John William Vandervort

As printed in 1915

JOHN WILLIAM VANDERVORT.

In the early days the Middle West was often a tempting field to energetic, ambitious, strong-minded men, and Ohio was filled with them during the time she was struggling to a respectable iwsttton In the sisterhood of states. Many of the families whose progeny has since become prominent In the life of this state were founded in Ohio shortly after the state was admitted to the Union. There was a fascination in the broad fields and great promise which this never region presented to activity and which attracted many men, inducing them to brave the discomforts of the early life here for the pleasure and gratification of constructing their fortunes in their own ways and after their own methods. It Is this class of men more than any other which hns given shape, direction and character to the great state of Ohio. J. W. Vandervort, formerly a well-known farmer of Clinton county- and a member of the board of county commissioners for two terms. Is a memtar of one of the families which had to do with the early history of this county.

John William Vandervort. who is now living retired in Wilmington, was born near New Antloch. in Green township, this county, on July 21. 18TA the son of Paul It and Matilda (McKenzle* Vandervort. the former of whom was born near Starhuck, In Clinton county, on January 1. 1X1 5, the son of Jonah and Jane (Tlbbs) Vandervort. and the latter of whom was the daughter of John and Isabelle McKenzie.

The ancestry of the Vandervort family goes back to Michael Panlus Van Der Voort. Who came from East Flanders, region of Dendermonde. prior to the year 1640 and located In New Amsterdam, now New York. The records show that Michael Panlus Van I>er Voort was married to Marie Kapalye on November 18. 1640. their marriage being the fifth recorded In New Amsterdam. Among their children was Paul Van Der Voort. baptised on January 3, 1649, who married Lysbeth Paulus Dlneksen, to which union was born a son. called Paul, who was born at Bedford. Ixwig Island, and was baptised in 1681. He married Nult7.e Staats. and they had a son, Nicholas, born at Bedford, Long Island. Subsequently, the family moved to Orange county, New York, where Nicholas married Abigail Halstead. to which union six children were born. John. Martha. Paul. Peter, William and Jonah, the latter of whom was the grandfather of J. W. Vandervort, the subject of this sketch. Jonnh Vandervort settled in Clinton county Ohio, in 1810. I be year in which the county was organized, lie was born in Sbepberdstown, Virginia, ou May 30. 1705, and was married to Jane Tibbs on March 29, 1798. They moved to the Northwest Territory in 1800, and located at Columbia, which is now within the city limits of Cincinnati, Ohio. Later, in 1810, they nine to Clinton county.

Nicholas and Abigail (Hulsteud) Vandervort, both of whom were natives of New York state, became residents of Virginia after their marriage and emigrated from Vlrglnla about 1800, the objective point being Green river in Kentucky. On their way down the Ohio river, upon arriving at Columbia, near Cincinnati, they anchored their boat for the night. A large limb from a tree overhanging the boat broke and fell, damaging the bout so much that it was unfit for further travel with safety. After some Investigation of the surrounding country they became so well pleased with it that they concluded to settle there and it Is believed that Nicholas and Abigail (Halstead) Vandervort spent the rest of their lives there. Jonah Vandervort's wife, who before her marriage was Jane Tibbs, was the daughter of John and Mary Tibbs, natives of Ireland. The latter, when a girl, was kidnapped and taken on board a vessel and brought to America, where she grew to womanhood and was married, subsequently becoming a resident of Virginia, whence she emigrated to Columbia. Ohio, where she died. Jonah and Jane (Tibbs) Vandervort resided at Columbia until 1*o9, when they came to this county, locating on Todd's fork, where they lived for six years, at the cud of which time they removed to near New Antioch. where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were among the earliest settlers In that region and assisted In the organization and establishment of the first Christian church at Antioch, In which they were leading members and in the good works of which they assisted with their purses and with their Influence. Jonah Vandervort became of great strength to the church and was a very upright Christian man. He was a man of good judgment and one of the first jurytneu of Clinton county. Jouuh Vandervort and his wife were the parents of six sons and five daughters. He died In January. 1842. and his widow died three years later, in 1845.

Paul H. Vandervort. who was one of the six sons and one of the eleven children born to his parents, was two mouths old when his parents moved to the farm near New Antioch. It was there he was reared and grew to manhood and sj>ent his entire life until August. 1870, when he retired from the farm and located In New Antioch. He was one of the most prominent and useful citizens of tbut community and served as commissioner of Cliutou county for twelve years. He was also one of the managers of the Clinton County Agricultural Society for thirteen years and served as president of the same for many years. He also held other minor offices and was a leading member and supixirter of the Christian church. At (he death of his father he was elected to fill the hitter's place a* deacon in the church, which office he held for a quarter of a century and was then made elder.

