Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1922-04-07
DIES ON BIRTHDAY;
AGED o5 YEARS

! Henry w Vincent passed away Sat.
urday night at the home OF his daugh.
ter. Mrs. Georgia Wade, in this city,
aged s5 years.
Mr.. Vincent's life history reads like
story, and he certainly enjoyed life
to the full He wcs honored and res
pected by all who knew him.
He was born in Columbia county,
New York, April 1st, 1927. He receiv-
ed his education in a log school house,
and lived on farm. When he came
OF age he moved to Watertown, N. Y,
and engaged in the mercantile busi.
ness with his brother. After two years
the store burned, so they built a brick
store. They cut out and made their
own clothing and shoes which they
sold in the store. At the age of 2S
he went to Fon du Lac, Wis, where
he engaged in the clothing business
for ten or twelve years Then he went
on the road, travelling from place to
place, carrying with him stock Of
clothing. He followed this vocation
for about three years, and saw all
there was to see in the country at that
time.
He next went to Pixies Peak to mine,
but after about two months he con-
cluded there was not enough gold
there so went on to Salt Lake. 1t was
not a very large town, and after few
months there the lure OF the gold rush
took him to California. He spent two
years In Red Bluff, California, as
barber. Leaving there he went to San
Francisco and Los Angeles. Few
white people lived In Los Angeles
when Mr.. Vincent was there. One
little brick saloon was the only build.
ing, and few dug-outs, dug in o dirt
bank and covered with limbs and dirt,
comprised the houses. While here the
Civil War broke out.
In 1861 he went back to Wisconsin
on horseback, making the trip In. four
months. This was considered very
fast time in those days. When he
reached Wisconsin hey would not ac-
cept him for the army because his
eyes were weak, but he served as
recruiting officer. While here he met
Judith T. Stevens, who later became
his wife.
After he was married they moved TO
Chillcothe, Mo, where he was in the
hotel business for about six years. He
also worked at dentistry here for
two years and the title OF doctor"
was given him. He also worked as a
jeweler for two years. While in Mis-
souri, a daughter was born. Georgia
Vincent.
From Chillicothe, Mo-, he came to
Portland, Oregon, by railroad. Decid-
ing to go farther west, the family went
to Corvallis by boat, at Corvallis they
changed to team and came to Elk City,
and from Elk City to Toledo by row
boat. There was no town here and
but one house, which wae occupied by
John Graham, and which was situated
at about the present site of the Toledo
Hotel. The family returned to Cor
Wallis and established the Vincent
House." Corvallis was a very small
place in 1874
After ten years he moved back to
Toledo which had increased in popu-
lation since his first trip. He took up
the mercantile business, the first store
being near where r. P. Fish's store
now stands. Later he moved the goods
to Caledonia (near the mouth Of o.
ALA slough) and where he and others
built mill and big house which was
used for store and home.
At this time they were grading for
the railroad. There was a sidetrack
leading to the mill where cars were
loaded with lumber. Later he sold
the mill and store, moving back down
the track about half mile to place
which is now known as the Vincent
Ranch" Here his wife died In 1908,
and he went to live with his daughter
who had married Lee Wade.
In 1904 he attended the Worlds Fair
at St Louis. and in 1905 he took the
County exhibits to the Lewis
& Clark Fair at Portland.
In 1907 he married Mrs. Loomis
and they went to New York where he
two years. his wife dying
there.
Mr.. Vincent passed the remaining
years Of his life in Toledo with very
little change.
Mr.. Vincent never made a practics
Of drinking or smoking, and never lost
his temper, believing 1t to be form OF
insanity.
He served several times as council.
man and twice as mayor of Toledo.
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