Summary
Nelson Holmes Van Vorhes (January 23, 1822 – December 4, 1882) was an American newspaperman and politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1875 to 1879.
Nelson Holmes Van Vorhes | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 15th district | |
| In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | |
| Preceded by | William P. Sprague |
| Succeeded by | George W. Geddes |
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the Athens County district | |
| In office December 2, 1850 – January 1, 1854 Serving with H. S. Bundy | |
| Preceded by | Anselm T. Holcomb, Joseph K. Will |
| Succeeded by | Samuel B. Pruden |
| In office January 7, 1856 – January 1, 1860 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel B. Pruden |
| Succeeded by | A. B. Monahan |
| In office January 3, 1870 – January 4, 1874 | |
| Preceded by | William P. Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Charles H. Grosvenor |
| Speaker of the Ohio House | |
| In office January 1, 1856 – January 3, 1858 | |
| Preceded by | Francis C. LeBlond |
| Succeeded by | William Burnham Woods |
| In office January 1, 1872 – January 4, 1874 | |
| Preceded by | A. J. Cunningham |
| Succeeded by | George L. Converse |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 23, 1822 Washington County, Pennsylvania |
| Died | December 4, 1882 (aged 60) Athens, Ohio |
| Political party | Republican |
| Other political affiliations | Whig |
Biography edit
Born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Van Vorhes moved to Athens County, Ohio, in 1832 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Apprenticed to a printer for six years. He was editor and proprietor of The Athens Messenger 1844-1861. He served as member of the State House of Representatives 1850-1872 and served four years as speaker.
Van Vorhes lost the election for Ohio Secretary of State as a Whig in 1853. Van Vorhes was elected probate judge in 1854, but resigned. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1858 to the Thirty-sixth Congress. He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1860. He entered the Union Army as a private in 1861 and was mustered out as colonel of the 92nd Ohio Infantry in the Summer of 1863, when his health failed. His father was: Abraham Van Vorhes who also served in the Ohio General Assembly and Minnesota Territorial Legislature and his brother was: Andrew J. Van Vorhes who served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.[1]
Van Vorhes was elected as a Republican to the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1878 to the Forty-sixth Congress. He died in Athens, Ohio, December 4, 1882, and was interred in West Union Street Cemetery.
References edit
- ^ Walker, Charles M (1869). History of Athens County, Ohio And Incidentally of the Ohio Land Company and the First Settlement of the State at Marietta etc. Robert Clarke & Co. pp. 303–305.
- United States Congress. "Nelson H. Van Vorhes (id: V000064)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-18
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress