Valentine Baxter Horton built in Pomeroy in 1836 the world's first towboat, the Condor. He served in the 34th, 35th, and 37th Congresses of the U.S. and was a member of President Lincoln's peace conference in 1860 [sic - 1861]. He was president of the board that established the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, now Ohio State University in Columbus, and was a trustee of O.S.U. and of Ohio University for 30 years. He was also a member of the Ohio Constitutional Convention. He married Miss Clarissa Pomeroy, daughter of Samuel Wyllis Pomeroy, for whom the town of Pomeroy was named, and he is buried in Beech Grove Cemetery, Pomeroy.