"JAMES VAWTER, was born in East Tennessee, April 2d, 1783; came with his father to Kentucky in 1790; lived in Kentucky eleven years; came to Indiana in 1805. "I built my first cabin in the winter of 1806-7, on the hill where the big engine house stands, and kept bachelor hall until Oct. 1816; and then got married to Judge John Watts' daughter, of Boone county, Ky; have raised a large family of sons and daughters (11 of them). In 1814-1816 I was sheriff and collector of county and territorial taxes. I have the duplicate, which no man would take and collect for it. It was Jefferson, Jennings, Switzerland, Ripley and Scott, all in one county."—He died Oct. 25th, 1873, 90 years, 6 months and 21 days old." - From Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana, 1889.
The below anecdotes regarding James are taken from The Vawter Family in America by Grace Vawter Bicknell, 1905 .
"James Vawter, the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Vawter, was born April 2, 1783, near the Holston river in North Carolina, now East Tennessee. He was the twin brother of William. In 1806 the family came to the territory of Indiana and settled at Fairmount, clearing the farm where Mrs. J. S. Weyer afterwards resided, near the tanyard, and wdiich Jesse Vawter cahed Mt. Glad. James Vawter afterwards settled at Mount Pleasant, now North Madison, and then at his farm at Pressburg, one mile out from North Madison. In 1816 he was married to his cousin, Sarah B., the daughter of Judge Watts. Sarah Watts was born October 26, 1796.
James Vawter was not an active politician, but always voted, and was a zealous supporter of the laws of the land. He was candid and frank in his expression of his conviction of right and wrong, faithful and earnest as a Christian and prompt and liberal as a church member. He was a warm advocate of Franklin College and a liberal contributor to its funds. He died January 12, 1872, in his ninety-first year, surviving his twin brother five years. Sarah (Watts) Vawter died at the residence of her son Milton in the eighty-third year of her age.
James Vawter had his eccentricities, as had all of the older Vawters... It is told of him that whenever he brought anything home and didn't know where to put it that he built a shed for it — that he finally had about five acres on his place covered with sheds. James Vawter lived on the top of the hill. William Rice had a mill a short distance above and off the road which ran at the foot of the hill. He wanted the road to come by his mill and not by William's, so he built a fence across the road to force people to go around by his mill.
It is also told of James Vawter that he could not resist the temptation to hang a gate wherever he saw two trees located conveniently for the purpose, and that one would often see gates out in a field with no fence near. The truth of this can not be vouched for.
"Uncle Jimmy" wore a white fur plug hat summer and winter, so one of his nephews said, and he presented a striking appearance in that hat and his great long coat.
This anecdote is also told of James Vawter : There was a woman in the church who was very aggressive. She got up in meeting and. after talking a long time, urged every one to get up and do likewise. When she sat down "Uncle Jimmy" got up and said: "Some need urgin" forard and some need holdin' back." Then he sat down without another word.
"Uncle Jimmy" once brought home a wagon-load of brick to be used for some building purpose. He went into town again, and when he returned the second time he found the bricks all tumbled down and half of them broken in pieces. "Boys," said he, "what does this mean?" His grandchildren said: "Why, grandpa, you see it was this way. We were playing war and we put a lot of bricks on one side for Union soldiers and a lot of bricks on the other side for Rebels, and the Union men whipped the Rebels all to pieces, and that is how the bricks got broken."
"All right, boys," said "Uncle Jimmy," "if the Rebels got whipped that is all right."
James and Sarah (Watts) Vawter had eleven children:
1. John Watts Vawter (1818 - 1875)
2. Holman A. Vawter (1820 - 1898)
3. Frances Vawter (1822 - 1823)
4. Johnson S. Vawter (1824 - 1879)
5. William Cornett Vawter (1827 - 1882)
6. Milton S. Vawter (1829 - 1914)
7. James S. Vawter (1831 - 1881)
8. Newton Wilbur Vawter (1833 - 1917)
9. Fannie S. Vawter (1835 - 1876)
10. Susan Elizabeth (1838 - 1857)
11. Thomas S. Vawter (1840 - 1910)
The below anecdotes regarding James are taken from The Vawter Family in America by Grace Vawter Bicknell, 1905 .
