BIOGRAPHIES Source:
A History and Biographical Cyclopædia
of
Butler County, Ohio
with
ILLUSTRATIONS AND SKETCHES
of Its
Representative Men and Pioneers
Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Cincinnati, O
1882
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ISAAC VAIL
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 500 - Liberty Twp. |
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THOMAS VAN CLEAF was
born in Butler County in the year 1809, on the 9th of January. He
is the son of Benjamin Van Cleaf, who was born in New York, Sept.
5, 1765, and died Mar. 5, 1830. His mother was Alcha
Vanderveer. She was born Nov. 16, 1771, in Monmouth County,
New Jersey, and died Mar. 1, 1851. They were married in New
Jersey, and Sep. 5, 1765, and died Mar. 5, 1830. His mother was
Alcha Vanderveer. She was born Nov. 16, 1771, in Monmouth
County, New Jersey, and died Mar. 1, 1851. They were married in
New Jersey, and came to Ohio in 1805, settling in Franklin. The
present Mr. Van Cleaf was brought up to the occupation of a
farmer, and was married Mar. 17, 1836, by the Rev. Mr. McFarlan,
to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Kyle and Martha Long.
She was born Aug. 26, 1815. They have had four children.
Alice Seward was born Mar. 7, 1838, and died May 22, 1874;
Martha A. Vinnedge was born Apr. 7, 1840; Sarah J. Van Cleaf
was born July 8, 1844; and Hannah M. Van Cleaf was born June 19,
1850. Mr. Van Cleaf's grandfather, Teunis Van Cleaf,
was in the Revolutionary War.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 485 -
Fairfield
Twp. |
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NEHEMIAH VAN HISE
was born in Union Township, Butler County, Dec. 17, 1822, being the
younger son of William Van Hise and Rachel Hageman of New Jersey.
They are of German extraction. William Van Hise came to
Butler County about 1800, and was one of the pioneers. He was
township trustee for several terms. He was a prosperous farmer,
and raised a family of six sons and two daughters. Three sons are
now living. Mr. Van Hise died about 1853. Nehemiah
Van Hise remained on the home place until his marriage, which
happened on the 28th of November, 1848. He was then united to
Elizabeth Aydelotte, daughter of James A. Aydelotte.
She was born in1824. Mr. and Mrs. Van Hise are the parents
of four children, of whom two are living. Luella May was
the wife of E. Moore. She died May 28, 1880, aged
twenty-three. Anna Laurie died Feb. 8, 1880.
Benjamin F. is a resident of Hamilton County, and James is
still at home. After marriage he continued on his father's place
for three years; then removing to Pisgah and engaging in the manufacture
of brooms, a business that he conducted for some eighteen years.
He then entered upon mercantile business in Pisgah, which he has since
carried on, doing an extensive trade. He keeps a general stock of
goods. Mr. Van Hise was township treasurer one term of two
years, about 1864. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 591 - Union
Twp. |
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W.
L. VAN HISE was born in Union Township, Aug. 5, 1840, and is the
only son of William W. Van Hise and Jane M. Truesdale. She
is from New Jersey, and is of German and English extraction. W.
L. Van Hise began as a clerk, when fifteen years of age, and in 1863
began business in Westchester. After three years he went to St.
Louis, where he remained three years. He then came to Cincinnati,
where he was in a wholesale grocery for three years, and then returned
to Westchester. In March 1879, he entered into partnership with
James Schenck, in the firm of Schenck & Co. He keeps a
general store, and does an extensive and increasing trade. He is
also a grain buyer. Mr. Van Hise was the township treasurer
for two terms,,, beginning in 1863. He was married Dec. 3, 1863,
to Miss Rachel A. Van Hise, daughter of James Van Hise.
Their children are Nellie, born Dec. 3, 1863, and Clarence L.,
born Feb. 5, 1872. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 592 -
Union Twp. |
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WILLIAM
B. VAN HOOK was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, on the twenty-sixth day
of October, 1795. His parents were Dr. Benjamin F. Van Hook and
Catherine Van Hook, who were Hollanders, and who had emigrated from
New Jersey to the Northwest Territory at a very early period. Mr. Van
Hook remained in Cincinnati until the last war with Great Britain,
when he enlisted as a private in Captain David Oliver's company,
and served as a soldier until peace was declared. He moved from
Cincinnati to Hamilton in the year 1818, where he continued to reside
until his death, which took place in 1871.
