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Clair County MO Homepage
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St. Clair County Missouri Biographies
SECTION G
GARDNER, J.
Wade
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1083
--- J. WADE GARDNER, M.D. In the latter part of the last century, the
grandfather of our subject, emigrated from Scotland to America, settling in
Virginia, where he farmed until his death. His son, Robert F. Gardner, was born
August 7, 1805, in Campbell County, Virginia. He located in Marshall County,
Tennessee, in 1838, and in 1841 settled in St. Clair County, Missouri, where he
died when fifty-six years old, in October, 1861. J. Wade Gardner, the eldest of
five children of Robert T. and Susan B. (Beck) Gardner, was born in Marshall
County, Tennessee, May 10, 1839, and when but two years old was brought by his
parents to St. Clair County, where they gave him his early education in the
schools of Osceola. In his eighteenth year he began the study of medicine under
Dr. G. W. Dollel, with whom he remained three years. In 1859 he located in
Dallas, Texas, but after remaining a short time he returned to Missouri, and
entered upon the practice of medicine, and connected with it the drug business
in Wellsville, Dade County. At the breaking out of the war in 1861, he removed
to Neosho, and was in charge of a hospital under General Rains' command until
January, 1862, when he went to Arkansas. The following June, on his return to
Pineville, McDonald County, Missouri, he was taken prisoner, but was released
upon taking the oath of allegiance to the United States' government, and in
July, 1862, returned to Osceola. He remained on his father's farm, practicing
medicine in the neighborhood until the fall of 1864, when he moved to St.
Louis, but only stayed there one year, when he came back to Osceola, and was
appointed deputy clerk, which position he held until January 1, 1867. From that
time until January 1, 1871, he was engaged in the real estate agency and
mercantile business, and also practiced his profession.. He was then
reappointed deputy clerk and held the position six months, when he was obliged
to resign, having on the first day of July, 1871, established the Osage Valley,
a Democratic paper. The duties of his new calling demanding all his time. But
in a short time he disposed of his newspaper office and again turned his
attention to the real estate business in connection with the practice of
medicine, which he has continued to the present time. In 1876 he was the county
physician. Dr. Gardner has always taken an active part in politics. In 1860 he
was appointed elector on the Bell and Everett presidential ticket and in 1864,
to the same position on the McClellan ticket. During Governor Brown's
administration he was elected clerk of the senate committee on apportionment or
redistricting the state into representative senatorial and congressional
districts. He was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention of 1862, 1873,
and 1874, and also held various positions of importance in his county. The
Doctor took a very active part in opposing the payment of county bonds issued
for railroad purposes in advance of the completion of tile roads, and has taken
a leading part in the endeavor to compromise the county indebtedness for the
encouragement of immigration. He is a member of Horeb Royal Arch Chapter No.
47, of the Masonic fraternity. September 7, 1859 he was married to Miss Mary R.
Devin, daughter of Judge William R. and Rebecca (Oliver) Devin, of Polk County,
Missouri, but originally from Virginia. By her he has one child: Rosanna, born
June 21, 1867.
GARDNER, James
D.
source: 1883 History of
St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1192
--- JAMES D. GARDNER, one of the substantial and prosperous farmers of Doyal
Township, was born in Campbell County, Tennessee, April 15, 1820. His father,
John Gardner, was a native of Scotland, but was reared within four miles of
London, England. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Finch. The subject of
this sketch accompanied his father to Virginia, where he lived until 1841, and
in the spring of 1842 came to Missouri. After a residence here of five years,
he returned to Virginia, where he lived one year and then once more came to
this county, which has since been his home. November 13, 1865, he came to where
he now lives. He married Miss Charlotte T. Allen February 24, 1853. She was
born in Henry County, Virginia, but came with her parents to this county in
1838. Their family consists of two children: Harriet J., (now Mrs. T. Wheeden)
and W. F. They have lost two: Martha E. and Mary E. Mr. Gardner is known as a
man of excellent judgment, cautious in all business transactions, upright and
honorable in all his dealings, and merits the esteem in which he is held by the
community.
