History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 249
Asliton. Mr. Kelley is a member of the Masonic lodge and the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and he gives his political allegiance
to the democratic party. He is one of the successful and
progressive native sons of this township and he has been carried
forward by the force of his ability and energy to a place among
substantial farmers and useful citizens.
F. J. GEHANT.
F. J. Gehaut, a representative of a well known jjioneer family
of Lee county, who now lives retired in West Brooklyn, is a native
of Lee Center township, born there in 1858. He is a son of Laurent
and Julia (Toulliau) Gehant, the former of whom came from
Fiance in 1854 and settled at Lee Center, where he worked in a
stone quarry. Fie afteiward purchased a farm in Shelby coimty,
whereou he remained for ten years, leturning to Lee county in
18GG, at which time he purchased a tract of laud in Brooklyn
township, making his home thereon until his death, which occurred
in 1897, when he had reached the age of seventy-eight. His wife
survived him until 1899, passing away at the age of seventy-two.
They were laid to rest in the West Brooklyn cemetery.
F. J. Gehant acquired his education in the district schools,
attending until he was scA^enteen years of age. He then assisted
his father until he was twenty-four, after which he purchased
eight}'' acres of land in Viola townshi]^ and began farming indepen-
dently. This formed the nucleus of his present large holdings,
for he added to it from time to time, finally acquiring five hundred
and forty acres. This is divided into several farms, npon which
Mr. Gehant erected substantial buildings, and it is operated by
his sons, to whom he rented the property when he retired from
active life. He has liuilt a modern cement block residence in West
Brooklyn and in this now makes his home.
In Scioto coimty, Ohio, in 1882, Mr. Gehant married Miss Victoria
Henry, a daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Jungnnef)
Henry, residents of West Brooklyn. Mr. and Mrs. Gehant have
become the parents of ten children : Henry Tj. : Alexander, a farmer
in Violn township: Annie, the wife of Jnlins Bernardin, a hardware
merchant of West Brooklyn : Ancrust. a farmer in Viola
tnwTtshirv: Tsfibelln : Frank: William: Walter: Mabel: and Alice.