Lawrence Gilchrist

As printed in 1901

LAWRENCE GILCHRIST.

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 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.