"James Vawter, the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Vawter, was born April 2, 1783, near the Holston river in North Carolina, now East Tennessee. He was the twin brother of William. In 1806 the family came to the territory of Indiana and settled at Fairmount, clearing the farm where Mrs. J. S. Weyer afterwards resided, near the tanyard, and wdiich Jesse Vawter cahed Mt. Glad. James Vawter afterwards settled at Mount Pleasant, now North Madison, and then at his farm at Pressburg, one mile out from North Madison. In 1816 he was married to his cousin, Sarah B., the daughter of Judge Watts. Sarah Watts was born October 26, 1796.
James Vawter was not an active politician, but always voted, and was a zealous supporter of the laws of the land. He was candid and frank in his expression of his conviction of right and wrong, faithful and earnest as a Christian and prompt and liberal as a church member. He was a warm advocate of Franklin College and a liberal contributor to its funds. He died January 12, 1872, in his ninety-first year, surviving his twin brother five years. Sarah (Watts) Vawter died at the residence of her son Milton in the eighty-third year of her age.
James Vawter had his eccentricities, as had all of the older Vawters... It is told of him that whenever he brought anything home and didn't know where to put it that he built a shed for it — that he finally had about five acres on his place covered with sheds. James Vawter lived on the top of the hill. William Rice had a mill a short distance above and off the road which ran at the foot of the hill. He wanted the road to come by his mill and not by William's, so he built a fence across the road to force people to go around by his mill.
It is also told of James Vawter that he could not resist the temptation to hang a gate wherever he saw two trees located conveniently for the purpose, and that one would often see gates out in a field with no fence near. The truth of this can not be vouched for.
"Uncle Jimmy" wore a white fur plug hat summer and winter, so one of his nephews said, and he presented a striking appearance in that hat and his great long coat.
This anecdote is also told of James Vawter : There was a woman in the church who was very aggressive. She got up in meeting and. after talking a long time, urged every one to get up and do likewise. When she sat down "Uncle Jimmy" got up and said: "Some need urgin" forard and some need holdin' back." Then he sat down without another word.
"Uncle Jimmy" once brought home a wagon-load of brick to be used for some building purpose. He went into town again, and when he returned the second time he found the bricks all tumbled down and half of them broken in pieces. "Boys," said he, "what does this mean?" His grandchildren said: "Why, grandpa, you see it was this way. We were playing war and we put a lot of bricks on one side for Union soldiers and a lot of bricks on the other side for Rebels, and the Union men whipped the Rebels all to pieces, and that is how the bricks got broken."
"All right, boys," said "Uncle Jimmy," "if the Rebels got whipped that is all right."
James and Sarah (Watts) Vawter had eleven children:
1. John Watts Vawter (1818 - 1875)
2. Holman A. Vawter (1820 - 1898)
3. Frances Vawter (1822 - 1823)
4. Johnson S. Vawter (1824 - 1879)
5. William Cornett Vawter (1827 - 1882)
6. Milton S. Vawter (1829 - 1914)
7. James S. Vawter (1831 - 1881)
8. Newton Wilbur Vawter (1833 - 1917)
9. Fannie S. Vawter (1835 - 1876)
10. Susan Elizabeth (1838 - 1857)
11. Thomas S. Vawter (1840 - 1910)
"JAMES VAWTER, was born in East Tennessee, April 2d, 1783; came with his father to Kentucky in 1790; lived in Kentucky eleven years; came to Indiana in 1805. "I built my first cabin in the winter of 1806-7, on the hill where the big engine house stands, and kept bachelor hall until Oct. 1816; and then got married to Judge John Watts' daughter, of Boone county, Ky; have raised a large family of sons and daughters (11 of them). In 1814-1816 I was sheriff and collector of county and territorial taxes. I have the duplicate, which no man would take and collect for it. It was Jefferson, Jennings, Switzerland, Ripley and Scott, all in one county."—He died Oct. 25th, 1873, 90 years, 6 months and 21 days old." - From Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana, 1889.
