wife.

In 1800, he married a French woman, his first wife, Madame Gabrielle, from New Madrid. She was 20 years of age and he was 35. She lived but four years, and died on the 10th of September, 1801. There were two children of that marriage, Francis and Agate. For his second wife, he married an American woman, Nancy Slater. and she died Dec. 31, 1825, at the age of 1.I. Her children were : Adell, Ducuttee, Alexandre, Oriet, Hester, Dennis and Henry.

He took pride in educating his children and sent them away from home for that purpose. He never learned to read and write, but he wished his children to have all the advantages which he had been denied. He was a man of great prejudices, of strong loves and strong hates, a trait which he transmitted to his descendants. He kept quantities of fine liquors in the cellar and dispensed them to his friends. He was very fond of card playing and drinking. He was in the habit of going to the town of Greenup and engaging in card playing and drinking with his friends. August 26, 1826, he spent the evening in Greenup playing cards with a party of friends, and at the conclusion of the games he determined he would cross the river in a canoe. In leaving the house where he had met his friends, he fell over the river bank in the darkness, and so injured himself that he died within a

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few hours, in his 6Ist year. He had an iron will, indomitable perse- verance, and left quite an estate to his children. He had the vivacity of the French, and the energy and industry of his Yankee neighbors, and so prospered more than the majority of the original French emi- grants.

Col. Sampson Eagon Varner,

son of Christian M. and Elizabeth Eagon Varner, of Scotch-Irish descent, was born in Staunton. Augusta County, Virginia, August 17, 1824. He came to Portsmouth, Ohio, with his parents in the spring of 1838. The journey over the mountains was made in com- pany with two other families in wagons.

September 28, 1861, Colonel Varner enlisted in the 56th Regi- ment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three years. He was made Ma- jor of the regiment and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, April 6, 1863. In 1864, he was assigned to command the post at Algiers, Louisiana, opposite New Orleans, and on the eve of his departure, after four months service there, the citizens of the southern city pre- sented him publicly with a sword and sash as a testimonal of their regard. This is said to be the only instance during the great Civil War when a conquered people united to do honor and compliment to their conqueror. Colonel Varner left Algiers in July and was dis- charged from the service November 14. 1864.

In private life he was a brick mason. He had become a large manufacturer of brick and a flourishing contractor when the war broke out. He was one of the organizers and for a time superin- tendent and director of the Portsmouth Horse Car Company. He served sixteen years as a member of the City Council of Portsmouth. - In 1874, he was an Independent Candidate for County Commission- er, but was defeated.

He was married November 26. 1818. to Maria Louise Huston, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Huston, two of Scioto County's pioneers. They had six children, William Eagon, now deceased ; Mrs. Ella L. Brown, of Youngstown, Ohio: Mrs. Anna M. Sanford. of Cincinnati; Frank Floyd and James Huston of Cincinnati, the latter connected with his brother-in-law in the firm of Sanford, Storrs & Varner. The youngest daughter, Mrs. Bessie C. Adams, resides in Portsmouth.

Colonel Varner passed away suddenly on the morning of June 15, 1877, of heart disease. A whole city mourned the loss of one who was a public as well as a private benefactor. He was a natural lead- er. With limited school opportunities, his habit of reading useful books enriched his mind and his store of information, his genial dis- position, kindly nature and rare conversational ability rendered him attractive to old and young.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

John Alexander Vaughters

was born August 9, 1814, in Caroline County, Va., a son of John and Catharine ( Mason) Vaughters. The family was English. The form of the name as used in Virginia was Vawter. Among the Rev- olutionary Continental Land Warrants issued from the Land Office at Richmond, Va., was one to William Vawter for 2,666 2-3 acres of land, another to Benjamin Vawter for 200 acres. These are be- lieved to be members of the same family. Our subject's father died in Virginia, and his mother moved with her family to Ohio, and lo- cated in Ross County in 1830; but in 1831, removed to Coalton, Jack- son County. His mother died in 1833.