He was by trade a carpenter, which he followed for many
years. He had more than ordinary skill as a mechanic and builder. About
1818 he and the late James B. Thomas went from Hamilton to New
Orleans on a flat boat, where they remained for several months; working
together at the carpenter business. Mr. Van Hook
and the late Colonel Ball, of Trenton, walked all the way
back to Hamilton through the then Indian country. He was shortly
afterwards married to Julia Ann Stephens, who survived him, and
who died in June, 1882.
In early life Mr. Van Hook exhibited quite a
taste for the theater, and, as an amateur, played with and assisted the
since eminent tragedian, Edwin Forrest. The circumstances
are related elsewhere. Mr. Forrest never forgot his old
friend, and never visited Cincinnati afterwards without sending for him.
Mr. Van Hook was a man of more than ordinary merit, and filled
with ability offices of public trust. For several years he was a member
of the Ohio Legislature; was speaker of the House of Representatives,
and was warden of the Ohio penitentiary. He was at various times a
member and president of the city council of Hamilton. During the late
rebellion he was deputy provost marshal of the Third Congressional
District. In politics he was always an unwavering and ardent Democrat,
but during the war of the Rebellion acted with the Union party. For more
than half a century he was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity.
He died at his home in Hamilton, Ohio. At the time of his death he was
probably the oldest citizen of this place. He was a highly respected,
useful, and honored citizen.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 340 - Hamilton Twp. |
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JOHN VAN SCOYK
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 501 - Liberty
Twp. |
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JOHN VAN SWEARINGEN was born in Frederick County, Maryland,
June 4, 1762, and died in Union Township in 1852. He married about
1799, in Maryland, Amelia Daily, who was born in Maryland about
1780, on the ground where the battle of Antietam was afterwards fought,
and died July 30, 1836. She had eleven children. Drusilla
was born July 25, 1801; Thomas V., June 2, 1804; Margaret,
Mar. 13, 1807; Naomi, Oct. 5, 1809; Isaac, Dec. 25, 1811;
Elizabeth, Feb. 25, 1814; Rebecca, Aug. 22, 1816; John D.,
Aug. 20, 1819, Mary Ann, Feb. 21, 1821; William born Feb.
23, 1824; and Washington, Apr. 8, 1826. Naomi is
still living, and is the widow of F. C. Crawford; Elizabeth
is the widow of Cyrus Crane; John D. lives in
Bethany; Mary Ann is at home; and Washington lives
in Union Township. The others are dead.
Mr. Van Swearingen came to Butler County
in 1803, and settled in Union Township, purchasing the tract of ground
upon which his brother Isaac had squatted, containing
ninety-eight acres of land, where he settled and lived till the day of
his death. During the War of the Revolution he was called out to
watch the slaves, and to prevent the colored people from rising in
response to the calls of the British. About 1832 he lost his
eye-sight, and was blind till his death. He was a mechanic, and
learned harness-making first of all. Afterward his father left him
a grist-mill and he learned milling. For many years he ran the
mills of Governor Morrow and Colonel Hunt, and also was
called from long distances to dress mill buhrs. He was probably
the only man in the Miami Valley who could do this. He was the
first man that ever made a cradle for cradling grain in Butler County.
He was a mechanical genius, and could make almost any thing that was
needful. He would go to the blacksmith's shop and make his own
tools, and also made shoes, chairs, and wheels, and was also a weaver.
His son, John D., was born Aug. 20, 1819, in
Union Township, and was married on the 1st of January, 1843, to Julia
Crane who was born in Liberty, Oct. 12, 1819, and died Mar. 4, 1865.
