The Vause Family of Pickaway County, Ohio

JOHN D. VAUSE, deceased, was for many years one of the leading agriculturists of Harrison township. He was born March 10, 1818, and was a son of Thomas Vause, a native of Virginia who migrated from Moorefield in that State to locate on Buck Creek, near Springfield. Clark County, Ohio. Later he moved into Franklin County, where he died in 1852, aged 66 years. His wife, Elizabeth Decker, died in the same year, aged 60. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Vause, as follows: John D.; Rachel, who became the wife of William Thornton Decker; William, who married Mary Stimmel; Luke D.; James Inskeep, residing in Harrison township, two miles from Ashville, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Thomas B., who married Missouri Moore; and Hannah Decker, who was killed by an accident.

John D. Vause was educated in the early schools and reared to agricultural pursuits. In 1862 he purchased a farm of 260 acres in Harrison township, Pickaway County, on which he lived and labored until his death February 16, 1898, although he naturally retired from active work during the later years of his life. He married Mary Elizabeth Perrill, who was born January 1, 1822, and died January 20, 1901. She was a daughter of Nathan Perrill, a Virginian by birth, who settled in Madison township, Pickaway County, where he died many years ago. He was married to Christina Stump, near Moorefield, Virginia, and became the father of five children, viz.: Augustus L., who served in both branches of the State Legislature and as sheriff of Pickaway County — both he and his wife, Mary Seymour, are deceased; Zebulon H., who married Rebecca Bywaters; Catherine, wife of John Moore; Mary Elizabeth, wife of our subject; and Frances, wife of Adam Dyer. To Mr. and Mrs. John D. Vause were born eight children, namely: Christiana E., who married Thomas J. Rathmell, and now resides in Hamilton township, Franklin County, Ohio; Rachel C., wife of Seymour R. Vanmeter, residing in Circleville; Mary P., who lives at home; Nathan Perrill, of Scioto township; J. Baldwin, residing on the old home farm in Harrison township, purchased by his father and partly settled by his grandfather; Thomas W., who died in 1879; Frances P., wife of Dr. H. C. Blake, of Lockbourne; and Anna L., who lives at home with her sister and brother — Mary P. and J. Baldwin.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

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County, Ohio, August 12, 1827, but has been identified with Pickaway County since 1857. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Decker) Vause.

The early history of die Vause family belongs to Virginia. The father of James I. Vause was born and reared in Hampshire County, Virginia, whence he came to Clark County, Ohio, and purchased a small farm in the vicinity of Springfield. During the War of 1812. he accompanied his neighbors to the frontier to defend their homes from the British and Indians and was captain of the company of light horse during the period of its service. He found his land well adapted to the growing of grain and the raising of stock, and through his care and excellent methods increased his holdings and became a man of substance as well as importance, owning at his death some 600 acres of land in Franklin and Pickaway counties. In 1823 he settled in the former county and erected a fine home near Lockbourne, in which he resided the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1852. at the age of 66 years. In 1817 he married Elizabeth Decker, who died in 1852. aged 60 years. Their children were: John D.. Rachel. William, Luke

I) James Inskeep, Thomas B., and Hannah Decker. Of these, our subject is the only survivor. John D. married Mary Perrill and lived in Harrison township. Rachel married William Thornton Decker and they are survived by six children. William married Mary Stimmel. and Thomas B. married Missouri Moore and resided at Camp Chase, Columbus.

James I. Vause spent his boyhood in attending the district schools and in assisting on the home farm and remained there until 1858, although he had purchased a part of his present farm in 1857. This purchase was one of 482 acres, formerly the property of Joseph Renick, to which Mr. Vause has added, his last purchase, in 1892. being one of a farm of 130 acres, which he bought of George Hall and W william Mott. His farm ot 600 acres is devoted to crops of wheat, corn, oats and hay and to the raising of cattle, horses and swine. When Mr. Vause acquired his property, a small I amount of clearing* had been done, but the larger part of the land was still heavily tim-

47 be red. This was subsequently cleared by Mr. j Vause and placed under its present hue state ! of cultivation.