On October 10. 1806. Paul H. Vandervort was married to Matilda McKenzie. the daughter of John and Isabelle McKenzie. natives of Kentucky, who became residents of Ohio, and who died In Clinton county and were Interred in (he old burying ground at New Andoeh. To this union four children were born, namely: Mary Emily, the wife of E. W. Marble; Alpheus. who served three years and three months in the Civil War, enlisting In Company It. Fortieth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, In receinber,. 1801. and was engaged in the battles of Chlckamauga, Lookout Mountain and others, and served under General Garfield In his celebrated conquest of the Rig Sandy and through eastern Kentucky; Samantba. who married Dr. W. W. Canny and with him removed to Camden. Preble county. Ohio, where he died, and J. W\, the subject of thls sketch. Mrs. Matilda (McKenzie) Vandervort died on June 20. 1876, and three years later, on August 26, 1870, Paul H. Vandervort married, secondly, Mary Ann Mitchell, daughter of James and Mary (Fleming) Mitchell, natives of Pennsylvania, but who, hi 1828, settled near

Wilmington, in Clinton county, where he died in 1836, his widow living to be eighty years old.

J. W. Vnndervort attended the public schools ut New Antioch und subsequently was a student for one year at the Normal school ut Lebanon, Warren county. In the meantime he was engaged In assisting his father on the farm and after his marriage lived on the home place until be retired in 1905, he having purchased the interest of the other heirs when his father died. He still owns this farm, the farm which his grandfather reclaimed from the wilderness. It now consists of one hundred and fifty-one acres. Upon his removal to Wilmington, Mr. Vandervort purchased a home at the corner of Mulberry and Vine streets, where the family now lives.

On September 24. 187-1. J. W. Vandervort was married to Maria E. Walker, who was born In Green township, this county, the daughter of Nathan and Jane (Phillips) Walker, the former of whom was born near Lexington, Kentucky, on February 28. 1806. and died on September 1, 1870. and the latter of whom was born In Bourbon county, Kentucky. July 21, 1816. and died on February 8. 18C6. Nathan Walker's parents were Robert and Nancy Walker, early settlers in Kentucky, who reared a large family. Jane (Phillips) Walker's parents were Joshua and Luciuda (Irvin) Phillips, who were farmers by occupation and early settlers in Bourbon county. Kentucky. Nathan Walker married In Kentucky and came to this county, locating In Green township, where he owned a farm. He belonged to the Christian church, and was a Republican In politics. He had a family of three daughters and two sons.

To J. W. and Maria E. (Walker) Vandervort four children have been born, as follow: Paul H.. Jr.. who was born on September 10. 1870. teller in the First National Bank of Wilmington, married Mary A. Bobbins, and has three children. Mary. Anna and Eleanor; Ada E.. April 25. 1881. who died on May 5. 1904; Arthur W.. June 20. 1883. a minister in the Christian church at Minneapolis. Minnesota, on June 23, 1015. married Anna It. Kobinette. of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Robert D., December 27, 1895, who died In August. 1806.

J. W. Vandervort is a Republican and served two terms as a member of the Clinton county board of commissioners, having been elected on the Republican ticket. All of the 'members of the Vandervort family are actively identified with the Christian church. Mr. Vandervort was Identified officially with the church at New Antioch and later with the Central church at Wilmington. No one can deny that Mr. Vandervort has worthily upheld the traditions of his family, or that, in both public and private life, he has discharged every duty which may reasonably be expected by the public at large. He Is highly respected In Clinton county, where he Is well known, having a host of friends In this section of the state.

It Is a pleasure to Investigate the career of a successful, self-made man. Peculiar honor attaches to that individual, who. beginning the great struggle of life alone and unaided, gradually overcomes unfavorable environment, removes one by one the obstacles from the pathway of success and, by the master stroke of his own force and vitality, succeeds in forging his way to the front and winning for himself a competency and a position of esteem and influence among his fellowmen. Such is the record of the popular citizen of Wilmington, to a brief synopsis of whose life and character, the following paragraphs are devoted.

1 si dor Kaufman Is a native of Russia, having been born on the very edge of the German frontier on October 1, 1883. He Is the son of Samuel and Rachel (Snpowltz) Kaufman, both of whom were also natives of Russia and both of whom are deceased. Samuel Kaufman was a merchant In his native land and a very strict Jew In his religious belief, being held in high esteem In the community where he lived. To him and his

As printed in History of Clinton County, Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.