Vandervort Family of Marion County WV

This family is of Holland origin, the first member coming to America was Nicholas Vandervort, who emigrated to this country when a young man, becoming a thrifty Virginia farmer, and married and reared a family in which was one son named Paul.

(II) Paul, son of the emigrant ancestor, Nicholas Vandervort, was born in Virginia. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was at Fort Meigs. He married Mary Jenkins, and died in Marion county, West Virginia, and with his wife was buried in the old Fleming burying ground at Fairmont, near where they owned a good farm, which is now known as the Peabody place. They lived in Fairmont at one time.

(III) James G., son of Paul and Mary (Jenkins) Vandervort, was born in Monongalia county, Virginia, now in West Virginia, in 1827, died July 22, 1907. He came to Weston, Lewis county, in 1849. He received his education in the primitive schools of West Virginia. After his few years in the school room he learned the then popular trade of hat-making under Benjamin Fleming, at Fairmont. In 1849 ne went with P. M. Hale to Weston, and there they opened a hat factory and later added shoemaking, continuing until 1860, when Mr. Vandervort bought a farm where he resided thereafter, depending on the tilling of the same for a livelihood. In 1864 he was appointed deputy sheriff by A. C. Hale, continuing in that office under Sheriff Allen Simpson. From 1877 to 1881 he was sheriff of Lewis county, and was for many years an active real estate dealer, laying out numerous additions to Weston.

He married (first), in 1855, Nancy Butcher, born in Weston, daughter of the old pioneer, Jacob Butcher, and wife, whose maiden name was Barbara Flesher; she was a descendant of the Flesher family who located Flesherville (now Weston). Nancy (Butcher) Vandervort died in 1861, and her husband then married (second) Cordelia Horner. The Vandervort family were strong Union people in the days of the civil war. Politically James G. Vandervort was a Republican and always active in the conventions and other councils of his party. His children by his first marriage were: Emery M., of whom further; Jacob Scott, of whom further. By his second wife: Mary, wife of James Pickens; John, residing at Weston; Melissa, now Mrs. W. R. Smith, of Weston; James, who died in December, 1905; Margaret, now Mrs. Roy R. Hale, of Weston; Lulu, now Mrs. D. H. Dent, of Roanoke, Virginia; Thomas, died in March, 1908.

(IV) Emery M. Vandervort, son of James G. and Nancy (Butcher) Vandervort, was born December 29, 1855. He obtained a good common school education, and after he grew to manhood he served as deputy sheriff under his father. For twenty years he was the station agent at Weston for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. After this he accepted the management of the famous Bailey House in Weston, owned by his mother-in-law, Mrs. L. S. Tunstill. He was conducting this house at the date of his death, December 3, 1910. He was a director in the Citizens’ Bank of Weston, and treasurer of the Weston Fuel and Light Company. He married Sallie Tunstill, and had two children: Lacy, died in infancy, and Stokes.

(IV) Jacob Scott, son of James G. and Nancy (Butcher) Vandervort, was born in Weston, February 28, 1861. He attended the common schools of Weston, and the Fairmont State Normal school two years, with a two-year course at Adrian College, Michigan. In 1882 he returned to Weston and was connected with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company until 1892, when he was elected assistant cashier of the Citizens’ Bank, remaining in such position until 1902, when the Lewis County Bank was organized and he became cashier of it. The position he still holds and to his good business ability is due largely the present success and popularity of the bank. Mr. Vandervort is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Weston Lodge No. 10, Bigelow Chapter No. 4, St. John’s Commandery No. 8, and is a member of the Shriners at Wheeling. He also holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he is a Republican. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church, and his wife is active in church and society matters. He married, in 1885, Belle Saltsman, daughter of Jefferson Saltsman and wife, of Toronto, Ohio. Children: Lottie L., born August 10, 1888, educated at Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, now at home; Harry S., born December 17, 1894, now in the Weston high school.

Personal and Genealogical History of the Upper Monongahela Valley West Virginia, Vol 2, Illustrated, Bernard Butcher, ed; Lewsi Historical Publ Co, NY 1912 pp 734-736

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