The below anecdotes regarding James are taken from The Vawter Family in America by Grace Vawter Bicknell, 1905 .
"James Vawter, the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Vawter, was born April 2, 1783, near the Holston river in North Carolina, now East Tennessee. He was the twin brother of William. In 1806 the family came to the territory of Indiana and settled at Fairmount, clearing the farm where Mrs. J. S. Weyer afterwards resided, near the tanyard, and wdiich Jesse Vawter cahed Mt. Glad. James Vawter afterwards settled at Mount Pleasant, now North Madison, and then at his farm at Pressburg, one mile out from North Madison. In 1816 he was married to his cousin, Sarah B., the daughter of Judge Watts. Sarah Watts was born October 26, 1796.
James Vawter was not an active politician, but always voted, and was a zealous supporter of the laws of the land. He was candid and frank in his expression of his conviction of right and wrong, faithful and earnest as a Christian and prompt and liberal as a church member. He was a warm advocate of Franklin College and a liberal contributor to its funds. He died January 12, 1872, in his ninety-first year, surviving his twin brother five years. Sarah (Watts) Vawter died at the residence of her son Milton in the eighty-third year of her age.
James Vawter had his eccentricities, as had all of the older Vawters... It is told of him that whenever he brought anything home and didn't know where to put it that he built a shed for it — that he finally had about five acres on his place covered with sheds. James Vawter lived on the top of the hill. William Rice had a mill a short distance above and off the road which ran at the foot of the hill. He wanted the road to come by his mill and not by William's, so he built a fence across the road to force people to go around by his mill.
It is also told of James Vawter that he could not resist the temptation to hang a gate wherever he saw two trees located conveniently for the purpose, and that one would often see gates out in a field with no fence near. The truth of this can not be vouched for.
"Uncle Jimmy" wore a white fur plug hat summer and winter, so one of his nephews said, and he presented a striking appearance in that hat and his great long coat.
This anecdote is also told of James Vawter : There was a woman in the church who was very aggressive. She got up in meeting and. after talking a long time, urged every one to get up and do likewise. When she sat down "Uncle Jimmy" got up and said: "Some need urgin" forard and some need holdin' back." Then he sat down without another word.
"Uncle Jimmy" once brought home a wagon-load of brick to be used for some building purpose. He went into town again, and when he returned the second time he found the bricks all tumbled down and half of them broken in pieces. "Boys," said he, "what does this mean?" His grandchildren said: "Why, grandpa, you see it was this way. We were playing war and we put a lot of bricks on one side for Union soldiers and a lot of bricks on the other side for Rebels, and the Union men whipped the Rebels all to pieces, and that is how the bricks got broken."
"All right, boys," said "Uncle Jimmy," "if the Rebels got whipped that is all right."
James and Sarah (Watts) Vawter had eleven children:
1. John Watts Vawter (1818 - 1875)
2. Holman A. Vawter (1820 - 1898)
3. Frances Vawter (1822 - 1823)
4. Johnson S. Vawter (1824 - 1879)
5. William Cornett Vawter (1827 - 1882)
6. Milton S. Vawter (1829 - 1914)
7. James S. Vawter (1831 - 1881)
8. Newton Wilbur Vawter (1833 - 1917)
9. Fannie S. Vawter (1835 - 1876)
10. Susan Elizabeth (1838 - 1857)
11. Thomas S. Vawter (1840 - 1910)
The below anecdotes regarding James are taken from The Vawter Family in America by Grace Vawter Bicknell, 1905 .
