You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
550 BIOGQAPHP AND R~MINISCENCES<br />
Ga.lbYaith has been a Republican all the time. In 1858 he uloved with<br />
his family to St& county and has resiclacl here since that time.<br />
A~IIL. G'c~rrison, a, native of Clinton county, O., diecl July 2,1SSS, in<br />
Goshen, after seventeen years resiclence here. IIe married a, claughter<br />
of Jonatl~an Pratz, of West Jersey.<br />
Zutheqa Geer, one of the olcl settlers of Goshen, died Mond:ry, June<br />
27, 18S1. I3e was born in New London, Colin., in 1817, inarriecl Ahby<br />
Hempsteacl, ancl came to <strong>Illinois</strong> in 1840, settling in this county.<br />
A7clsogr GTCML~, son of JOS~ILIB and Thalia Grant, natives of Connecticut,<br />
was born in Brown county, N. Y., February 16, 1810. lIis<br />
parents movecl from Connecticut to New York ancl thence to <strong>Illinois</strong>,<br />
both ending their days in Knox county. Nelson received s 1)ractical<br />
education in the district schools here, but the greater part of his time<br />
was devoted to farin work. On Septeillber 12: 1834, he il~arrieil Miss<br />
Polly, daughter of Isaac ancl Sabra Chatfielcl, pioneers of Peoria county,<br />
Ill. In 1835 he and his wife inovecl into the original veste ern lmrt uf<br />
put nail^, then a part of ICnox coonty and now Starb, settled near<br />
Lafityette, where he pnrchased eighty acres of prairie and erected :L<br />
bass-wood log cabin. Here the young couple began li Fe iri its real<br />
form nncl resltlecl for about forti years. In IS35 deer, wolves ancl<br />
ma8ny other animals of the chase were natives or visitants of these<br />
prairies, but like the wild grass and flowers, and even the lazy retl<br />
man, they disappearecl before civilization. 31r. and Mrs. Grant mere<br />
the parents of eight chilclren, seven of whom are now living, i~amclly :<br />
I-Io~varcl P., Isaac, Lois, wife of J. S. Atherton ; Nelson, Jr., Julia,<br />
wife of William Gibbs ; Orsin, cleceased ; Caroline, wife of A. D. Scott, -<br />
and Joshua. Mrs. Grant mas born in New Torl; state, November 10,<br />
1814. Mr. Grant is one of the few pioneers left us, if not one of a trio<br />
of the first settlers now in the county. For years he was a devoted<br />
Republican until the newly-organized goddess of l'roll ibi tion won his<br />
allegiance. IIis connee tion with pioneer times and the official 1listor.y<br />
of his township and county is related in other pages.<br />
O~aor~ G~ccnt, of 1,afagette diecl June 14, 1SS3. IIe was born here<br />
in 1847 ; lnarriecl Miss D. C. Sherman in 1866. IIis father, Nelson<br />
Grant, settlecl here in 1855.<br />
Bq~th, G'mves, claug1:hter of Joseph Graves, was accic1ent;~ll-y shot by<br />
her cousin on August 11, 1869. She cliecl within thirty minutes.<br />
Thoqnns Ge~~2mell was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, in the year<br />
1837. Ile is a son of Thomas, Sr., ancl Elizabeth Geminell, natives<br />
of Scotland, the foriner of whom diecl in his native land. Our.<br />
subject mas raised in the village of Maypole, where he received the<br />
rudiments of his education. In 1851, at the age of fourteen years,<br />
he emigratecl to America, coming with John A. Itegan, present editor<br />
of the Elmwood 06se~ve~, who was his guardian. Landing in this<br />
country he secured employment with a William Leightner, of linox<br />
co~~nty. with mhoin he resided tire years, after which he learned the<br />
wagon making trade with Bassett c% Booth, of Knoxville, staying nine<br />
months. Disl~lring the trade he returned to his previous employer. In<br />
1861 he enlisted, in Mercer county, Ill., in Co~npany A, Tllirtietll <strong>Illinois</strong><br />
Volunteer Infantry. IIe served during the war. Veteranizetl in