They had six children, five of whom lived to grow up. Benton
was born Mar. 7, 1845; Eliza Ann, Oct. 12, 1846; Christie Ann,
Oct. 21, 1848, now dead; Margaret F., June 26, 1850; Luella
Belle, Feb. 9, 1852, now dead; and John D. was born May 3,
1854. He was married the second time, on Mar. 2, 1857, to
Eunice C., widow of William G. Wheeler who was born Apr. 2,
1865, in this county, and dying Feb. 9, 1869. Her maiden name was
Whipple. She had no family. He was married the third
time, Nov. 13, 1870, in Lebanon, Warren County, to Lavina Hawthorne,
born in Warren County, Jan. 11, 1830. She has no family. He
has been a member of the Odd Fellows' Society for some years, but of
late years has retired. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and is its steward. He has held all the offices except
pastor. He joined the organization in 1836, and has been a liberal
supporter ever since.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 591 - Union Twp. |
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THE
VAUGHNS came to America in 1801, and in 1802 removed from
Pennsylvania to Morgan Township. Mr. Vaughn married for his
second wife Ruth (Crosby) Comstock, of Yankee extraction, in
1807. She was born in Connecticut, 1766, and died August 5, 1825,
leaving no family. He married the third time, to Mary Wardell
June 14, 1828, widow of William Brightwell. Mrs. (Wardell)
Vaughn was born March 17, 1765, and died June 24, 1853, without
issue. By his second wife he had no children. Mr. Vaughn
died September 4, 1825. His son, William, was born August
16, 1803, in Morgan Township. He married Mary Bebb,
November 4, 1825, who was born January 12, 1806, in this township.
This marriage resulted in five children, one dying in infancy; four of
whom grew to maturity, John Green Vaughn was born January 21,
1827, and is married and lives in Marion county, Illinois; Martha Ann,
born November 12, 1832, is now the wife of
Abner Francis, of
Ross Township; William Crosby, born February 25, 1835, is
unmarried, and lies with his mother, in New London; Mary Bebb,
born October 28, 1846, is the wife of Rees H. Evans, of this
township. William Vaughn received from his father about
ninety acres of land, on which he commenced life for himself, rising
constantly in the estimation of his fellow-citizens. He was chosen
captain of the State militia, and served as the first postmaster of
Paddy's Run, which office he held until about 1847. At the time of
his death, November 22, 1851, he owned two hundred and twenty acres of
land.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 434 - Morgan Twp |
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FRANKLIN RALEIGH VINNEDGE
was born Mar. 18, 1834, in Fairfield Township, Butler County, and was
married Mar. 24, 1858, to Martha Ann Van Cleaf, born in Liberty
Township, Apr. 7, 1840. He had five children, four of whom are
living. Incy Ann was born Apr. 10, 1860; Thomas Dunmore,
Feb. 14, 1862; Clara Irene, May, 1864, now dead; Lillie Maud,
Apr. 10, 1868; and Raleigh Van Cleaf, Sept. 2, 1872. Mr.
Vinnedge is essentially a self-made man, receiving no assistance
form his relatives. He began business for himself when twenty-five
years old by renting a small farm of forty acres. He rented until
about 1864, when he entered into partnership with W. V. Clark, in
the Mason farm of one hundred and eighty-seven acres in Fairfield
Township, which he sold in 1866, and in 1867 moved to Port Union, where
he went to store-keeping under the firm name of F. R. Vinnedge,
and in the purchase of grain and produce, under the name of
Beatty, Vinnedge & Lippelmann, in which he remained until
1869, when he gave up the store and dissolved partnership, buying grain
and produce for himself and renting the farm of Hiram Smith, in
Union Township. In 1873 he purchased the farm where he now
resides, of two hundred and sixty-seven acres. He is at present
engaged in farming for himself, and purchasing grain and produce with
J. V. Spellman & Son, of Port Union, under the name of Spellman,
Vinnedge & Co., and with J. C. Symmes in Hamilton, under the
name of Vinnedge & Symmes. In the Lake Erie Ice Company he
owns one-fourth of the stock in connection with S. D. Fitton and
others, in Union, and also in Fairfield, under the name of Vinnedge,
Schlosser & Clark. Mr. Vinnedge has held the office of
township justice for four terms, and township treasurer for two years.
The latter position he now holds. He is one of Butler County's
best citizens, owning considerable property in the shape of town lots in
Hamilton and Lockland. In 1864 he cleaned out the Union Township's
portion of the Butler County ditch, and has also been largely
instrumental in grading and building roads. He is a member of the
Odd Fellows, joining them in 1867. He has taken all the degrees
and has held all the different offices. He was also trustee of
Union Township two years, and is a member of the United Workmen Society.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 485 -
Fairfield
Twp. |
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GEORGE VINNEDGE
was born in Fairfield Township, Nov. 30, 1809, being the younger son of
John and Rosanna (Moore) Vinnedge. John Vinnedge was a
native of Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1774, on the 4th of April.
He accompanied the expedition of General Wayne to the Indian
grounds at the north, and was packhorse-master from Fort Hamilton to
Fort Greenville. After the defeat of the Indians he remained in
Hamilton, where he was married in June, 1793. This is the earliest
marriage in the limits of this county known to the editor of this book.
