In 1812 or 1813, there was a man by the name of Rafe Mortimer who was running a tanyard in the part of town now known as Canada. A tanyard is a business that makes the hides of animals into leather. He was not making very much money and the bank demanded their loan to be paid.  He had to sell all his hides, so they were taken out of the vats and hung on poles, where they remained for several days attracting lots of buzzards. They circled over the tanyard, and the place became known as “Buzzards Glory.”

 Two youths at that time, James Johnson and Ellis Nordyke, wrote a poem about the village. 

“Come ye mechanics from afar,
And lend a helping hand,
From selling we will not debar
Come settle fertile land.

  “Yea, Buzzards Glory is the place,
Where happiness doth reign.
Come, come mechanics, don’t delay,
We invite you once again.
 

“The invitation is to all
Ye sons of freedom, come!”

If you pass this way, I hope you’ll call
And make this place your home.

  “Where oil doth run so clear and bright,
And the steam engine plays
If you were once to see the sight
Our noble works you’d praise.”

It wasn't long before people wanted to change the name.   Harkenss T. VanWinkle had the honor of giving the town its present name of New Vienna.  He was born in Morris County, N.Y. February 21, 1792.  In 1820 he settled in Leesburg, Ohio, coming to see New Vienna about the time it was laid out.  He left for the west in 1844. 

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