Van Gorder Tavern

Owner:  James Van Gorder
Year started:  1834
Year ended:  1853

James Van Gorder moved to Ohio about 1834 accompanied by his family.  The trip was made with wagon and teams, and it was several weeks before they arrived at their destination at Harrisonville. 

James Van Gorder married Rebecca Coryell who was born in New York State on June 2, 1814. 

There he built a frame house and opened it for the entertainment of the public, and for several years it was a popular place for travelers. 

His death occurred at the old home in Scioto County in 1853.  Rebecca survived her husband a few years.

The Portsmouth Times, March 23, 1910
MARCHED OUT HOME NOT TO HOME

Mr. Ed Neary of Harrisonville vicinity, was visiting with Portsmouth friends this week.  Time has been good to this citizen, and though he last February reached his seventy-sixth milestone, he is as chipper and hearty that one finds it hard to believe he is over sixty.

Mr. Neary come next June, will have lived in Scioto County over three quarters of a century as he came with his parents from Virginia in 1834.  His grandfather kept a tavern at Harrisonville then and here his father retired.  It is mighty interesting to hear Mr. Neary talk of the years that followed.  Many a time did he drive into Portsmouth for a load of whiskey for his grandfather and hay, it at 20 cents a gallon.  In those days everybody drank and you could not get a harvest hand to go into a field unless he knew a jug of liqour would be on tap.

In the Mexican war period, Mr. Neary, then 14, was drummer boy for the company that was organized here, but when it came time to go to the front his father came in and made him march back home on the double quick.