Allen Vinton & Descendants

VINTON CURTIS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/15/2010 at 19:45:38

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Allen Vinton and Descendants
By Mrs. Sylvia Tripp

On August 28, 1845, Sylvia Ann Curtis of Brockville, Ontario, Canada, eloped with Allen Vinton of Palmyra, New York. Allen was born April 17, 1819. They spent the first fifteen years in upper New England states where Allen was a school teacher. They had one son, Alamanzor ‘Dick’, born August 21, 1848.

The Vinton family emigrated by land and water to Sioux City. Allen had heard of land opportunities from a cousin, Allen McManus. The tracts of land he purchased in Woodbury County enabled him to live in comfort the last days of his life. The Vintons lived in Sioux City when it was the smallest of country hamlets. Allen also bought gold dust from the miners who came through Sioux City. As he prospered, he built the Vinton Block at 4th and Pearl Streets; one-half block long on 4th Street and one-quarter block deep on Pearl. The floor level of the building was rented to small businesses; Murray Chick Store, Jack’s Bootery, Singing Sewing Machines, a store. The basement was rented as a barber shop. The upper level was the family’s home.

Allen Vinton later built a large family home at 612 Pearl Street. People thought he was crazy to build in the corn field but the town prospered and soon Pearl Street was the home of Mr. Weare, grandfather of Dr Pierce Knott; Mr. Hiels, the jeweler; the Perassos, McCartys, Maouns, Langs, Bruens, Pelletiers, Calls, O J MOores, Milcrests, Sibleys, Mungers and Badgerows.

Allen’s son, ‘Dick’ Vinton worked as a brakeman for the Milwaukee Railroad. He met and married Jane Agnes Coughlin in Ottumwa, Iowa. Jane Agnes ‘Jennie’ had recently arrived form Ripon, England. They lived in a small house on 6th street between Pearl and Water Streets. They had two children, Margaret Veronica ‘Daisy’ and James Allen, who died at age 22. Dick Vinton was noted for his sulky race horses. He traveled the racing circuit from April to October.

Daisy Vinton married Charles Francis Morrison, who was born in Grissly Flats, California, and had moved with his family to Stevensville, Michigan. Charles was one of eleven children born to George Ramsey Morrison and Mary Ann Dwyer, of Irish descent. Charles and Daisy had five children, Sylvia Ann, Francis Vinton, Allen Richard, Margaret Mary, and Jane Agnes. Sylvia Ann Morrison Tritz and Jane Morrison Keough still reside in Sioux City. Their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, of which there are close to one hundred, are fifth, sixth, and seventh-generation Sioux Citians.