Nelson H. Van Vorhes

Nelson Holmes Van Vorhes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 15th district
In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879
Preceded by	William P. Sprague
Succeeded by	George W. Geddes
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the Athens County district
In office December 2, 1850 – January 1, 1854 Serving with H. S. Bundy
Preceded by	Anselm T. Holcomb, Joseph K. Will
Succeeded by	Samuel B. Pruden
In office January 7, 1856 – January 1, 1860
Preceded by	Samuel B. Pruden
Succeeded by	A. B. Monahan
In office January 3, 1870 – January 4, 1874
Preceded by	William P. Johnson
Succeeded by	Charles H. Grosvenor
Speaker of the Ohio House
In office January 1, 1856 – January 3, 1858
Preceded by	Francis C. LeBlond
Succeeded by	William Burnham Woods
In office January 1, 1872 – January 4, 1874
Preceded by	A. J. Cunningham
Succeeded by	George L. Converse
Personal details
Born	(1822-01-23)January 23, 1822 Washington County, Pennsylvania
Died	December 4, 1882(1882-12-04) (aged 60) Athens, Ohio
Political party	Republican
Other political affiliations	Whig

Nelson Holmes Van Vorhes (January 23, 1822 – December 4, 1882) was an American newspaperman and politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1875 to 1879.

Biography

Born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Van Vorhes moved to Athens County, Ohio, in 1832 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Apprenticed to a printer for six years. He was editor and proprietor of The Athens Messenger 1844-1861. He served as member of the State House of Representatives 1850-1872 and served four years as speaker.

Van Vorhes lost the election for Ohio Secretary of State as a Whig in 1853. Van Vorhes was elected probate judge in 1854, but resigned. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1858 to the Thirty-sixth Congress. He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1860. He entered the Union Army as a private in 1861 and was mustered out as colonel of the 92nd Ohio Infantry in the Summer of 1863, when his health failed. His father was: Abraham Van Vorhes who also served in the Ohio General Assembly and Minnesota Territorial Legislature and his brother was: Andrew J. Van Vorhes who served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Van Vorhes was elected as a Republican to the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1878 to the Forty-sixth Congress. He died in Athens, Ohio, December 4, 1882, and was interred in West Union Street Cemetery.

References

• United States Congress. "Nelson H. Van Vorhes (id: V000064)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-18

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress