John R. Gile

JOHN R. GILE, who is now living a retired life at No. 653 East Third Street, Winona, was born in Addison, Steuben County, N. Y., on the 16th of April, 1829, and is a son of John F. and Fanetta (Butler) Gile. The father was born in Hartford, Conn., and at an early day removed to Addison. His wife was a native of Philadelphia, Pa. John R. spent the days of his childhood and youth in the East, and when twenty years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Waukegan, Ill., the journey being made by way of the Lakes. They remained in Waukegan only a short time, when, on account of the ague, they removed to the present site of Baraboo, Wis., although the town Lad not then sprung into existence. The parents settled permanently on a timber claim on Cedar Creek, seven miles from Baraboo, in 1849, and there continued until 1853, when they came to Winona County. The father secured a claim seven miles southwest of Winona, and three miles west of Witoka, at Gile's Corners, at the head of Burns Valley, and in 1854 began to build a home. He was one of the first settlers in that locality. He assisted in blazing the road to La Crosse, and was connected with many events concerning the early history and development of the county. There he improved a good farm, upon which he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1873, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was in a runaway and thereby sustained an injury, a log badly hurting his side. A week afterward he was caught in a storm, and died a few hours later, on the 24th of December. He had improved a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and on the old stage road he kept a hotel, his hostelry being a very popular place with the traveling public. For many years he held the office of Postmaster at Wayland, and was recognized as one of the leading citizens of the community. His wife survived him about one year.

After the family came to Minnesota, John R. Gile was engaged in running a mill in Wisconsin, but during the high water of June, 1855, he lost nearly all his property there, it being washed away. This caused him to seek a home in Winona County, and secured for this locality one of its best citizens. He obtained a farm near his father's, and for ten years successfully carried on agricultural pursuits, placing his land under a high state of cultivation. He then sold out and came to Winona.

Ere leaving Wisconsin, Mr. Gile married in Baraboo, on the 12th of June, 1855, Miss Sarah Jane Howard, a lady of French ancestry, who lost her parents during her early childhood, and was reared by her grandfather. Ten children have been born of this union, eight of whom are yet living, namely: Charles A., the efficient City Treasurer of Winona; Mary A., wife of W. E. Smith, railway agent for the North-western Railroad in Volga, S. Dak.; Joseph Llewellyn, a farmer of Hart Township; John D., also an agriculturist; Minnie, wife of M. M. Ostrom, of Winona; James B., who is living in Winona; Andrew J., who is in the employ of the Winona Lumber Company; and George W., at home. Eldula and Emma both died in childhood.

On coming to Winona, Mr. Gile came into the possession of the Winona Democrat, which was then owned by A. J. Reed, to whom he had loaned money for the establishment of the paper. He afterward admitted to partnership J.J. Green, and later other changes were made in the ownership of the paper. The business steadily increased, and a joint-stock company was organized. The paper was invoiced for $9,000, but this move proved an unprofitable one, and Mr. Gile lost all he had invested in the venture. The paper was sold at a receiver's sale in 1868, Mr. Gile being the purchaser, but later he disposed of it. For some time he was engaged in the commission business as a member of the firm of R. A. Foster & Co., and to this work his energies were devoted until 1872, when he returned to the farm. From time to time he sold off portions of his farm, and in 1892 disposed of the remainder. He also carried on merchandising at Wilson, and was Postmaster of that place for four years. Since 1860 he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has taken an active interest in political affairs, being a stanch supporter of the Democracy, and has labored earnestly in its interests. He has been an active member of the central committees, and has served as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and as Justice of the Peace. He is devoted to his adopted county, doing all in his power for its advancement and welfare, and as a loyal and valued citizen deserves mention in this volume.

Thomas Adams Peirce, M. D.

As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winona County, Minnesota; containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.