He settled on the place now farmed by Thomas Van Cleaf, in 1798,
and lived there till 1850. He raised a family of eight children,
of whom but four survive - two sons and two daughters. In 1850 he
removed south of Hamilton, in Fairfield Township. He was a justice
of the peace for many years, and was an active Democrat in politics.
He was a member of the Methodist Church. He died in August, 1868,
in his ninety-fifth year. George was educated in the common
schools in Fairfield Township, and was brought up to farming. He
remained at home until he was twenty-four.
In 1831 Mr. Vinnedge was married to Miss
Malinda Robbins, and has five children - three daughters and two
sons. The daughters are now living, residents of Butler County.
They are Mary R., widow of Isaac Skillman, living in
Milford; Nancy R., wife of Frank Jones, living in
Hamilton; and Julia W. wife of Johnston Gerard,
living in Union Township. The first Mrs. Vinnedge died in
1875, and he was again married, April, 1875. His wife was Mrs.
Katy Magness, daughter of Henry Spellman. Mr.
Vinnedge has nearly always been engaged in farming. In 1839 he
purchased a farm on the Springdale Pike, where he resided until coming
to Union Township in 1856, locating on the place now occupied by
Johnston Gerard, a short distance north of Port Union. He
afterwards removed to his present home, a short distance south of Port
Union, where he owns eight-three acres, having on the old place one
hundred and fifty-three acres, having on the old place one hundred and
fifty acres. He was a director in the infirmary board some nine
years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 592 - Union
Twp. |
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MOORE P. VINNEDGE, an old and
respected resident of Fairfield Twp., was born there in 1807. His
parents were John Vinnedge and Rosanna Moore. The former
was engaged in the Indian wars of the Northwest, and was married in this
neighborhood, which was then a portion of Hamilton County. He
settled on the Van Cleaf place, where he lived for
over fifty years. His son,, Moore P. Vinnedge, was married
in June, 1833, to Nancy Kirk, and had by her ten children, eight
of whom are still living, five daughters and three sons. He
resided upon one farm for forty-seven years, dying Sept. 22, 1882.
He was at the time of his death the oldest native resident of the
township.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 370 - Hamilton Twp. |
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BRICE VIRGIN
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 501 - Liberty Twp. |
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JACOB VITZEDOM, son of Daniel,
was a native of Germany, being born there on the 26th of October, 1801.
He came to this county in 1845, and on the 19th of July, 1846, was
married, in Hamilton, to Catherine Sohn, also born in Germany.
Her parents were John Lewis Sohn and Catherine Davison, and she
was born Feb. 15, 1821. Mr. and Mrs. Vitzedom had eight
children. Barbara was born June, 18, 1847, and died the
next October. John J. was born Mar. 20, 1849, and died in
1851; Elizabeth B. was born Aug. 19, 1851; John William, Dec.
12, 1853; John Jacob, Feb. 7, 1855; George William, Sept. 3,
1857; John Lewis, Jan. 17, 1859; and William Martin, Nov.
10, 1862. The last named died in 1867. Mr. Vitzedom
died on the 2d of November 1875, leaving a good farm for his widow and
surviving children.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 449 - Hanover Twp. |
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HENRY T. VOORHEES was born in Warren
County, Ohio, July 4, 1803, and is the oldest son of Daniel Voorhees
and Betsy Tucker, natives of the State of New Jersey.
Daniel Voorhees settled at Lebanon, Warren County, having previously
been a teamster for General Wayne's army. The
occupation at which Henry T. Voorhees first began farming,
following it till he became of age, and for two or three years after.
He was married about 1825 to Mary Brandeburg, a native of
Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Voorhees were the parents of
five children, of whom three survive. Daniel B. lives in
Omaha, Nebraska; Eliza was the wife of Wesley Caldwell,
and died about 1860; Israel is a resident of Union
Township; Charlotte is the wife of Milton Thomson, living
in Warren County; and Henry died in his infancy.
Mr. Voorhees continued a resident of Warren
County until 1837, then removing to Union Township, in this county.
He now has an improved place of one hundred and forty acres of valuable
land, and under a high state of cultivation. He began with
nothing. When he was first married they had to borrow cooking
utensils. Mr. Voorhees is a member of the Baptist Church at
Muddy Creek. They now live in a comfortable and commodious
residence, built about 1844.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio -
Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 593 - Union
Twp. |
NOTES:
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