Jonah S. Vandervort

As printed in 1882

JONAH S. VANDERVORT, farmer, P. 0. New Antioch, born one mile from where he now lives June 6, 1838, is a son of Nicholas and Nancy Vandervort; he was born at Columbia, near Cincinnati, in 1803; she was born in Warren County, Ohio; the further history of the ancestors is given in sketch of Paul H. Vandervort. Nicholas Vandervort was six years of age when brought to Clinton County, and here grew to manhood, married, and devoted his entire life to the honorable occupation of farming, and, like his father, was a member and earnest worker in the Christian Church, and lived a long and useful life, having at his death been a resident of this county sixty-four years; his death occurred June 23, 1876; his wife died Jannary 11, 1873. They had eight children; five now survive — James M., Thaddeus H., John M., Nicholas W. and Jonah 8. Two sons (deceased), Paul C. and William V., enlisted in the war of the rebellion in Company B, Fortieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in September and December respectively, 1861. The former died of typhoid fever at Catlettsburg, Ky., February 8, 1862. The latter was but a youth of sixteen years when he enlisted. and became a drummer boy, and served through the war; was discharged at Atlanta, Ga., in December, 1864; came home, was married, and died April 14, 1880, leaving four children — Louie, Jessie, Mendel and John. Our subject was the youngest son of his father’s family now surviving; was married, July 26, 1860, to Angeline J. Walker, who was born in Clinton County June 19, 1840, a daughter of Nathan and Jane M. Walker, natives of Kentucky. The maternal grandparents were Dr. Joshua Phillips and Lucinda Phillips. The maiden name of Mrs. Phillips was Lucinda Irvin, who was born in Bedford County, Va., May 11, 1783. Her father, Andrew Irvin, served in the war of the Revolution, and afterward finally came to Clinton County, Ohio, where he died in 1830, aged eighty-two years. His wife died in 1843, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, and were both buried at New Antioch. Lucinda Irvin was taken by her parents to Kentucky when a mere child. She was married to Dr. Joshua Phillips at Millersburg, Ky., January 21, 1808. Dr. Phillips was born in Baltimore, Md., and served in the war of 1812 as Captain of a company, and was a personal friend of Gen. Harrison. He died in Kentucky September 19, 1820, aged thirty-six years, and his remains were interred at Charleston, Ind. Mrs. Phillips was left with three little girls — Eliza, Nancy and Jane M., whom she raised to womanhood. She brought them, in 1823, to Clinton County, where she lived till her death May 25, 1869, having been a widow forty-nine years. She died at the ripe age of eight-six years. Of the three girls only one, Eliza H. Vandervort, is now living, and resides at Fair Haven, Stearns Co., Minn., now seventy years of age. Jane M., another of her daughters, and the mother of Angeline J. Vandervort, wife of our subject, was born in Bath, Ky., July 21, 1815, and was married to Nathan Walker March 22, 1832, by Elder Samuel Rogers. They resided nearly all their lives in Clinton County, Ohio; she died February 8, 1866; he died September 1, 1876. They had eight children; five now survive — Elvira J., wife of James A. Hogan; Angeline J., Henry R., Maria E., wife of J. W. Van Dervort, and Nathan W. Mr. and Mrs. Vandervort have two adopted children they have taken to raise — Gertie L. and Joseph W., son'and daughter of Isabel J. Robinson, wife of Dr. R. K. Robinson, a daughter of Nicholas and Nancy Vandervort. She was married to the Doctor in April, 1866, and moved to Xenia, Miami Co., Ind., where she died March 13, 1876. Mr. Vandervort early turned his attention to teaching school; then he gave especial attention to the study of medicine for one year, and, for this purpose, moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the fall of 1865, and was matriculated in the Miami Medical College, of which Dr. Mendenhall was then Dean, but, before the close of the term lectures, he was taken sick, and was compelled to leave the college. Upon the restoration of his health, the lecture course having terminated, he turned his attention to the farm and his former profession of teaching school, from which he has never been divorced. Mr. Vandervort is among the most reliable and respected citizens of this community; has served as Assessor of the township. He is a worthy and active member of the Christian Church at New Antioch, and has followed well the footsteps of his worthy ancestors.

As printed in The history of Clinton County, Ohio : containing a history of the county : its townships, cities, towns ... etc. : general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.