Jacob VAN METER
age 62
Another Jacob Van Meter, a man of some note in early day Kentucky, was born at what was known as White Stone Tavern, in Botetourt County, Virginia in January 1788 and came to Warren County, Kentucky, settling at Bowling Green, in 1818. He was in the mercantile business there for over fifty years, dying February 27, 1874. He also engaged in farming on a large scale, owning between 4,000 and 5,000 acres of land and a large number of slaves. He acquired great wealth, is said to have lost over $75,000 worth of property during "the late conflict between the South and the North." He built and operated the first steamboat on the Barren and Green Rivers; with James Skiles, he procured a charter and built the Bowling Green and Portage Railroad, the first railroad in Kentucky.
Jacob Van Meter of Warren County married Martha Usher Shrewsbury, of Irish descent. They were parents of eight children, Dr. Samuel K. Van Meter being one of their sons, William S. Van Meter another, who with his brother, Charles, in 1868 purchased the Grayson Springs property in Grayson County and developed it into one of the most popular watering places during the latter part of the last century. Following his death in 1884, the property was sold for $100,000, quite a sum for those days.
Martha, age 58
age 32
age 25
age 23
After spending some years in the management of his fatherÕs plantation, he, in partnership with his elder brother, William, engaged in steam boating on the Green and Barren Rivers in 1856, and continued in it until the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861. He then entered the Quartermaster's service of the Confederate States Army and continued in that duty until 1865. After the close of the war he and his brother William resumed steam boating, and, in connection with it, engaged in the lumber business. In 1868 they joined a syndicate known as the Green and Barren River Navigation Co., and leased from the State of Kentucky the Green and Barren RiversÑthat is, the StateÕs improvements in the way of locks and damsÑfor thirty years. Their franchise was sold to the Federal Government some ten years before the expiration of the lease. In the same year, 1868, he and his brother purchased Grayson Springs, in Grayson Co., and managed it themselves until 1884. Capt. Van Metre is now residing on a farm near Bowling Green. He is a most estimable man, hale and hearty, though now in his 83rd year, and kind and charitable. He has always been a very active man, and no one stands higher in the community than he does; a man of sterling character; progressive and public spirited and much interested in education. About three years ago he was elected Chancellor of the Western State Normal School, which was established in Bowling Green by the Legislature of 1906 (W. A. 0.).
age 17
age 15
He married Martha Usher Shrewsbury . Martha Usher Shrewsbury was born at Va, Usa 9 Sep 1792 .
They were the parents of 8
children:
William Steele Van Meter
born 29 Apr 1817.
Mary Jane Van Meter
born 29 Sep 1819.
Julia Ann Van Meter
born 18 Oct 1820.
Caroline Eve Van Meter
born 11 Jul 1822.
Samuel Kirk Van Meter
born 26 Mar 1824.
Charles Joseph Van Meter
born 22 May 1826.
Sarah Frances Van Meter
born 25 Oct 1828.
Clinton Clay Van Meter
born 20 Jul 1834.
Jacob Van Meter died 27 Feb 1874 .
Martha Usher Shrewsbury died 28 Feb 1874 .