My Genealogy Hound

VALLENTINE, JAMES, farmer, Sec. 31, P.O. Rockbridge. Were it possible for the reader to take a retrospective view of the locality and its surroundings, of the place now occupied by its present owners, during the first few years of its occupancy, could have seen a little, low log cabin with “cat-and-clay chimney,” and split boards for a roof, which was held to its place by being weighted down with poles. Parlor, sitting, dining, and bedroom upstairs, and cellar, hall, pantry, and wardrobe, being embraced in one room. Its owner having just returned from a trip to St. Louis, took a load of wheat and pork thither, for the wheat he got 33 cents per bushel, and $1.25 per one hundred lbs. for the pork, taking scrip in payment; and, as we take a peep inside this structure through a crevice in the logs, we see the fair matron plying industriously at her wheel, while just across on the other side of the fireplace, sits her husband on his bench, making a pair of shoes for a neighbor; and, as he is stitching and pegging away, he is sending up a harmonious bass to “home, sweet home,” which his wife has “struck up,” while John and Edward S. are stretched out on the puncheon floor-regaling themselves with a chunk of corn bread, this being the regular article of diet, wheat bread the exception. This is no overdrawn picture, it was but the true state of things as they existed, when Mr. and Mrs. Vallentine began life, yet from these unpropitious and unfavorable surroundings have, by economy and industry, attained their present condition, as we find them today. Mr. Vallentine was born in Dover, New Hampshire, Sept. 11, 1812, was a son of John Vallentine and Anna Plant. At an early age James moved with his parents to Taunton, Mass., where they continued up to the year 1837, when they moved to Greene County in this State, first settling in Carrollton. On September 11, 1838, was united in marriage to Martha A. Vanarsdale, born June 24, 1818, in Mercer Co., Kentucky. Left Carrollton in 1840 and moved on the place he now lives, having loaned a party $500, which he could not pay, he took the forty acres in lieu of the money, and began farming. He being raised up a mechanic, this new vocation was very distasteful to him, yet he plodded on and having in the person of his wife a very efficient helpmeet, he was double-handed. They remained at this place about eight years, when at this time there was a piece of land that he desired, but not having the money, he, to pay for it, traded his horses and implements for the land, and returned to Carrollton and resumed his trade, where he continued two years, then returned to his farm and began again, and has since continued farming, yet during the time of driving stock to St. Louis, has traded quite extensively in that line. Subsequent to this he engaged in the commercial business at Rockbridge, where he built the storehouse now occupied by J. M. & J. H. Vallentine. He continued in business there for about eight years, when he sold out his interest to its present occupants, and he is still carrying on his farm, but considers himself partially retired. Having divided up his property among his children, is not attempting to do much business, being more interested in their success than of his own at the present. Mr. and Mrs.Vallentine and daughter are members of the Presbyterian church. He is also a member of Sheffield Lodge A. F. & A. M., No. 687. Mr. and Mrs. Vallentine have had eight children, but five are now living: John H., born December 7, 1840; Edward S., born January 29, 1843; Ellen J., born November 25, 1844; J. Meade, born August 7, 1849; Cora B., born April 3, 1857. Ed ward S. is now settled in Christian County in this State, Ellen J. is now the wife of A. Bowman, Cora B. is at home.