Vinton-Gallia County OhArchives Biographies.....Samuel Finley Vinton September 25 1792 - May 11 1862
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Tina Hursh genfrog@hbcsc.net February 2, 2004, 5:17 pm

Author: "Historical Collections of Ohio, Vol 2" by Henry Howe. (pub 1888)

Vinton County
Page 731


	This county is named in hour of Samuel Finsley Vinton, one of Ohio's 
eminent statesmen of a past generation.  Mr. Vinton is a direct descendant of 
John Vinton, of Lynn, Mass, whose name occurs in the county records of 1648.
The tradition is that the founder of the family in this country was of French
origin, by the name of De Vintonne, and he was exiled from France on account of 
his being a Huguenot.  Mr. Vinton was born in the State of Massachusetts, 
September 25, 1792, graduated at Williams College in 1814, and soon after 1816 
established himself in the law at Gallipolis.  In 1822 he was, unexpectedly to 
himself, nominated and then elected to Congress,an office to which he continued 
to be elected by constantly increasing majorities for fourteen years, when he 
voluntarily withdrew for six years, to be again sent to Congress for six years 
longer,when he declined any further Congressional service, thus serving in all 
twenty years.
	Mr. Vinton originated and carried through the House many measures of 
very great importance to the country.  During the period of the war with Mexico, 
he was Chariman of the Commitee of Ways and Means, and at this particulra 
juncture his financial talent was of very great service to the nation.  During 
his entire course of public life he had ably opposed various schemes for the 
sale of the public lands that he felt, if carried out, would be squandering the 
nation's patrimony.  He originated and carried through the House, against much 
oppostion, the law which created the Department of the Interior.  Hon. Thomas 
Ewing wrote of him: "Though for ten or fifteen years he had more influence in 
the House of Representatives, much more than any man in it, yet the nation never 
has fully accorded to him his merits.  He was a wise, persevering, sagacious 
statesman; almost unerring in his perceptions of the right, bold in pursuing and 
skillful in sustaining it.  He alwyas held a large control over the minds of men 
with whome he acted."
	In 1851 Mr. Vinton was the unsuccessful Whig candidate for Governor of 
Ohio.  In 1853 he was for a short time President of the Cleveland ad Toledo 
Railroad and then, after 1854, continuous resided in Washington City until his 
death, May 11, 1862.  There he occationally argued cases before the Supreme 
Court, and with remarkable success, from his havits of patient investigation and 
clear analysis.  he exhausted every subject he discussed and presented his 
thoughts without rhetorical flourish, but with wonderful lucidity.  His use of 
the English language was masterful, and he delighted in wielding words of Saxon 
strenght.
	In accordance with his dying request he was buried in the cemetery at 
Galipolis, beside the remains of his  wife, Romaine Madeleine Bureau, the 
daughter of one of the most repected French immigrants.  His only surviving 
child in Madeleine Vinton Dahlgren, noticed on page 681 of his work.  "Mr. 
Vinton was of slight frame, but of great dignity of presence.  His mile and 
clear blue eye was very penetrating, and his thin, compressed lips evinced 
determination of character.  His manner was composed and calm, but very suave 
and gentle, scarcely indicating the great firmness that distinguished him."

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/

File size: 3.8 Kb