William Vermillion
William Vermillion, deceased, formerly cashier of the First National Bank of Smithfield, which responsible position he had filled continuously for thirty-three years, was a citizen of high standing in this community. He was born on the old Vermillion farm in Smithfield Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, September 30, 1829, and was a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Aliway) Vermillion.
Charles Vermillion was born near Baltimore, Md., and did not come to Jefferson County until he reached manhood. He then settled near Mt. Pleasant but died at Smithfield, in his eighty-fourth year. He married Elizabeth Aliway, who survived him for eleven days only. They had nine children: Joseph, who is deceased; Jemima, who is the widow of David Haynes; William; Sarah, who is the widow of John McKelvey; Ann, who is the widow of John Ramsey; Charles, who served as a soldier in the Civil War; Burns; Anderson; and one not named.
William Vermillion grew to manhood on the home farm. After attending the district schools he entered Hopedale College and later took a course in the Lebanon Normal School, were he was graduated. He became a successful and appreciated teacher in the Mt. Pleasant high school and taught also in the Smithfield schools. The time came when he felt that his services were due to his country, the long and cruel Civil War being then in progress, and he accordingly gave up school and enlisted as a member of Company B, 157th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. He then returned to Smithfield and became assistant cashier of the First National Bank, being one of its organizers. Within a few months he was made cashier and continued in that position until his death, which occurred November 5, 1897. He was one of Smithfield's best known men, being acquainted not only with the officials and patrons of the institution with which he was identified so long, but, through his many other interests, religious, fraternal and social, was recognized and held in esteem by his fellow citizens in general. He was a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to the Commandery at Steubenville, and to the lower branches at Smithfield. In politics he was a stanch Democrat and at times served in township ottices, not, however, for love of position but because he deemed he could, in that way, best advance the interests of the community and the welfare of his fellow citizens. He was an old-school Presbyterian and for twenty-five years was an elder in the church and for over twenty years served as superintendent of the Sunday-school.
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William Vermillion was married May 30, 1865, to Miss Emily L. Ong, a daughter of .Jacob and Mary (Irvine) Ong, and one child was born to them, Lena M., who is the wife of Rev. W. Houston, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Mt. Gilead, O. Mr. and Mrs. Houston have three children—William Vermillion, David Tappen and Emily Ong.
Mrs. Vermillion was born near Smithfield, O., and she still owns the old home farm. Her father was born in Jefferson County and was a son of Finley Ong, who was a son of Jacob Ong, a pioneer who came to Jefferson County from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was of English extraction, the first of the Ongs coming from England in 1632 and settling at Baltimore, Md. Tlie mother of Mrs. Vermillion was born in Ireland and was brought to America when six years old by her parents, George and Mary Irvine.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ong seven children were born, namely: Mathias, Finley, Mary Ann, John, Patterson, Emily and William I. Finley, John, Mrs. Vermillion and William I. are still living. Mrs. Vermillion is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Smithfield and she has the distinction of having been the first member taken into this body.
20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910