George Joseph Vining:
An Account of His Life

[The preceding section -- Chapter 11 -- does not appear at all in the Van Frank transcript. The following section -- Chapter 12 -- does not appear at all in the Pine Bluff Civil War Round Table booklet]

Chapter 12

I succeeded better in business matters down here, than I did in Mattoon and commenced my idea of putting property in your Mother's name, so that should I die first she would be provided for. You know most of the outcome or result -- it was not done to defraud anyone, I've always paid any known debt, I have never tried to find out who originated the idea that your Mother inherited what she had from her father's estate, she got nothing before we left Mattoon. The deed to John [missing text] her right in what was available at that time. You children, have your Mother's right -- hers and Johns and Ello. Yours would be 1/6 or 1/3 -- get what you can don't give it away -- unless there should be a reason John McCann came to me and asked me if it was so -- he said he did not believe it -- as he knew of us in early days. His father live right across the street from Aldridge. He cared more for the report than I did --

Nuse, gave me also a hand. In a conversation he said "you haven't given me anything," I started him in a small way in Mattoon. He coined money and threw it away in the bottling business. I gave him money and started him again and again, and sent him money in Louisiana after he had deserted his business here and when he came back put him in the best place he ever was in -- a good nice store and it full of goods out near the "Chick Farm", and what he could not credit out, he actually gambled off. Whites and Niggers -- it actually looked like his grandfather over again, and made me think of the scenes spoken on pg. [missing text] only in the smaller way.

Nuse's weakness is perhaps partly inherited, but if the blood of Christ and Grace of God, can't overcome inherited weakness, well it can for much of it was my inheritance -- and my environments and surroundings were much more trying than all my boys put together -- Art inherited some of his weakness, but when a boy or man openly and boldly puts himself on the devil's side, what can God do to save him or even help him a sinner does not take into account that he a free agent, and if God made him do, he would no longer be a free agent, but when too late, he said he is an unjust God for damning him.

Your Mother and I lived together over 37 years, you know of our home life. You know we were true to each other and dearly loved each other, that I tried to make are happy and I think she was. We never supposed that I should outlive her -- it is another of God's mysterys. I thought we both lived up to the light or spiritual K [knowledge?] that we had, but I know that did we have to live over together, with the light I now have, there would be much different record in the life here and to come.

When she found her last sickness would be fatal, she asked me let her deed what I had given her back to me I did not want it, and told her we would both of us will and deed what we had to the children. That perhaps they would make a better use of it and not have to wait for my death. I could not one thing, bear the thought of that anyone was waiting for me to die. I could not think that anyone was making calculations as regarded my death to get the little I might have. Some of my friends blamed me, but I should do it over again. The homestead was mine, the law could not have taken that from me. Fred and John got it, I could get into page or two here, on what I expected in and what I got, for my little sacrifices --

Philosophy helps a man over many things [missing text] religion over more. God has compensated me by giving health and strength and contentment. I am living a quiet simple life. I am away far down the western slope, God is keeping me from day to day, and I'm trying to get nearer to Him. The burden of my prayers is for the saving of souls -- especially and first of all the souls of my children. I do so hope and pray that before I die I may yet hear of some of them being saved and sanctified and living up to what God requires. I think God is keeping me till that time that they may be stars in my crown. George, God has promised that to him who lives right, and believes and makes a sacrifice for Him, shall have an hund. fold in this world and life everlasting in the world to come.

Before I finish I must say a few words relative to my 2nd marriage you know the main facts, should is ever be read by others they would think strange of no mention of it. Had I ever expected to marry again there would have been different disposition of property when your Mother went to Eureka Springs I accompanied her. We got there in the night, stopped at the Belding house. The landlady said she was crowded but we could stay till morning and then we could look round for a place, as she said she never turned one away they could get in at all, but we heard after that she wanted to see how they looked in daylight, but we had favor her sight so we stayed.

