Martin Gilchrist

As printed in 1901

MARTIN GILCHRIST.

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.

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

Mr. Gilchrist died April 5, 1897, honored and respected by all who knew him, and was laid to rest in Davis cemetery, Grant township. Politicalhhe was a stanch supporter of the Republican party from its organization, and he ably filled the offices of school director and township assessor. He was a straightforward, reliable business man,, and in all the relations of life was found true to every trust reposed in him. so that he well merited the confidence and esteem so freely accorded him by his fellow citizens. Since his death his wife has carried on the home farm with the assistance of her children, and has displayed excellent business ability in its management. She is a most estimable lady and has a host of warm friends throughout the county.

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.