Our subject had no means, but he had a good constitution and a wonderful quantity of energy. He and his brother came to Scioto County in 1844, and for a number of years he was a tenant farmer. In 1849, he began to purchase land. By industry, thrift and econ- omy, he prospered and at his death his farm was one of the largest and best kept in the Ohio Valley. At that time he was the owner of 503 acres of valuable Ohio river bottom land in the upper part of Nile Township. about seven miles from Portsmouth.

In 1847, he married Mary Dortch of Kentucky. They have five children, two of whom lived to maturity : Mrs. Harry S. Grimes, of Portsmouth, Ohio, and George A. Vaughters of Chillicothe. Mrs. Vaughters died in April, 1860, and in December, 1861, he married . Mrs. Ada J. Brouse, who had two children: Mrs. Chancey M. Hol- comb of Gallipolis, and Mrs. W. C. Brouse of the West Side. Mr. Vaughters was always a Republican. He was a man of the most re- markable energy and strict integrity. He was more successful than either of his brothers in accumulating property. He died April 14, 1891, honored by all who knew him.

William Vaughters

was born in Caroline County, Virginia, in 1817. the third of a fam- ily of four sons: John, Thomas G., and Richard M. and one daugh- ter, Mary L. In 1831, his father settled in Ross County, and in the same year in Jackson County. In 1838, he moved to Scioto Coun- ty. In 1842, he married Miss Sophia Graham, by whom he had two sons and one daughter : John of the West Side, Thomas of Wet- more and Mary Margaret in Illinois, all married. In 1850, he mar- ried Mary Bryson by whom he had five children, four sons and a daughter : Richard, William, Carey, Sherman and Ella. He died July 26, 1880. His wife survived him. He was a Republican and served two terms as Infirmary Director from 1871 to 1874 and from 1875 to 1878. In 1871, the vote stood: Vaughters, 2,546; Luther Jones, 2,387 ; majority, 159. In 1875 he received 3,293 votes to 2,989 for his opponent, C. F. Bradford, majority 304. He was a

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prosperous and successful farmer and left a good estate. He held the confidence of his neighbors and associates as a just man.

William Veach

was born April 8, 1794, in Surrey County, North Carolina. His father was Thomas Veach and his mother's maiden name was Mary Truitt. Thomas Veach was of Scotch ancestry and the Truitt's were an English family.

In about the year 1800, the family emigrated from North Caro- lina to Fleming County, Kentucky, using three horses, the mother rode one carrying one child, two children rode another, and the third was used as a pack horse. The father walked.

The boyhood, youth and young manhood days of our subject were spent on the farm in Fleming County, Kentucky, where the father also conducted a still. William Veach had a fair education, derived principally from his father, and he as well as his brothers, five in all, did land surveying in their neighborhood. In 1822, he was married to Miss Ruth Burris, and came immediately with his bride to Scioto County and settled in Nile Township. After the marriage of his son, Thomas Veach moved to Lewis County, Ken- tucky, where he died in 1848. William Veach was Justice of the Peace for Nile Township July 20, 1863 for three years. From 1855 to 1861, he was a County Commissioner for Scioto County.

On May 2, 1864, when he was seventy years of age, but giving his age as sixty-eight. he enlisted in Company I, 140th O. V. I., for one hundred days, and served until September 3. 1864. In addition to having served in the Civil War himself, he had five sons and one grandson who served in the same war.

In politics he was a Whig, but sympathized with the Know Nothing party while it lasted and became a Republican at the found- ing of that party. He was a live politician and with great energy worked for his party's interest. He sought to see justice done every man. He was a member of the Methodist Church, at Friendship, al- though he believed in the creed of the Christian church, of which there was no organization in his locality. He had thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, of whom but seven, Nathan Thomas, Horatio C., Harriet, Charles Wesley, George W., Mary and Robert P. grew to womanhood and manhood. Of these, Charles Wesley and Mary are now living. Harriet married William Canada Wor- ley and resided and died in Scioto County, Ohio. Mary married Murtaugh Lodwick and resides in Portsmouth, Ohio. Charley Wes- ley resides at Kingston, Ross County, Ohio. William Veach died of cholera, August 4, 1866, and is buried at Friendship, Scioto Coun- ty, Ohio.