On November 7. 1854, Mr. Vause was married to Eliza Wright, born April 17. 1827, j a daughter of Joseph and Sarah ( Flatter] Wright. Mrs. Vause died June 25, 1878. the mother of five children, viz.: Sarah Elizabeth, born October 17, 1856, who died at the age of eight years, 10 months and 17 days; Joseph Wright, born June 22, 1858, one of Harrison township’s substantial men; William Thornton, born January 5, 1860, who died March 29, I 1861; James Edward, born July 24, 1863, who married Ella Conner, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin,.and resides at Milwaukee, where he follows his profession as civil engineer; and Mary Agnes, born September 12, 1865, who is the wife of 1. J. S water, of Harrison township. Mr. and Mrs. Swayer have two children — Herbert Edwin and Ray Vause. Mrs. Eliza (Wright) Vause, the mother of this family, was a devoted and useful member of the Asbury Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church and was a hearty worker in the Missionary Society of that body.

Mr. Vause was married (second), on September 9, 1880, in Walnut township, Pickaway County, to Alary A. Haas, who was born November 7, 1845, M Pickaway County, Ohio, and died November 13. 1900, aged 55 years. She was a daughter of Jacob and Rebecca Haas, of Pickaway County.

The beautiful home of Mr. Vause was erected in 1873, taking the place of the old log house, which had served its time as a place of residence. Here Mr. Vause still resides, although he is relieved of all business care by his son, Joseph Wright Vause, who has always resided on the old homestead. In spite of his 79 years, Mr. Vause is in the enjoyment of: vigorous health, tins being a heritage from a; wholesome boyhood and the result of an un- 1 usual busy life, a large part of which, has been passed in the healthful pursuits of agriculture. In his political views. Mr. Vause has always been an ardent Republican. As an intelligent citizen he has' kept alive his interest in public movements as well as local enterprises and has been liberal in the assistance he has given to objects of charity and benevolence when they have been brought to his attention. Aside from the personal esteem in which he is held, he is an interesting figure in Harrison township as a representative of a fine old family which came to the county as pioneers.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

James Inskeep Vause was born September - * 27- Since 1858 he has been a resident

0 Harrison township, Pickaway County, havn>g purchased the homestead farm from To-, seph Renick, in 1857. On November 7, 184 he was married to Eliza Wright, who was born April 17, 1827, i„ Madison township,

1 ickaway County, Ohio, and died June 05 l87° agi 5i years, 2 months and 8 davs She was a daughter of Joseph ami Sarah (Platter)

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Joseph Wright Vause was educated in the district schools of Harrison township and has devoted his whole life to farming on the family estate. He has always resided with his father and assisted in the management of the 600 acres of fine land which they have so successfully cultivated. Mr. Vause devotes about 100 acres to corn and wheat and realizes from 3,000 to 3,300 bushels of corn and about 1,500 bushels of wheat. Much attention is given to the raising of good stock and this lias long been a feature here.

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Mr. Vause is one of the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of the northern section of the county and follows modern methods and utilized modern machinery. The modern farmer, more than almost any other business man, must have a working understanding of half a dozen professions, the time having gone by when farming means nothing more than sowing and reaping and the chance additions to the herds in the fields. The prosperity which has been marked on the Vause estate shows very conclusively the value of the methods employed here. In addition to agricultural prominence, the family has always stood high in the social circles of Harrison township and in every way represents its best citizenship.

BETEk B. PONTIOUS, one of Salt Creek township’s representative men and old and honored citizens, has resided on his present farm of 102 acres, situated in section 31, for almost a half century, coming here in 1858. He belongs to a family which came very early to Ohio, bringing his habits of Pennsylvania thrift. He was born in Ross County, January 8, 1832, and is a son of Andrew and Mary (Betzer) Pontious. The grandfather of Peter B. Pontious was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and removed thence to Ross County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming in Green township.

Andrew Pontious was born in Ross County, Ohio, was there engaged in farming all his life, and died there in February, 1880. He married Mary Ann Betzer, who was also Ijorn in Ross County, and they had 12 children, the. six survivors being: Johi R., of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Frederick B., of Lawrence, Kansas; Peter B., of this sketch; Jane, wife of Reuben May, of Ross County, Ohio; Sarah, wife of Martin Socin, of Chillicothe; and Andrew J., of Salt Creek township.

Peter B. Pontious spent Ijoyhood and youth in Ross County, attending the best schools in his neighborhood, and learning the practical facts about farming and stock-raising on his father’s farm. Agricultural pursuits have continued to he his business and pleasure all his life and his well-cultivated farm testifies to the careful tillage it has received.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.