Frank Gilchrist

As printed in 1901

FRANK GILCHRIST.

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 Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.