The Gilchrist Families of Linn County, Iowa

Prominent among the active and enterprising citizens of Center Point is this well-known lumber dealer, wlui has succcssfuUv engaged in that line of business for twenty years. A native of Linn county, lie was born in Grant township January 31, 1858, and is a son of Corydon Gilchrist, whose birth occurred in Oswego, New York, in 1829. His paternal grandfather, Daniel I\l. Gilchrist, was born in Nova Scotia in 1800, of Scotch ancestry, the family being founded there at an early day by SctJtch emigrants. About 1838 he removed to Illinois, and was one of the early settlers of DeKalb county, where he opened up a farm. There Corydon Gilchrist grew to manhood, and in 1856 came to Linn county, Iowa, locating in what is now Grant township, where he became the owner of a tine farm of three hundred and twenty acres. In connection with the operation of his land he also carried on the lumber business at Walker for some years, and was one of the well-to-do and prosperous citizens of his community. He was a stanch Democrat in jxlitics, and filled various public positions of honor and trust, serving as county supervisor for a number of years. In Linn county he married Margaret Davis, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of William Davis, who was a pioneer of the Prairie state, and came to this county about 1840. She died in 1863, and her husband, who long survived her, passed away in 1893.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

In this county Mr. Gilchrist was married, in June, 1900. to Miss Carrie Vinton, who was born near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, but was reared and educated in Linn county, Iowa, her family having located here in 1874. For about ten years prior to her marriage she successfully engaged in teaching school. Her father, John Vinton, purchased a farm in Jackson township, and became one of the substantial men of that locality. He died about 1898, but his wife still survives him and resides on the old homestead.

Although reared a Democrat Mr. Gilchrist is a stanch su])porter of the Republican party. He has served as a member of the village board, and has always taken a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. Fraternally he is a prominent member of Center Point Lodge. F. & A. M.. of which he is past master, and which he had represented in the grand lodge of the state. He has also filled the chairs of the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Knights of Pythias fraternity, to which he belongs. He is quite popular both in business and social circles, and is a man highly respected and esteemed by all who know him. Mrs. Gilchrist is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

The subject of this sketch is a thorough and skillful farmer and a business man of more than ordinary capacity, who is successfully carrying on his chosen occupation on sections 8 and 9, Grant township. He was born in that township, October 23, 18C5, and is a son of Corydon and Rebecca (Leonard) Gilchrist. The father was born in Oswego, New York, in 1828, and was a son of Daniel M. Gilchrist, who was born in Nova Scotia, in 1800, of Scotch ancestry, the family being founded there at an early day by Scotch emigrants. About 1838 the grandfather of our subject removed to Illinois, becoming one of the early settlers of DeKalb county, where he opened up a farm. There Corydon Gilchrist grew to manhood, and in 1856 he came to Linn county. Iowa, locating in what is now Grant township, where he became the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres. In connection with the operation of his land he also carried on the lumber and grain business at W'alter for some years, and was one of the well-to-do and prosperous citizens of his community. He was a stanch Democrat in politics, and filled \-various public positions of honor and trust, serving as county supervisor for a number of years.

Corydon Gilchrist was twice married, first, to margaret Davis, who died in 1863. leaving three children — Lawrence, who is represented on another page of this volume; Florence, wife of Joseph Mutchler, also represented in this volume: and Margaret, a teacher in the schools of Fairview, Iowa. For his second wife, Corydon Gilchrist married Rebecca Leonard, a native of New Jersey, and a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Duckworth) Leonard. By this union there were also three children — Frank, the subject of this sketch; Fred, who is represented elsewhere in this work; and Ella, wife of Ruel Ferrin, a farmer residing in Cherokee county. Iowa. For his third wife he married Olive Phelps, by whom he had one daughter. On the 15th of July, 1893, the father of these children passed away, and his remains were interred in the Davis cemetery in Grant township. His widow is yet living, and makes her home in Vinton, Iowa.

\Mien Corydon Gilchrist first came to Linn county it was sparsely settled, but he lived to see it developed into one of the most productive counties in the state. To such men as he. and the great army of pioneers, is due the fact that Iowa to-day is the banner state of the Union from an agricultural standpoint. He was a man that was widely and favorably known and was held in the highest regard by the people of his adopted county.

Frank Gilchrist passed the days of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm and early acquired a good practical knowledge of agricultural pursuits. He also attended the public schools of his native township and Center Point, and since completing his education he has devoted his entire time and attention to general farming and the raising of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs for breeding purposes. He has followed this special line for about twenty years, and sells his stock all over the United States. He is the owner of a well improved and \-valuable farm of two hundred and eighty acres, and being a man of sound judgment and good executive ability, he has met with excellent success in all his undertakings. By his Ijallot he supports the men and measures of the Democracv.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Alartin Gilchrist, deceased, was prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Linn county for almost thirty years, and became one of the most prosperous and influential citizens of Grant township. He was born in Canada West, April 30, 1833, and was a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Schoonmaker) Gilchrist, both natives of New York state. The father was born May 26, 1800, and died in December, 1873, and the mother was born in 1805, and died in 1883, while on a visit to her sons in Iowa. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Corydon, George, martin, Elinore, Abigail, Warren, Charles and Tyler.

About 1838 the family removed to DeKalb county, Illinois, where IMartin Gilchrist grew to manhood upon his father's farm, and when his services were not needed at home he attended the district schools of the neighborhood. With the hope of bettering his financial condition in the west, he went to Colorado in 1859 and engaged in mining for a time, but at first was unsuccessful in that venture, and was frequently found without a penny. He would then work at anything which he could find to do until he was able to buy another stock of provisions, when he would resume prospecting. He at length met with success in his mining operations, and by the year 1868 had accumulated enough capital to buy a;good farm. Coming to Linn county, Iowa, he purchased two hundred acres of land on section 18, Grant township, and to the cultivation and improvement of that farm he devoted his energies throughout life. Being a man of keen discrimination, sound judgment and untiring industry, he steadily prospered, and at the time of his death owned four hundred acres of rich and arable land in Grant township, this county, besides two hundred and twenty acres in Benton county, Iowa, and eight hundred acres 111 Dakota, all of wliich property was accjuired through his own unaided efforts. In connection with general farming he also carried on stock raising, making a specialty of the breeding of Shorthorn cattle.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A. A. GILCHRIST

A. A. Gilchrist, who is now successfully engaged in the livery business in Central City, was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the 11th of September, 1875, and is a son of Daniel M. and Mary J. (Myers) Gilchrist. His father was also a native of Nova Scotia and continued to make his home there until 1SS3, when he left Canada and came to Linn county, Iowa, locating in Central City. He lived here until ]893, when he removed to Ryan, Iowa, making his home there until 1909. Since that time he has resided in Frankfort, Spink county, South Dakota. By trade he is a carpenter but spent considerable time as a sailor on the lakes on board a fishing smack. His wife is also living and they are the parents of fourteen children, as follows: William E.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.