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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History
of
Athens County, Ohio
And Incidentally
of the Ohio Land Company
and the First Settlement of the State at Marietta
with personal and biographical sketches of the early
settlers, narratives of pioneer adventures, etc.
By
Charles M. Walker
"Forsam et hæc olim
meminisse juvabit." - Virgil.
Publ. Cincinnati:
Robert Clarke & Co.
1869.
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NELSON H. VAN VORHES, son of
Abraham Van Vorhes,
himself for many years a leading citizen of the county, was born in
Washington county, Pennsylvania, January 23d, 1822. In 1832 his father
removed with his family to Athens county, and settled in Alexander
township. In 1836, his father having bought the Western Spectator and
removed to Athens, Nelson entered the printing office as an apprentice. He
worked diligently here for some years, part of the time having sole
conduct of the paper, as his father was elected to the state legislature,
and was absent for several winters.
In 1844 he purchased the paper, which he continued to
publish (a portion of the time in connection with his brother A. J. Van Vorhes), till 1861 as the Athens Messenger. During this time he took an
active part in the political contests of the day and in furthering the
home and local interests of the county. He served from 1850 to 1853 in the
state legislature; in 1853 was Whig candidate for secretary of state, but,
with the rest of the ticket, failed of election; in 1854 was elected
probate judge of the county, but resigned to become a candidate again for
the legislature. He was elected, and became speaker of the house, which
position he held during two sessions. In 1857 he was re-elected to the
legislature.
In 1858 he was republican candidate for congress in the
nth district, but was not able to overcome the democratic majority. He was
a delegate to the Chicago convention in 1860, and took an active part in
the presidential campaign which followed. At the breaking out of the war
in 1861, Mr. Van Vorhes enlisted as a private in the first company of
infantry raised at Athens, and on the election of officers was chosen
first lieutenant.
In 1862, he was appointed colonel of the 92d Ohio regiment
of infantry, which command he retained, serving in Western Virginia, till
the summer of 1863, when, his health completely failing, he was forced to
resign. Col. Van Vorhes has never fully recovered his health. He has held
various local offices during the past few years, and possesses, in as high
degree as ever, the confidence and respect of the community.
Source: History of Athens County, Ohio - By Charles M.
Walker, Publ. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co., 1869 - Page 303 |
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