Posted on: Biographies of Van Arsdale & Related Families Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/FamilyAssoc/VanArsdaleBios/120 Surname: Vanausdal, Bilbe, Curry, Donohoe ------------------------- Cornelius Vanausdal C. VANAUSDAL was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, Oct. 2, 1783. His ancesters [sic] were described as Ògood, honest, Christian people.Ó In 1805, before Preble county was organized he came to what is now Lanier township, and for two or three years assisted in operating a farm for his father. In 1808 he left the farm Ñ turned merchant, and started a store in Eaton; and this store, either alone or in partnership with others, he conducted without interruption till 1863, a period of fifty-five years. He was a deputy U. S. Marshal under General Cass, and in 1810 took the first census of Preble county. During the war of 1812, he was assistant paymaster in the U. S. Army and also engaged in furnishing supplies to the army operating between the Ohio River and Lake Erie. In 1819 he was elected to represent this county in the Lower House of the State Legislature and served in the session of 1819-20. >From 1828 to 1833 he was engaged in the wholesale Dry Goods business in Cincinnati, under the firm name of Vanausdal, Hatch & Gray. During a part of this period he and his family resided in New York city, and while there was engaged exclusively in the purchase of goods for his western houses Ñ both of them being then engaged in the wholesale business. It may be stated as an interesting fact that Robert Morrison, the first[,] or one of the first merchants of Richmond [Indiana], used to buy goods at the Eaton store of Mr. VANAUSDAL, Eaton being in advance of Richmond in size and age. From 1828 to 1832 he was in partnership with his brother-in-law, Judge CURRY in the pork business, in Hamilton. They also ran a canal boat, under the management of Asa Meloy as captain. In 1846 he associated with his son Isaac in a business partnership in Dayton and so remained till 1863, when he sold his interest to his son. In 1852, he associated with himself in his business at Eaton, his son Harvey and son-in-law Mr. DONOHOE. ÑIn 1863Ñhe also sold out his interest in the Eaton house to his partners and retired from general business. For many years he was also engaged in the pork business in Eaton. It might have been stated previously, that he was married on the 24th of July, 1812 Ñ to Miss Martha BILBE, with whom he lived more than fifty-eight years. ÑThe statement has been made that Òin the merchandizing business proper, he was uniformly successful and prosperous, having met with no reverses in this line.Ñ He was supported by good health and an excellent constitution Ñ it being a remarkable fact that he was not sufficiently sick to be confined to his bed a single day from 1809 to 1863, a period of more than a half century. Our young and middle aged men of the present day, who live luxuriously, and complain if they are taxed with a few hours of extra labor should study and imitate the habits and lives of VANAUSDAL and other pioneers. Ñ An allusion to the circumstances surround him when he began life in this county will not be out of place, as it is by these means that we will be enabled to look upon him in the light that he was seen by those who shared in the struggles, privations and triumphs, in the midst of which, and under the influence of which his character and qualities were developed and matured. He found when he came, unbroken forests, wild game and friendly Indians in plenty awaiting him. Those of his own race were few indeed; but they welcomed him warmly, and pioneer life was begun together, clearings were made, cabins built, and the simplest necessaries of life procured at immense toil and cost. When the county of Preble was established and organized, Eaton became the county seat. There was no store in the county. A necessity existed for one, and Cornelius VANAUSDAL, then about 25 years of age established it, little dreaming that he and his humble store were to play so important a part in the development and history of the county. Of course the store keeper became at once conspicuous, and he and his store became the county (for there was no town) talk. His reputation was not long limited to county limits, it spread until it embraced all the territory of Western Ohio and Eastern Indiana (then a territory) between the Ohio river and the lakes. ÒHis name became familiar to every man, woman and child in the county, and to every business man and enterprising Indian within a hundred miles around.Ó Among his familiar acquaintances were Tecumseh, his brother the Prophet, Honest John, Injun John and others. It was related of Indian John, that he brought his furs to the store to swap for salt. The old fashioned steelyards with long and short or light and heavy sides were used in weighing the articles involved in the trade. John had never seen steelyards before and watched the weighing closely. The light side was used in weighing the furs. When the salt was to be weighed the steelyards were turned over so as to use the heavy side. John watched this operation with suspicion, and when he saw the yard fly up when the pea was not so far from the fulcrum as when his furs were weighed, he was convinced that there was something wrong, and seizing the steelyards with an exclamation pronouncing them a lie, ran to the door and threw them as far as he could into the woods and brush. [There were several more pages of anecdote but my hand wore out.] Òdeath occurred August 10, 1870, aged nearly eighty seven years.Ó In the section on Mound Cemetery, Eaton on page 101: ÒAmong the specimens of fine work, which adorned the grounds, may be mentioned the Brooke monument and the majestic Scotch granite shaft suited to the grave of Cornelius VANAUSDAL.Ó Page 155: ÒThe first store was established by Cornelius VANAUSDAL in 1806 or 7, . . .Ó >From Preble County, Ohio Directory, 1875 compiled by B. F. Morgan held in the genealogy collection of the State Library of Indiana. Pages: 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 and as indicated. All in square brackets, [ ], by JAK.