1883 History of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio, Perry Surnames "V"

HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

SURNAMES BEGINNING WITH "V"

VANSYCLE, STEPHEN A., son of Peter A. and Cynthia (Barns) Vansycle, daughter of Rev. Isaac Barns, and grandson of Andrew, who died in New Jersey at the age of ninety. Stephen's father arrived in Ohio and settled on the farm where he died in 1876, at the age of ninety- three. He spent over $800 for the monuments and fencing of his burial ground, and that of his venerable consort. He reared eleven children to the estate of married life. Among these are Almira, wife of George Pherson, ex-treasurer of the county; Alice, wife of Lawson Teal, Deputy Auditor, and Stephen A., the subject of this sketch, who was married to Eliza Saffel, deceased, February 24, 1880. Their children are James Reuben, Isaac Alfred, Mary Jane Swinehart, Lydia Katherine Brookhart, now a widow residing with her only child at the home of her father; John Thomas, William, Calvin, Ellen Brehm, Elizabeth Poland, Perry Elmer and Frank, the youngest son. Stephen began life a renter, in a few years bought forty acres near Bristol, and paid $100 on the contract, having time to pay the other $300. He alleges this was the

572

hardest money he ever earned, but he got through and kept on buying until he had one hundred and sixty acres in a body. He also is of the opinion that the first $1,000 any man earns, is far the most difficult to acquire. He can read tolerably, but his learning was chiefly acquired in leveling the forest and threshing wheat with a flail. He sold out the farm he earned by hard knocks and economy, and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Reading township, prospered there, bought the Cassel farm, and then next to it the beautiful home of the late Judge William M. Brown, in sight of Somerset, where he now lives in comfort, and but for the loss of his cherished wife, also in happiness. His first tax receipt was $1.08; last year he paid over $180, and worked twelve days to pay his road tax. His children generally inherit the thrift of their ancestors and have nearly all grown to the estate of womanhood and manhood. He is of German Baptist extraction, never held, or was a candidate for any office, except school director, his church being noncombative and non-office holding. He has avoided lawsuits, and except the last sickness of his wife, $100 would pay all his bills for the doctors or medicine, though he has reared a large family. VENING, GEORGE H., carpenter and contractor, Rendville, Ohio; was born July 24, 1850, in Logan, Hocking county, Ohio; son of Henry and Mary A. (Gregory) Vening. George H. was brought up on a farm near New Lexington, and learned his trade with his father; came to his present residence in November, 1870. Mr. Vening was married November 4, 1878, to Miss Sophia, daughter of William Newton and Susanna (Dixon) Irwin. They are the parents of two children, viz.: Ethel May and Mary Edna. Mr. Vening has had good success, being one of the best mechanics of the county.

573

Next Chapter

HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
SURNAMES BEGINNING WITH "V"
VANSYCLE, STEPHEN A., son of Peter A. and Cynthia (Barns) Vansycle, daughter of Rev. Isaac Barns, and grandson of Andrew, who died in New Jersey at the age of ninety. Stephen's father arrived in Ohio and settled on the farm where he died in 1876, at the age of ninety- three. He spent over $800 for the monuments and fencing of his burial ground, and that of his venerable consort. He reared eleven children to the estate of married life. Among these are Almira, wife of George Pherson, ex-treasurer of the county; Alice, wife of Lawson Teal, Deputy Auditor, and Stephen A., the subject of this sketch, who was married to Eliza Saffel, deceased, February 24, 1880. Their children are James Reuben, Isaac Alfred, Mary Jane Swinehart, Lydia Katherine Brookhart, now a widow residing with her only child at the home of her father; John Thomas, William, Calvin, Ellen Brehm, Elizabeth Poland, Perry Elmer and Frank, the youngest son. Stephen began life a renter, in a few years bought forty acres near Bristol, and paid $100 on the contract, having time to pay the other $300. He alleges this was the 572
hardest money he ever earned, but he got through and kept on buying until he had one hundred and sixty acres in a body. He also is of the opinion that the first $1,000 any man earns, is far the most difficult to acquire. He can read tolerably, but his learning was chiefly acquired in leveling the forest and threshing wheat with a flail. He sold out the farm he earned by hard knocks and economy, and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Reading township, prospered there, bought the Cassel farm, and then next to it the beautiful home of the late Judge William M. Brown, in sight of Somerset, where he now lives in comfort, and but for the loss of his cherished wife, also in happiness. His first tax receipt was $1.08; last year he paid over $180, and worked twelve days to pay his road tax. His children generally inherit the thrift of their ancestors and have nearly all grown to the estate of womanhood and manhood. He is of German Baptist extraction, never held, or was a candidate for any office, except school director, his church being noncombative and non-office holding. He has avoided lawsuits, and except the last sickness of his wife, $100 would pay all his bills for the doctors or medicine, though he has reared a large family. VENING, GEORGE H., carpenter and contractor, Rendville, Ohio; was born July 24, 1850, in Logan, Hocking county, Ohio; son of Henry and Mary A. (Gregory) Vening. George H. was brought up on a farm near New Lexington, and learned his trade with his father; came to his present residence in November, 1870. Mr. Vening was married November 4, 1878, to Miss Sophia, daughter of William Newton and Susanna (Dixon) Irwin. They are the parents of two children, viz.: Ethel May and Mary Edna. Mr. Vening has had good success, being one of the best mechanics of the county. 573
Next Chapter