GARNETT, R. W.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1146
--- DR. R. W. GARNETT, physician and farmer, section 33, was born in Barren
County, Kentucky, June 3, 1828, his parents being William I. and Emily (Willis)
Garnett, natives of Virginia. R. W. was the third of a family of five children.
He grew to manhood in Kentucky, receiving his education in the schools of that
state and at the age of seventeen began the study of medicine with Dr. John
Green of Barren County. He read with him about three years after which he began
practicing in that county where he remained until 1855. Then he came to St.
Clair County, Missouri, where he has since practiced his profession and
followed farming. His farm contains 200 acres and will average with any in this
section. He is a member of the Baptist Church and belongs to the Masonic
fraternity. August 2, 1860, Dr. G. was married to Miss Julia A. Ledbetter. She
was born in St. Clair County, Missouri, September 9, 1842. They have eight
children: William I., Lucy Lee, Ed., Docia, Ermine, Bettie, Josia, and Dick.
GASH, Alfred L.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1173
--- ALFRED L. GASH, a native of Marion County, Missouri, was born September 20,
1823, his parents, William and Elizabeth Gash, having been among the earliest
settlers of St. Clair County. The former was born in East Tennessee and in
1820, was married in Marion County, Missouri, to which locality he had moved in
1818. In 1835 the family came to this. county, locating about one mile from the
present residence of Alfred L. Here William Gash died in 1847, his wife
departing this life in 1858. In 1848 the subject of this sketch was married to
Miss Lucinda Phillips, a daughter of Gomer Phillips, an old resident of this
county. They have seven children living: Jane E., Mary C., William G., Martha
L., John T., James G. and Lucinda L. Mr. Gash is at present living upon and
conducting the farm of a brother who is in California.
GEORGE, Thomas
F.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1110
--- THOMAS F. GEORGE, section 7, a native of Logan County, Ohio, was born
August 23, 1833. When four years of age he accompanied the family to Madison
County, Indiana, where he was reared on his father's farm, there receiving his
education. In 1863 he enlisted in Company B, 134th Indiana Regiment, serving
till October, 1865, and in that year he moved to Jackson County, Missouri.
After residing there three years he came to St. Clair County, settling where he
now resides in the spring of 1869. His farm consists of eighty-two acres. Mr.
George was married March 4, 1854, to Miss Prudence Cumins, a native of Ohio.
They have one child, Francis. They are members of the M. E. Church.
GILBERT,
Washington Lee
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1160
--- WASHINGTON LEE GILBERT, a native of Lincoln County, Kentucky, was born
December 14, 1837, being the son of John C. Gilbert, a stone mason by
occupation, who was born in Amherst County, Virginia, in 1784. When eighteen
years of age, or in 1802, he removed to Lincoln County, Kentucky, where he was
married February 14, 1835, to Elizabeth Huston, of that county. They had four
children, two of whom are living: Sarah A. and Washington L. Walter H., who was
born February 3, 1836, died September 9, 1862, having been murdered while plowing,
and William A., born December 10, 1839, died October 8, 1857. Mrs. Gilbert died
July 22, 1846. In March, 1854, Mr. G. removed to Johnson County, Missouri, and
that year entered 120 acres of land, subsequently locating 120 acres more, with
land warrants granted him for service in the war of 1812. He died September 10,
1868, after a residence of fourteen years in Johnson County. The subject of
this sketch was married May 26, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth J. Helms, and they have
been blessed with six children: Ann E., born May 3, 1862, (wife of Thomas L.
Harris, of Johnson County); Patsey G., born April 24, 1866; John H., born July
1, 1867; Clay W., born November 23, 1868; Susan B., born October, 5, 1870, and
Sally L., born May 9, 1872. August 1, 1862, Mr. Gilbert enlisted as a private
in Co. D, Sixteenth Missouri infantry, second brigade, under Captain David
Baker for three years, his company surrendering about that time at Shreveport,
Louisiana. He reached home in June, 1865, resumed agricultural pursuits, and
remained upon a portion of the homestead until March 5, 1881, when selling the
property, he came to this county, settling in Polk Township, where he has since
been engaged in farming and stock raising. Mrs. Gilbert and her eldest daughter
are connected with the Christian Church, of Bear Creek. He is a Democrat.
