Everyone was all smiles during the George Vest Celebration October 1 at Verona Vineyards, which is situated on the once-larger Vest farm. SAR President General Larry Guzy, Secretary General Warren Alter, Ohio Society President Donald McGraw and SAR Color Guard Commander Mark C Anthony joined Cincinnati Chapter Sons of the American Revolution (CCSAR) President Jack Bredenfoerder with four of his members (Paul Wilke, Ken Carpenter, Bradley Jarard,  Lee Wilkerson and Michael Gunn) and a dozen more Kentucky SAR members at Verona Vineyards.

Patriot George Vest was born about 1760 in Virginia. He served as a Private with the Virginia Militia began his military career as a youngster during Lord Dumore’s War, serving under Capt. Thomas Dillard and Col. Andrew Lewis in a militia from Pittsylvania County, Virginia. He was in Middlesex on the Pasquotank River when Dunmore was driven away. In 1776, he marched with William Christian against the Cherokee Indians in Tennessee, serving nearly eight months. He returned to Tennessee in 1777 as a private commanded by Capt. James Dickson and Col. Evan Shelby for treaty talks with the Cherokee on the Holston River. In 1778 he served again under Capt. Dillard, guarding “the frontier,” but this time with General George Rogers Clark.

For his service, Vest received a land grant in Shelby County, Kentucky. He eventually settled near Verona in Boone County Kentucky and sired four sons. Many descendant members of his family joined other well wishers including CCSAR in the crowd of about 200 at the ceremony last Sunday.

Indeed, a spectacle of historical patriotism not often witnessed.

Article by
Michael B. Gunn, Ph.D.,
Past President, Cincinnati Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution

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