2014-12-06

A family history research note written by my mother in her spiral notebook, 
May 30, 1990, said:
     Isaac Vincent bro. to Aaron 
     state Treas. - Ala. Talladega
She drew a line to separate this note from other notes on the page.

                          - - - - -

Written in the page margin the same as the above note but beneath it was 
this note:
     My family Vincent
     Pg. 25 Item 9 Spec. Coll. Dept. Samford Univ. ---> special Documents
Mother was obviously referring to Maud Kelly's "Bledsoe-Kelly Collection" 
in the Samford University Library's Special Collections Department, 
Birmingham, Alabama. 

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My mother was referring to Isaac Vincent (1815-1868) who obviously died 10 
years before the infamous Isaac Harvey Vincent began his term of office 
(see below).
                          - - - - -

from: http://www.archives.alabama.gov/conoff/vincent.html
     Isaac Harvey Vincent
     State Treasurer: 1878-1883
Isaac Harvey Vincent was born in Matagorda County, Republic of Texas in 
November 1842. After the death of his mother, Vincent's family returned 
to Alabama and he grew up in Autauga and Chambers Counties. Vincent taught 
school and worked for the local newspaper in LaFayette, Chambers County, 
before enlisting in the Chambers Guards. He eventually served as captain 
of Co. I, 47th Alabama Infantry. Vincent was severely wounded at the Battle 
of the Wilderness in May 1864.

After the war, Vincent married Frances Richards, daughter of newpaper editor 
and Probate Judge Evan Richards. Vincent served as clerk in chancery and as 
county treasurer of Chambers County.

Vincent participated in the Democratic victory in the state election of 1874, 
and for his efforts was appointed private secretary to Governor George Smith 
Houston. Vincent served as clerk to the Debt Commisssion which scaled back 
Alabama's Reconstruction-era debt and in 1878 he was elected to the first of 
three terms as State Treasurer.

In January 1883 Governor Edward Asbury O'Neal reported to the Legislature that 
Vincent had absconded from office and that more than $200,000 of state funds 
were unaccounted for. Vincent eluded arrest for more than four years, was 
captured in Texas in 1887, was tried, convicted and served five years in prison 
before receiving a pardon from Governor Thomas Goode Jones in 1895. Vincent died 
in Texas in 1897.

Authorities:
Palmer, Mark Alan. "The Political Career of Alabama Treasurer Isaac Harvey Vincent." 
Master's thesis, Auburn University, 1994.