GILLSON, Daniel
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1131
--- CAPTAIN DANIEL GILLSON, section 10, owes his nativity to Marion County,
Ohio, where he was born July 26, 1834. His parents were D. and Elizabeth
(Stilwell) Gillson, natives of Orange County, New York. The family removed to
Ohio in about 1816, and were among the pioneer settlers of Delaware County, but
shortly after went to Marion County. Daniel grew to manhood on his father's
farm, and received a good education at the public schools, supplemented with a
course at a commercial college. After completing his studies he was engaged in
the mercantile business about four years. In 1856 he came west and traveled
through a number of the western states. He enlisted in August, 1862, in Company
D, 121st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till discharged, in June 1865. He
enlisted as a private and filled the position of sergeant and second and first
lieutenant, and afterward was promoted to captain. He participated in some
fifteen important engagements. among which were Perryville, Chickamaugua,
Atlanta, Jonesborough, etc. He was taken prisoner at Perryville and held as
such for four months, when he was paroled. After the close of the war Mr.
Gillson returned to Ohio and resided two years in Clinton County. He came to
St. Clair County, Missouri, in 1868 and farmed about two years, and in 1870 he
was occupied in conducting a flouring mill at Osceola, continuing it for two
years. hi 1873 he removed to Appleton City and carried on the mercantile
business about five years, when he sold out and removed to his present farm in
the spring of 1878. He has 143 acres in cultivation and well improved. He
devotes some attention to the breeding and raising of thoroughbred and high
graded cattle and Berkshire hogs. Mr. Gillson was married in Lewisburg, Ohio,
March 18, 1866, to Miss Emma A. Martin, a daughter of John Martin. They have
one daughter, Millie M. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
GORDON, John
Parks
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1084
--- JOHN PARKS GORDON was born in St. Louis, Missouri, December 16, 1837, and
was the son of Preston Gordon, who was born and raised in Mercer County,
Kentucky, and who settled in St. Louis when it was a village. After living
there for about twenty-five years, he came to St. Clair County in 1855, where
he purchased 1,000 acres of land. He died in 1875. The mother of John, formerly
Julia Ann Baker, was born in St. Louis County, Missouri, and died December 7,
1861. They had eight children of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest.
He worked on his father's farm, making the raising of stock a leading feature,
and very soon grew into prominence as a stock dealer. In 1861 he entered in the
Missouri State Guards for six months, then entered the regular service, and
served in the trans Mississippi district. He was engaged in many hard battles,
and in a skirmish in Cedar County he received a severe wound, the ball entering
near his left shoulder, passing through his body and coming out at his right
hip. After his recovery in nine months he joined the regiment with which he
remained until the close of the war in 1865. In 1868 he went to Texas and
engaged in raising cotton and farming. Returning in 1876 he was elected sheriff
and was re-elected in 1880, faithfully discharging the duties of this position
for two terms. In 1882 he was elected county collector. Mr. Gordon married in
1872 Mary Ann Glass Dickson, daughter of John M. Dickson, of Grayson County,
Texas. She died in 1876. He married for his second wife Miss Ida Patterson in
1881. She is the daughter of William N. Patterson. They have one child, William
Henry. Politically he is a Greenbacker, and religiously a Baptist, and he
belongs to the I. O. O. F. fraternity.
GORE, James D.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1132
--- JAMES D. GORE, farmer and stock raiser, section 19, owes his nativity to
Macoupin County, Illinois, where he was born March 25, 1853, being the son of
Michael and Mouen (Maxwell) Gore. James passed his boyhood on his father's farm
and received a fair education at the public schools. He was married in his
native county, April 3, 1873, to Miss Margaret New, a daughter of Charles New.
