S.E. Vincent

VINCENT, MEEKS, RICE, VAN FLEET, DAMERON, DAVIS, FRAZEE, WORK, TEN EYCK

Posted By: Fran Hunt, Volunteer
Date: 10/5/2001 at 09:45:27

From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties – 1890
S. E. VINCENT
S.E. Vincent is one of the leading businessmen of Van Buren County and one of its largest landowners. He is now engaged in general merchandising in Lebanon and is also the owner of a similar establishment in Cantril. Being widely known throughout the community, his sketch will be of interest to many of our readers and we are therefore pleased to represent him in this work. He was born on March 13, 1830, in West Virginia, gracing the union of Rice W. and Elizabeth Meeks Vincent. On the parental side the family is of English origin, but the Meeks are of Scotch-Irish extraction. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Vincent, was a native of Delaware and served in the Revolutionary War. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Rice and who was a native of Virginia, died at a remarkable age of one hundred and one years. The parents of our subject were both born in the Old Dominion and Mr. Vincent followed farming in the pursuit of fortune. He died in 1852 and his wife passed away in 1868. Their family numbered twelve children. John J. the eldest, who was a native of West Virginia, enlisted in the Union Army during the late war, was captured an died in Andersonville prison in 1864; Susan died in Virginia; Thomas W. died in West Virginia, in 1889; Mamie died in Virginia; and Morgan C, in Indiana; Amos B. is engaged in farming in Pennsylvania; S.E. of this sketch is the next younger; Sarah is now deceased; Jefferson C. is married and resides in Missouri; William H. is married and makes his home in Chillicothe Missouri; D. Frank is married and resided in California; and Lucy W. is now Mrs. Van Fleet of Jackson Township, Van Buren County.
The first twenty-five years of his life S.E. Vincent spent in the State of his nativity but in 1855, he resolved to act upon Horace Greeley’s advice and go west. He made a location in Hancock County Illinois, where he engaged in farming for about a year, when he removed to Missouri, where he spent five years engaged in the same pursuit. It was a fortunate day for him when he decided to remove to Van Buren County. In 1861, he located in Jackson Township and since that his efforts have been attended with marked success. For about nine years he engaged in farming and raising stock. He purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land and from time to time made additional purchases until he now is the owner of seven hundred acres under a good state of cultivation, together with some landed property in Virginia. He still superintends the management of his farm, which pays to him a golden tribute for his care and cultivation and raising stock is also an important branch of his business, he shipping from seventy-five to a hundred head of cattle per year.
Prior to his emigration from his native state, Mr. Vincent was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Dameron, the wedding taking place in 1850. The lady was born in that state March 12, 1831. Their family numbered the following children: Ellen Nora, now deceased; Mrs. Jane Davis; Cordelia who died in California; Mrs. Amanda R Frazee of Van Buren Township, Van Buren County; Mrs. Emma Work of Denver, Colorado; W.H. who is married and is engaged in merchandising in Cantril; Mrs. Mary Ten Eyck of Lebanon; Ida C., Zepha, James F. and John J. who died in childhood. The mother of this family passed to her last rest on January 30, 1890, after a long married life of forth years.
Mr. Vincent left his farm in 1870, and removed to Lebanon, where he has since resided. He erected a good store building, put in a large stock of general merchandise and has since done a good business in that line. As he keeps only good grades of merchandise, which he sells at fair prices and as in all his dealings he is upright and honorable, courteous to all, he has won a liberal patronage, which he richly deserves. His store at Cantril is also in a prosperous condition. The business interests of Mr. Vincent are extensive, yet he has found time to devote to public duties. For seventeen years he served as Postmaster of Lebanon, has filled the office Trustee in both Chequest and Jackson Townships for several years each, and is now Township Treasurer. He takes considerable interest in political affairs, and is a stanch advocate of the Democracy. He is a sagacious and far-sighted businessman who has been blessed with the prosperity, which comes to those of energetic and industrious habits.
I am not related, and am only copying this for the information of those who might find this person in their family.