Van Vorhes, N. H. (Nelson Holmes), 1822-1882

Nelson Holmes Van Vorhes (NHVV) was one of the original owners of the Athens Messenger newspaper. NHVV was born on January 23, 1822 in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The Van Vorhes family moved to Athens, Ohio, in 1836. NHVV's father, Abraham Van Vorhes (AVV) became publisher and editor of The Western Spectator . At the age of 14, NHVV became an apprentice to his father and four years later became principal editor and publisher of the newspaper. AVV left the paper to work in government appointments. NHVV's brother Andrew Jackson Van Vorhes joined the newspaper in 1844. At that time, the paper was called The Athens Messenger and Hocking Valley Gazette .

Sometime between January and November of 1844 the name of the paper was changed to The Athenian and Messenger . This name remained until October of 1846. The title of the paper varies from that point on: Athens Messenger and Hocking Valley Gazette (1846(?)-1861), Athens Messenger (1861-1893), Athens Messenger and Herald (1894-1902) and, Athens Messenger (1902-1909).

In 1854, NHVV sold his interest in the Athens Messenger to pursue political interests and activities. He returned to the paper as editor and publisher in 1856, but withdrew permanently five years later.

NHVV served in the Ohio State Legislature from 1850-1872, representing the Ohio Counties of Athens and Meigs; and served four years as Speaker of the House. In October 1855, NHVV was elected probate judge of Athens County but resigned one month later to become a candidate for the United States House of Representatives. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Thirty-sixth Congress in 1858. NHVV was a delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Chicago in 1860, the same year Abraham Lincoln was elected.

NHVV enlisted as a private in the first company of volunteer militia in Athens (18th Regiment) at the onset of the Civil War in 1861. He was appointed first lieutenant of that company on September 13, 1861. One year and three days later, NHVV was appointed Colonel of the 92nd Ohio Regiment of volunteer infantry (O.V.I.). The 92nd Regiment, stationed in West Virginia, remained NHVV's home until the summer of 1863 when he was forced to resign his commission due to contraction of tuberculosis.

In 1869, NHVV resumed his political career with a nomination and election to the Ohio House of Representatives. NHVV was re-elected to the house in 1871 and was made Speaker of the House for the second time. In 1874, he won a seat in the Congress of the United States and was re-elected to this position in 1876. Against his own wishes he was nominated for a third term in 1878 but was defeated by the democratic candidate.

NHVV's other activities include a membership in the Sons of Temperance and the Paramuthia Lodge. He was a strong supporter of the prohibition of alcohol; his collection contains numerous speeches and papers written on the subject.

NHVV married Elizabeth B. Foster on October 23, 1845 in Athens. The Van Vorheses had three children; the first born son Charles, died at the age of 4 years, 8 months, Louis A. was ill most of his life, apparently stricken with some type of paralysis, and Nellie who taught in the Ohio University School of Music from 1898 to 1927.

NHVV died in Athens on December 4, 1882.

From the guide to the Nelson Holmes Van Vorhes papers, 1835-1943, (Ohio University)