She was born in Scott County, Illinois. They have one daughter, Lily May, who
was born May 8, 1879. Mr. Gore farmed in Illinois until the fall of 1881 when
he removed to Missouri, locating where he now resides. He has a farm of seventy
acres, all in cultivation. Mrs. Gore is a member of the Baptist Church.
GORE, Michael
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1132
--- MICHAEL GORE, section 18, was born in Trigg County, Kentucky, April 28,
1829. His father, M. Gore, was a native of Virginia, and his mother, whose
maiden name was Elizabeth Mitchell, was a Kentuckian by birth. Michael spent
his youth on a farm in Trigg County and in 1849 he removed to Illinois and located
in Macoupin County, where he purchased land and engaged in farming and stock
raising. In 1881 he came to Missouri and settled where he now resides. He owns
170 acres of land well improved. Mr. Gore held several local offices during his
residence in Illinois. He was commissioner of highways and bridges for three
years in Macoupin County and was then re-elected. He was married while there,
October 1, 1849, to Miss Mouen Maxwell, a daughter of Ered Maxwell. She was
born in Sangamon County, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Gore have four children: Eliza
(wife of John Allen), James, E. V. and Ezra A. He and his wife are members of
the United Baptist Church, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
GRACY, S. M.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1182
--- S. M. GRACY, farmer, section 17, was born in Ross County, Ohio, October 17,
1844. His parents were Samuel and Rachel (Snively) Gracy, the former a native
of Ireland and the latter of Pennsylvania. When S. M was five years old they
moved to Wells County, Indiana, where he grew to manhood and received his
education. Mr. G. was employed in farming and school teaching in Indiana until
1872, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. Here he has since followed
teaching and farming. His farm now contains 100 acres. In 1875 he was elected a
justice of the peace, and has since held that position. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity and of the Grange. March 30, 1871, he was married to Miss
Mary Scoffter, of Indiana. They have four children: Jennie, Louisa, Ettie and
Charles. They have lost two: Alfred and Harriet.
GRAHAM, George
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1132
--- GEORGE GRAHAM, section 1, a native of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, was
born in October, 1822, his parents being Thomas and Mary (Alexander) Graham.
George grew to manhood in Pennsylvania on a farm, and he married Miss Maria
Moore, also of Pennsylvania. Some four years after this he removed to Kentucky
and from there to Ohio, locating in Noble County where he resided until 1862.
Then he went to Coles County, Illinois, and farmed about fourteen years. In
March, 1876, he located in St. Clair County, Missouri. Mrs. Graham died January
18, 1881, leaving three children: Susanna (wife of L. L. Shafner), J. G., and
T. P. who was married December 15, 1881, to Miss L. B. Leonard, and they have
one child, Anna May. Mr. Graham lost two sons, one W. M. died in 1869 at the
age of twenty-five years, and G. W. died in childhood. Mr. G. is a member of
the Presbyterian Church and of the Masonic fraternity. J. G. Graham, the oldest
son of the subject of this sketch, now owns the home farm which consists of 220
acres under good cultivation and improvement.
GRANTLEY, Harry
M.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1110
--- HARRY M. GRANTLEY, attorney and notary public, a leading and enterprising
man of Appleton City, was born at Oxford, England, July 10, 1850, and is the
seventh of ten children of an old established English family. At the age of
seventeen years he came to New York, where he remained until 1871, when, moving
further west, he located at Bloomington, Illinois. October 2, 1872, he was
united in marriage to Miss Susan Dimmitt, daughter of William Dimmitt, a
prominent citizen of Bloomington. In the spring of 1874, Mr. Grantley came to
Missouri and located at Butler where he lived a short time, then choosing
Appleton City as a more desirable point to enter into the practice of his
profession. He was soon after admitted to the bar of St. Clair County and has
since been engaged in the practice of law. He has shown a commendable public
spiritedness in promoting the interests of the town, and in the spring of 1881
erected, at a cost of $17,000, the Durley Opera House. He is identified with
the I. O. O. F. and is a Knight Templar. Mr. Grantley and wife have five
children: Edith M., Alice S., Arthur W., Harry W. and Grace E.