Jordan Vigus

Was a type of the true American, a unit of that great body which makes our country of the highest citizenship of any on the globe.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

He was noted for his upright character in youth and in manhood. He was born September 6, 1814, in Adams County. His father was Paul Vigus and his mother's maiden name was Mary Ann Seaman, daughter of John Seaman, one of the pioneers of Adams County. He received his education in the Adams County schools. When of a suitable age, he learned the trade of the stone and brick mason. In 1834, he came to Portsmouth, saw the future possibilities of the town and decided to make this his home.

In 1836, he married Miss Hannah Caroline Ripley, daughter of William Plum Ripley and Cynthia Spencer Ripley. Seven children were born, four of whom, died while quite young ; Sylvester Warren, Lewis Taylor, Amanda Emmeline and George Oscar. The surviv- ing children are: Mrs. Hannah C. Edgington, Ada C. and Kate L., a teacher in the public schools in Portsmouth.

Our subject was always anti-slavery in his views and acted with the Republican party. When the war broke out, he desired to enlist in the military service and would have done so, except that he was a suf- ferer from asthma, which rendered it impossible for him to pass the physical examination necessary for him to become a soldier. His heart was for the Union and there was no more loyal citizen in the country. When the news came, that the rebel, General Morgan, had entered Ohio, it was supposed for a time that he would come through Portsmouth. Mr. Vigus had a flag floating from a staff on the top of his house. Some of his neighbors suggested that he should take it down because if Morgan passed through he would burn his house. Mr. Vigus replied, "That flag shall not come down, I will show my colors, and if Mr. Morgan comes this way, he can do his worst."

About 1877, he removed «to a small farm on Dry Run, Wash- ington Township, Scioto County, to improve his health, but the dis- ease from which he had suffered all his life, obtained the mastery, and he died March 21, 1881.

In early life, he united with the Methodist church, and was ever faithful to the doctrines of that denomination. He believed in the gospel of honesty and integrity and lived up to it all his life. As a citizen, a husband, a father, he was a model. To support him all his life, he had the sympathy and co-operation of a model Christian wife. She was born in Cattarangus County, New York, on April 3, 1812. She came to Portsmouth, with her parents, in 1833. She was a wo- man most highly esteemed by all who knew her, and was a living ex- ample of all the Christian virtues.

Antoine Claude Vincent

was born in Gentilly, France, one league south of Paris, October 13, 1772. His parents were Bourgeois and in easy circumstances. They were devout Catholics and set apart their son for the priesthood.

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He was educated for this purpose. He studied Latin and Greek. In his boyhood, he was a chorister in one of the churches near his home. When the time came for him to take orders, he had become somewhat tinctured with the freethinking ideas of that period, and did not feel that he could take the vows. This was a great disap- pointment to his parents, but he took it philosophically, and for imme- diate employment went to work in a calico factory. Soon after this he went into the service of a wealthy jeweler, Antionme.

The latter saw and appreciated the signs of the coming Revolu- tion, and determined to leave France. He solicited Vincent to ac- company him. The latter, being of an adventurous disposition, con- sented, and they sailed from Havre de Gras to the United States in the vessel bringing the Gallipolis colony. During the long voyage young Vincent studied English and learned to read and write it.

On his arrival at Alexandria he tried to speak it, but found he could not make himself understood, and that he had to learn to speak the language as well as to read and write it. After arriving at Alex- andria, they concluded to cast in their fortunes with the French col- onists with whom they came, and so went to Gallipolis. They reach- ed Gallipolis but found it was no place for Mons. Antionme's busi- ness. The latter then determined to go to New Orleans with his stock of goods and after trading them to return to France. Vincent was to have a part and share in the venture but was to remain be- hind his partner to attend to some business and to follow him to New Orleans when he had cleared up the business matters.

