History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

322 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
in 19U1, when lie had reached the age of seventy-two years. He
had long survived his wife, who died in 1883, at the age of thirty-
three years. They were worthy people highly esteemed by all
who knew them, and they left behind many friends. They had
four children, of whom one died in infancy, while Euphemia, who
became the wife of A. T. Jeauguenat, died January 25, 1900, at the
age of thirty-three years. Arthur, the only surviving member
of the family beside F. 1). Gehant, is a farmer residing on the old
homestead.
At the usual age ¥. D. Gehant entered the district schools and
therein mastered the common branches of learning before putting
aside his text-books at the age of seventeen years. The succeeding
five years were devoted to work upon the home farm, and when
twenty-two years of age he purchased a tract of land of one himdred
and sLxty acres near Thornton, Iowa. He spent three years
upon that farm, after which he sold the propertj'^ and returned to
his native county. At West Brooklyn he purchased a general
store, which he conducted for several years, meeting with good
success in the undertaking. Fie next entered the banking business
of the Henry F. Gehant Banking Company, being associated
therewith for more than a decade, at the end of which time he
purchased a hardware store at Viola, Mercer county. This he
conducted successfully for eighteen months and then sold at a
good profit, although he is still the owner of the building. Returning
to his native county he bought seven acres of land near West
Brooklyn, which he is now laying out as an addition to the town.
He is a very progressive man readily recognizing and utilizing
opportunities, and whatever he undertakes he carries forward
to successful completion. In addition to his other business activities
he was one of the promoters of the West Brooklyn Farmers
Elevator Company, of which he was treasurer for four years and
is still one of the stockholders.
It was at West Brooklyn on the 7th of June, 1893, that Mr.
Gehant was united in marriage to Miss Mary Henry, a daughter
of Leopold and Delphine Henry, the former one of the pioneer
agriculturists of the county, now I'esiding in West Brooklyn.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gehant have been born six children :
Leafy,
who is a student in the ISTotre Dame University of Indiana;
Claude, a high school pupil ; Veronica. Cyril and Fintan, all of
whom are attending school ; and Meh'in, two years of age.
Mr. Gehant is an earnest I'epublican in his political "\aews, and
his position upon any vital question is never an equivocal one.