GREEN, James W.
& John C.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1168
--- JAMES W. AND JOHN C. GREEN are sons of Elziphaniah Green, who was born in
Bath County, Kentucky, December 15, 1815. In 1840, while in Nicholas County, he
met Miss Sarah I. Bell, to whom he was united in marriage the following spring.
They had a family of ten children, James being the oldest and John C. the sixth
child. The former was born in Nicholas County in 1842, and in 1858 accompanied
his parents to Missouri, they settling in Cooper County. In 1877 J. W. Green
was married to Miss Martha A. Hatfield, and to them were born three children:
John W., Peter E. and Joseph Francis. The oldest son is dead. John C. Green was
born in 1858, and continued to reside with the family on the old homestead
until 1876, when he married Miss Lucy J. Wyatt, daughter of George Wyatt. They
have had two children, Elizabeth A. and Ella S. These brothers now own and
reside upon the land formerly occupied by their father, consisting of 254
acres, in section 3. They are farmers possessed with a most energetic will.
GREEN, Nicholas
B.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1146
--- NICHOLAS B. GREEN was born in Lafayette County, Missouri, March 29, 1838,
and was a son of Joseph and Jane G. Green, natives of Tennessee. In 1851 his
parents moved to St. Clair County, Missouri. He was reared upon his father's
farm and received an education in the common schools of Missouri. Mr. G. is now
one of the leading farmers in his township and owns a farm containing 605
acres, well improved. Two hundred acres are under fence and in a high state of
cultivation. He is at present feeding eighty-two head of cattle. He received a
wound at the battle of Lone Jack during the war. May 2, 1861, Mr. Green was
married to Miss Elizabeth Browning, a native of Virginia. They have six
children: Susan, Permela, Isabelle, Joseph H., Robert L., and Bessie. They have
lost five children. He is a member of the Grange.
GRIFFITH,
Wesley
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1133
--- WESLEY GRIFFITH, section 1, a prominent farmer and stock man of this
county, was born in Macon County, Illinois, January 22, 1841. His father, B.
Griffith, was a native of Ross County, Pennsylvania, and his mother, formerly
Leah Deafenbaugh, of Hawkins County, same state. The former was one of the
pioneer settlers of Macon County, Illinois. In 1851 he removed to DeWitt
County, where he is now a leading farmer and stock raiser. Wesley spent his
youth on his father's farm, enjoying good common school advantages. He came to
Missouri in 1869 and located in St. Clair County, settling on the farm where he
now resides. He has 860 acres of land, with 320 in cultivation. He makes a
specialty of feeding cattle and feeds on an average three car loads of steers and
about fifty hogs annually. Mr. Griffith was married in Henry County February
18, 1876, to Miss Sarah E. Kirk, a daughter of James A. Kirk. She came
originally from Rowan County, Kentucky. They have two children, Maud M. and
Ida. They lost one child in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are members of the
Christian Church.
GUERRANT,
Robert F.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1214
--- ROBERT F. GUERRANT, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of Stephen and Sallie
(Harris) Guerrant, both natives of Virginia (the former of French descent) and
was born in Buckingham County, Virginia, February 16, 1826. He was there reared
and educated, and in 1849 he moved to Saline County, Missouri, and in 1878 came
to St. Clair County. He has followed the occupation of farming during life and
his farm now contains 176 acres, (in which is located the best residence in
Tabor Township. His other improvements are also above the average of those in
the county. Mr. Guerrant is one of the stock holders in the First National Bank
of Appleton City. He has been twice married. First March 17, 1853, to Miss
Zerrilda Hill, of Saline County, who died November 30, 1874, leaving a family
of five children: Walter, L.; William T., Malinda A., Samuel and Ralph. Miss
Susan M. Hudgen, of Buckingham County, Virginia, became his second wife, their
marriage occurring February 20, 1878. By this union they have one child, Albert
C.