William Vinton

VINTON, BRIGGS, BROWN, LAMERE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/12/2011 at 21:00:55

WILLIAM VINTON. The publishers of this Record would fail in their object in presenting to their readers an outline of the lives of the best citizens of the county were they to omit that of the gentleman above named. He is located on his fine farm of three hundred and thirty-five acres in Felix Township, Grundy County, which has been brought to its present productive state by his own efforts.

Ezra Vinton, the father of our subject, was born near Boston, Mass., in March, 1786, and on reaching mature years he learned the trade of a cooper, which occupation he followed for some time in Charleston, the same state. Later in life he removed to New Hampshire, where he carried on farming quite successfully. The lady who became the mother of our subject was known as Miss Mary P. Briggs prior to her marriage. She reared a family of five children, those besides our subject being George, a farmer in Oregon; Harriet, now Mrs. Charles Brown, of Leominster, Mass.; John, who makes him home in Leominster, Mass.; and Ezra. The father of our subject died July 13, 1866, and the mother September 8, 1832, the former being buried in New Hampshire, and the latter in Charleston, Mass. Ezra Vinton was a Jacksonian Democrat in politics, and a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Our subject was born on November 22, 1821, in Charleston, Mass., where he lived until reaching his eighteenth year, and at that time going to Boston, he learned the trade of a painter. He was very economical with his earnings and was soon enabled to enter into business on his own account in that line.

In 1851 Mr. Vinton removed to Illinois, where he continued to follow the painter’s trade for the two succeeding years. The gold excitement in California was now at its height, and he in company with many others went overland to Placerville, where they entered the mines and dug for gold. He soon learned that sudden wealth was not to be obtained that way, and so gave up this occupation after having spent all his money. Then going to Sacramento, he drove a milk wagon, receiving $150 per month. In the year 1855, returning to Illinois, he remained for a twelvemonth, and then came to what was later Grundy County. On his way hither he bought horses in Chicago, which he drove overland to this county, and like other pioneers commenced the arduous work of putting his land under cultivation. He has been very successful in his undertaking and has acquired a valuable property, which places him among the moneyed men of the county.

The lady who became the wife of our subject was born January 29, 1826, and bore the maiden name of Nancy M. Lamere. She was born in Canada, and by her union with Mr. Vinton has become the mother of eight children: George A., born October 21, 1846; William H., March 16, 1848; Winslow W., December 23, 1849; Ella A., January 11, 1852; John T., December 25, 1856; Mary E., October 29, 1859; Fred, June 6, 1861; and Calvin, October 11, 1865. All are deceased with the exception of Henry, Mary and Calvin.

Mr. Vinton never fails to vote the straight Republican ticket. He has served his fellow-townsmen as Justice of the Peace for twelve years, as a member of the Board of Supervisors for many terms, and has been School Treasurer for the last thirty years. Socially he is a Master Mason and an influential member of that order. As before stated, he is classed among the old settlers of the county and has ever taken a warm interest in its development and welfare. He is an intelligent, well informed man, possessing foresight and sagacity in business matters, and his splendid character and many fine qualities of head and heart have placed him in the high regard of his fellow-citizens.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894