Antionme built a fine pirogue, loaded on his stock of jewelry and watches, and put a regular arsenal of fire arms on board to pro- tect his goods. He hired two men, of whom he knew nothing, to row the boat and made his start. It was in the fall of 1791, at the outset of the Indian war. At the mouth of the Big Sandy they en- countered a party of Indians in canoes. One canoe, with some of the Indians approached Antionme's pirogue and he prepared to shoot. The two men forbade Antionme to shoot, as it was not certain the Indians were hostile. Antionme studied a moment, and then shot himshelf through the heart. The Indians hearing the discharge started to row away and Antionme's companions called them back. The Indians then took such of the cargo as they saw fit, threw the remainder in the river with Antionme's body, and let the cowardly white men go, giving them a blanket and loaf of bread each. It is a great pity the Indians did not kill them instanter, as could Antionme have appreciated the situation, he would have done that meritorious act himself, and could have proceeded safely to Lime- stone or Ft. Washington, and there could have secured proper escort and proceeded on his voyage. The moral of Antionme's story is al- ways to kill the other fellow first, and take your chances of his kill-

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ing you. However, a Frenchman is nothing if not tragic, but An- tionme's rash act caused this story to be written.

Mons. Vincent had all of his capital in Antionme's goods, and Antionme's suicide caused him to remain in the New World instead of returning to France. He had nothing left but himself and he went to work. He raised chickens, he taught the American children French, etc., but he felt that it was best for him to be among Ameri- cans, and he went to Marietta and obtained such employment as he could. Here on the 23rd of January, 1799, he married Mademoi- selle Flore Emilie Berthelot. He was then twenty-seven years of age and she was sixteen. She was born November 14, 1783, at Sevres near Paris.

One month, after his marriage he made a trip from Marietta to Belpre in a canoe alone. He fell into the river and came near drown- ing. He managed to get to shore almost exhausted and before he could obtain assistance he came near dying of cold and exposure. This incident caused the first joints of his fingers to stiffen perma- nently, so that he could never follow his trade, or play the flute after- wards. He regretted the loss of ability to play the flute more than the loss of ability to follow his trade.

While Vincent had not originally been one of the Gallipolis colonists, and had not intended to remain with them, in order to make as good a showing as possible, John Gabriel Gervais put him down as one, and in the allotment of lots he drew one in the hills, number 54, and sold it to Jean Baptist Gobeau for $200. It lies near the Giant Oak Mills. On March 6, 1801, he bought of Stephen Monot four acres, part of the Little French Grant, lot number 6, on the bank of the river. The deed was acknowledged April 21, 1801, before John Belli, a Justice of the Common Pleas Court, and was re- corded in Adams County. He located on this land in the fall of 1801. On October 6, 1805, he bought twenty-five acres of lot num- ber five for $200 of Anthony Magnet, and on November 1, 1822, he bought the remaining 125 acres of lot five for $900 of the same party. The same land is now owned by his grandson's wife and has increased in value about eight times over what he paid for .it. Mad- ame Vincent received an inheritance from her mother's estate in France of about $3,300, and this was invested in land in the French Grant. The correspondence in obtaining this inheritance from France is yet preserved, and in the hands of Dr. J. L. Taylor of Wheelersburg, a grandson of Mons. Vincent. Albert Gallatin our minister to France, attended to it, and the money was transmitted through John Jacob Astor. Mons. Vincent was naturalized August 31, 1803. He kept a fine garden on his first purchase, but did not hasten to clear up his latter purchases.

His children were: Louise, born June 28, 1800, married John Swain; Antoinette, first married John Squires, then Silas W. Cole

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Lucie, married Horatio Caswell; Susan, married Dan Young Whit- comb, and afterwards John R. Powers; Theresa, married Volney Reeves, and afterwards John Hurd; Claudius, died July 2, 1836; Flore Emilie, married John S. Baccus; Marie Jeamie Francoise, mar- ried Rev. Landon Taylor.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 110

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913 Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans Number of Pages: 1612

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans
Number of Pages: 1612