In a few days after, Miss Schmidt [Schwind] Amelia R. came also at night, she could not have stayed next day, but one of the guests left to go farther up the hill so she obtained his room. We made her acquaintance next morning. Your mother being very much pleased with her and the friendship was very close for a casual acquaintance at such a place and continued till death and afterwards on one part. I was with them for a few days before I left for home leaving Cornelia there and they seemed to appreciate the motives of each other in looking at them together. Miss S. seemed the greatest invalid. In writing to me you Mother generally mentioned her in a kindly way. One of those magnetic healers took your Ma in for between $20 and $30 she paying $23 for a set lectures that I don't think she ever even read. She ran short of money from it, and Miss S. let her have till I could send, as a room rent fell due and she did not have it so she wrote to me to send it at once as Miss S. was going home -- your Ma was to go to the train with Miss S. but was unable instead of that, Miss S. went with her to the doctor -- they parted.

Your Mother came home worse nor did she live long after she came home. She gave me the details and incidents of their companionship. Miss S. also afterwards gave me many. Some days after her burial I received postcard addressed your mother. A long friendly card asking after her health etc. and how she was doing etc. I answered the card in a long appreciative letter thanking her for her interest in our welfare also the much that she previously done to alleviate her troubles and illness, for some had been inhumanly unkind in one instance -- so the letter elicited a reply -- which brought on a correspondence. The correspondence brought an interview, the interview an engagement, and we were married a few days less than 1 year from your Mother's death.

Nelly was the only person I told. She made but little objection and smoothed them over afterwards, agreeing to what I wished, and making favorable suggestions for our benefit, which later seemed forgotten -- would say here, because it has been commented on, that Miss S desired the time of marriage to be deferred but I seeing no just cause overruled her.

You know part of losses. Struggled, troubles, and embarrassment, in a financial way she had some money from the sale of a house and lot in Belleville, Ill. That is invested here in her home. I got something out of Art's wreck by continuing the little business. I am making but very little but all I require, what is made is hers Fred told me to my face that as quick as I was dead he was going to make her [missing text] Imp her [missing text] with the law of God will not let him. Ain't it strange how greedy or covetous a person can get while there was other trouble besides. Idealism, animosity -- it seemed to culminate in the little personal property.

When we look back down the long vista of 72 years, we become aware and are amazed at what God has brought us through -- so few see the heart and mercy of God in their lives, but my whole life and lips are given to him in prayer and thanksgiving for the wonderful mercy and loving care of us. True, we have few intimates, and they are not the ones I should have chosen 20 years ago, but they know of her goodness to me. I have also endeavored to be kind to her. It has been a joy to make any sacrifice for each other and to share our pleasures. Our home comes next to heaven. In nature, my days, months, or years may not be many. I am trying to be ready when the summons may come, I hear so many say that they are ready any hour of the day should He call and waiting in his promise for "at evening it shall be light" these lines have been written in a desultory manner from memory at your request you can fill between the lines as I can only touch here and there, but again I praise God for what he has done for me and brought me through. I am now waiting for the Salvation of my children.

1/1/08 Your loving Father, Geo. J. Vining, Sr.

In regard to the "Saloon question", I see in your paper the names of men who unequivocably let the world know on which side of a great moral question they served. All honor to them, as it may mean loss of friends and finance.

But there come times in our lives when God to whom we must all answer expects His people to take such a stand for His honor and glory using our efforts to put away sin from among us. I wrote a long article on the subject covering the experience of many years, but just "cut it out" as unnecessary. It's now not a question of proof, but one of [missing text] should be glad of an opportunity of offering "proof" as a matter of revenue that is simply foolishness or a willful "blind".

A very little common sense in required to see that every dollar a saloon keeper pays in for license, someone -- everyone -- the people must pay him back with interest and percent of it, besides the loads of crimes and costs added -- a saloon never produced one single dollar.

"Righteousness (scattereth) exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people". Prov. 14-34

Geo. J. Vining, Sr.