"James Vawter, the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Vawter, was born April 2, 1783, near the Holston river in North Carolina, now East Tennessee. He was the twin brother of William. In 1806 the family came to the territory of Indiana and settled at Fairmount, clearing the farm where Mrs. J. S. Weyer afterwards resided, near the tanyard, and wdiich Jesse Vawter cahed Mt. Glad. James Vawter afterwards settled at Mount Pleasant, now North Madison, and then at his farm at Pressburg, one mile out from North Madison. In 1816 he was married to his cousin, Sarah B., the daughter of Judge Watts. Sarah Watts was born October 26, 1796.
James Vawter was not an active politician, but always voted, and was a zealous supporter of the laws of the land. He was candid and frank in his expression of his conviction of right and wrong, faithful and earnest as a Christian and prompt and liberal as a church member. He was a warm advocate of Franklin College and a liberal contributor to its funds. He died January 12, 1872, in his ninety-first year, surviving his twin brother five years. Sarah (Watts) Vawter died at the residence of her son Milton in the eighty-third year of her age.
James Vawter had his eccentricities, as had all of the older Vawters... It is told of him that whenever he brought anything home and didn't know where to put it that he built a shed for it — that he finally had about five acres on his place covered with sheds. James Vawter lived on the top of the hill. William Rice had a mill a short distance above and off the road which ran at the foot of the hill. He wanted the road to come by his mill and not by William's, so he built a fence across the road to force people to go around by his mill.
It is also told of James Vawter that he could not resist the temptation to hang a gate wherever he saw two trees located conveniently for the purpose, and that one would often see gates out in a field with no fence near. The truth of this can not be vouched for.
"Uncle Jimmy" wore a white fur plug hat summer and winter, so one of his nephews said, and he presented a striking appearance in that hat and his great long coat.
This anecdote is also told of James Vawter : There was a woman in the church who was very aggressive. She got up in meeting and. after talking a long time, urged every one to get up and do likewise. When she sat down "Uncle Jimmy" got up and said: "Some need urgin" forard and some need holdin' back." Then he sat down without another word.
"Uncle Jimmy" once brought home a wagon-load of brick to be used for some building purpose. He went into town again, and when he returned the second time he found the bricks all tumbled down and half of them broken in pieces. "Boys," said he, "what does this mean?" His grandchildren said: "Why, grandpa, you see it was this way. We were playing war and we put a lot of bricks on one side for Union soldiers and a lot of bricks on the other side for Rebels, and the Union men whipped the Rebels all to pieces, and that is how the bricks got broken."
"All right, boys," said "Uncle Jimmy," "if the Rebels got whipped that is all right."
James and Sarah (Watts) Vawter had eleven children:
1. John Watts Vawter (1818 - 1875)
2. Holman A. Vawter (1820 - 1898)
3. Frances Vawter (1822 - 1823)
4. Johnson S. Vawter (1824 - 1879)
5. William Cornett Vawter (1827 - 1882)
6. Milton S. Vawter (1829 - 1914)
7. James S. Vawter (1831 - 1881)
8. Newton Wilbur Vawter (1833 - 1917)
9. Fannie S. Vawter (1835 - 1876)
10. Susan Elizabeth (1838 - 1857)
11. Thomas S. Vawter (1840 - 1910)
Family Members
Siblings
Children
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John Watts Vawter
1817–1875
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Holman Aaron Vawter
1820–1898
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Frances Vawter
1822–1823
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Johnson S. Vawter
1824–1879
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William Cornett Vawter
1827–1882
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Milton Stapp Vawter
1829–1914
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Rev James S. Vawter
1831–1881
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Newton Wilbur Vawter
1833–1917
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Fannie S. Vawter
1835–1876
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Susan Elizabeth "Lizzie" Vawter
1838–1857
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Thomas S. Vawter
1840–1910
