Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-William D. Vincent
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
WILLIAM D. VINCENT, one of the pioneer
settlers of Clay County, came to the
newly-admitted State of Kansas in 1862,
and to the above-mentioned county in 1878. He
has thus witnessed in part the remarkable changes
which have transformed a section of country, once
harassed by political troubles and other calamities,
into a free and prosperous commonwealth. Like
one of the blocks of masonry, which form the
solid wall, he has been a useful man in his sphere
and is looked upon with that tacit respect involuntarily
accorded to those of his experience and
attainments.
Mr. Vincent was born in Weakley County, Tenn.,
Oct. 11, 1852, and is a son of William J. Vincent,
a native of North Carolina, and who married Miss
Elizabeth Freeman. In 1858 they started for the
Territory of Kansas, but stopped for a time at
Marshfield, Mo., Mr. Vincent, in the meantime,
working at his trade of a carpenter. Upon the day
Gen. Lyon was killed at the battle of Wilson
Creek, they, hearing the guns and learning that the
Union troops were being defeated, fled the country,
going to Illinois, not being able to reach Kansas
direct, as they desired, on account of the rebel
element being in possession of the land.
The following spring, however, the parents of
our subject set out overland for Kansas and halted
in what is now Riley County. Shortly afterward,
Mr. Vincent went to Topeka, where he remained
until after Quantrell's raid on the city of Lawrence
and then thought best to move again, the inhabitants
of the capital city not even daring to burn a
light at night, for several weeks subsequent to the
raid. Finally returning to Riley County he lived
on a farm until the winter of 1864, then removed
to Manhattan and there William D. acquired his
early education and lived, with the exception of
one year spent in Texas, until his removal to
Clay Center.
William J. Vincent departed this life in Manhattan,
Kan., in 1875, at the age of fifty-nine years.
The other is still living in Clay Center. Seven
of their eight children lived to mature years, and
all but two are residents of Clay Center. Martha is
the wife of E. M. Pinkerton, of Lincoln, this State;
and Frances, (Mrs. Stepp) is a resident of Ft.
Smith, Ark. The others are John M., Emerson
E., Wallace and Ella (Mrs. McCormick). William
completed his education at the State Agricultural
College at Manhattan, in 1872. Later, he
learned harness-making, and in connection with
the hardware business, followed this trade until
coming to Clay Center, in 1878. That year, with
his brother, John M., he opened a large double
store with a stock of hardware, harness and saddlery.
Later. Emerson E. purchased an interest in
the firm of Vincent Bros., and they are now conducting
the largest establishment of the kind in
Clay Center, and transacting a fine business.
Mr. Vincent was married March 7, 1872, to Miss
Etta L. Hosmer, of Ashland. Kan. This lady was
born in Lawrence, N. Y., Dec. 1, 1855, and lived
there till 1862, when with her father, Albert Hosmer,
and his family, she moved to Iowa, and lived in
that Stale until 1864, when the family came to
Riley County, Kansas, where they lived until her
marriage. Of this union there have been born
seven children, four of whom are living, namely:
Lillian M., Victor V., Bessie and Paul. When Mr.
Vincent came to the site of Clay Center, in 1878,
there was one brick and one stone building. Vincent
Bros, established themselves in a frame store
building, whence they removed to their present
commodious quarters in 1882. Mr. Vincent is a
man prominent in his community and is recognized
as one of its most enterprising and valuable men.
He represented his ward in the city council for one
term, but declined to accept the position for the
second term. He belongs to the K. of P. and M.
W. A. In polities he is an old Greenbacker, having
cast his first vote for Peter Cooper, for President
in 1876. He was a delegate in the Cincinnati
convention which organized the Union Labor
party Feb. 22, 1887, since which time he has been
a member of the National committee, of said party,
for the State of Kansas. In 1882 he was tendered
the nomination for Congress by the Greenback
Congressional convention of the old first district,
but declined to make the race. He was afterward
induced to accept the nomination for the Legislature
and made a joint canvas of Clay County with
the late Hon. Wirt. W. Walton; although his party
strength was only about 200 in the county, he received
1,055 votes, falling only about 300 votes
behind his opponent. Mr. Walton was a very
popular man of Slate reputation, and the campaign
was the most exciting one that had ever taken
place in Clay County, attracting the attention of
the press and politicians all over the State. Notwithstanding
this bitter political fight the two gentlemen
were warm personal friends and remained so
up to the time of Mr. Walton's death. Mr. Vincent
is a firm believer in the "single tax" doctrine
as promulgated by Henry George. He fully realizes
that his political opinions are unpopular,
but he is not the man to be driven from his position
because the crowd is against him.
The Vincents are all lovers of good horses. of
which they own about seventy head. They are
gaining quite a reputation as breeders of trotters,
and are gradually getting hold of some of the best
standard-bred horses in the country.