CAPT. A. A. VINYARD, a well known farmer, living three and a half miles north of Karber's Ridge, Hardin County, Ill., was born in that county, not far from the Old Illinois Furnace, June 17, 1828. His grandparents were natives of Virginia, of German descent. They left Virginia and lived for a while in Kentucky, but in 1811 came to Hardin county. One of their eight children was Eli Vinyard, who was born in Hardin county, Ky., Nov. 5, 1806. After he grew to manhood in Illinois he was married to Miss Sarah Hill, a native of Georgia, and began farming about three miles north of the Old Illinois Furnace. In 1829 they removed to another place, not far from Karber's Ridge, and there they passed the remainder of their lives, he dying at the age of eighty-two years and she at the age of sixty-seven. Of their nine children five are living. Capt. A. A. Vinyard is the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth is a Mrs. Moore, living in Hardin county; Daniel lives in Saline county; Rufina married a man named Tyer and lives in Hardin county, and John lives in the neighborhood of Karber's Ridge. Captain Vinyard received his education in the old subscription schools and upon arriving at manhood became a farmer. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Forty-eighth Illinois volunteer infantry, was mustered in at Camp Butler, and for a time was stationed at Cairo. In 1862 he was promoted to first lieutenant, and in 1864 became captain of his company. He was with his regiment in the engagements at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., Missionary Ridge, and marched with Sherman to the sea, taking part in the engagement before Atlanta on the occasion of Hood's first sortie, July 22, 1864. He also participated in numerous minor engagements and skirmishes. The regiment was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 16, 1865, and Captain Vinyard returned home, where he again took up the life of a farmer. He married Emeline M. Patton, a native of Gallatin county, Ill., and they began their married life on a farm of 80 acres, all in the woods, where he now lives. At the present time he owns 320 acres, part bottom land, and all under cultivation. Besides this he has given over 400 acres to his children, viz. : Katherine, Jane, Harriet, John C, Andrew, Ira and Manning. Katherine is a Mrs. Brinkley; Jane a Mrs. Williams; Harriet is at home with her parents, and the others all live in the vicinity. They are members of the Social Brethren church. Captain Vinyard has always taken an active interest in public matters and has held some office in local affairs since the war. For twenty-six years he has been township treasurer, and has frequently been a delegate to Republican conventions. His home is noted for its hospitality.
Extracted 2015 from Memoirs of the Lower Ohio Valley, Personal and Genealogical with Portraits, published in 1905, Volume 1, page 386
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| Livingston KY Crittenden KY | ||
