USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Ryegate > History of Ryegate, Vermont, from its settlement by the Scotch-American company of farmers to present time; > Part 41
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Children :
i. Adeth Bell,4 b. April 9, 1847; m. Dec. 1874, John W. Anderson, Washing- ton, Iowa; she d. there Feb. 19, 1877. Ch. (1) Peter G., b. Oct., 1875; d. Feb. 14, 1877. (2) J. Lloyd, b. Aug. 15, 1876; d. April 26, 1891.
ii. Emily Jane,4 b. May 8, 1853; grad. Mt. Holyoke Seminary ; m. as 2d w. John W. Anderson, who d. at Orlando, Fla., Aug. 28, 1910; she res. there.
iii. Lois Ann,4 b. April 11, 1837; d. Nov. 23, 1861.
18 ALEXANDER (Alexander) b. April 6, 1825; went to Iowa and settled at Jack- son, in Washington Co., 1854; ret. to R. and mi. Dec. 19, 1854, by Rev. James McArthur, his cousin, Mary H , dau. of Wm. Gardner, b. Oct. 7, 1835; 10 c. all b. in Iowa. He accumulated a fine property. but lost his buildings by a cyclone, May 22, 1873, and several of his family were badly injured ; his loss was $6,000.
Children :
i. Sarah Jane, b. Aug. 18, 1855; d. May 31, 1857.
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GENEALOGY-GIBSON.
ii. Margaret E., b. Dec. 19, 1856; d. in infancy.
iii. John C., b. July 2, 1858; m. Mar. 1, 1883, Nellie Knox. Ch. (1) Alice, b. Feb. 1884. (2) Walter Alex., b. March 1886.
iv. William Alexander, b. April 21, 1860; m. April, 1887, Grace McMillen.
v. Annabel, b. Aug. 14; d. Nov. 11, 1863.
vi. Rolla Cecil, b. Aug. 3, 1864 ; student and teacher ; m. 1890, Sarah Boyd.
vii. Minnie Etta, b. April 3, 1868.
viii. Myra Nettie. b. Dec. 26, 1869; d. Feb. 26, 1887.
ix. Mary Emeline, b. Aug. 18, 1872; d. Dec. 14, 1878.
x. Margaret Alice, b. July 5, 1875; d. Nov., 1878.
19 JOHN.3 (Alexander,2 William,1) b. June 1, 1830. Went west ; attended Frank- lin College at New Athens, O., but grad. Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. Two years at the United Pres. Theo. Sem., at Xenia , O., but grad. at Union Theo. Sem. In the ministry of the United Pres. ch. 12 years, chaplain in the Union army and contracted disease of which he d. 1868; bur. at Ryegate Corner. He m. Elizabeth Dawson, who res. in Chicago.
Children :
i. Son, d. in infancy.
ii. Sarah Belle,4 b. Jan. 23, 1866; res, Chicago.
20 PRINGLE,3 (Alexander,2 William,1) b. Jan. 5, 1833. His father bought the Hugh Gardner farm, to be nearer church, and sold it to him, the par- ents living with him till death. In 1884 he sold that farm. rem. to So. Ryegate and erected a large building, in which he opened a store, and was in trade till closed in April, 1895 ; He held all the town offices, and was town representative 1882; member of the United Pres. ch. at the Corner and later of the 1st. Pres. ch. at So. Ryegate. He m. 1st, June 14, 1860, Frances, dau. William Gray (b. May 28, 1832; d. Feb. 24, 1889). 2d, Nov. 17, 1892, Emma, dau. Alden Tucker of New- bury ; he d. Feb. 11, 1908.
Children :
28 i. William A ,4 b. May 27, 1861.
11. Mabel Jane,4 b. Sept. 21, 1867; m. May 7, 1891, Livermore T. Bailey (b. Newbury, July 25, 1960). Farmer, owning the Peter Gibson farm which they sold in 1909; visited N. W. Canada and the Pacific coast ; res. South Ryegate.
21 JAMES W.,3 (David,2 William,1) b. Barnet, Feb. 2, 1821; farmer near his father. He m. March 22, 1849, Jane, dau. Alex. McLaren (b Dec. 19, 1819; d. Nov. 13, 1904 ;) he d. July 6, 1903.
Children :
i. Milo A.,4 b. April 10, 1850; d. Dec. 31, 1855.
29 ii. Martin D ,4 b. Jan. 22, 1852.
iii. Elva E.,4 b. Feb. 25, 1855; m. F. J. Randall of Barnet ; lives on the Joe's Brook road. Ch. (1) Charles,5 b. Aug. 6, 1878. (2) Ernest,5 b. Aug. 6, 1883. (3) Nellie.5
iv. Emma J.,4 b. July 10, 1859; teacher in early years and with her brother, cared for their parents in old age. She m. 1906, Edwin A. Morgan of Barnet.
22 ROBERT,3 (David,2 William,1) b. Barnet, July 19, 1828; lived on the farm set- tled by his father ; d. several yrs. ago; mi. Lois Roberts.
Children :
i. Kate,4 m. Wm. Kinney.
ii. Eva L.4
22 AZRO JOSEPH,4 (Robert,3 John,2 William,1) b. June 16, 1845; farmer in Gro- ton; m. Eldora Glover, who d. Oct. 20, 1880. He d. Groton, July 3, 1882.
Children :
i. Orlo,5 b. Sept. 4, 1873 ; grad. Eastman's Bus. Coll., Feb. 1897 ; d. March 14, 1897.
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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
ii. Herbert,5 b. March 14, 1876; farmer on the homestead of his gr. father, Capt. Robert Gibson. Hem July 19, 1900, Jessie Kingsbury of Bar- net. Ch. (1) May Eldora,6 b. July 6, 1901. (2) Maurice Orlo,6 b. Aug. 28, 1903; (3) Ruth Lillian,6 b. Aug. 14, 1905. (4) Doris Kath- leen,6 b. Feb. 3, 1908.
23 GEORGE A.,4 (William,3. John,2 Wm.,1) b. Dec. 10, 1832; he bought of Claudius Somers, the John Matthews farm on the river road, on which he lived all his life, except 3 yrs. in Barnet; deacon in Cong. ch. McIndoes Falls 30 yrs. He d. Nov. 25, 1903. He m. 1st, April 29, 1858, Lois, dau. Peter Gibson (b. Aug. 30, 1835; d. June 5, 1859). One ch., Dallas, b. May 24, d. Sept, 5, 1859. He m. 2d, June 12, 1860, Mar- tha Gibson, sister of 1st w. (b. July 24, 1833.)
Children :
i. Fred H.,5 b. Oct. 9, 1861 ; farmer in Monroe, N. H .; m. March 4, 1891, Agnes Hadlock of M. Ch. (1) Geo. A.,6 and Robert H.,6 (twins) b. July 22, 1893. (2) Frank H.,6 b. Dec. 31, 1899.
ii. George Herbert,5 b, June 7, 1871 ; farmer on homestead.
iii. Jennie E.,5 b. May 22, 1873; m. March 2, 1896, Arthur Rodwell, form- erly of Glover. He d. Sept. 15, 1897. Ch. Arthur G.,6 b. Aug. 6, 1897; m. 2d, 1908, Artie Meader of Whitinsville, Mass.
24 SAMANTHA J.,4 (Wm.,3 John,2 Win.,1) b. Dec. 10, 1832; m. April 26, 1853, James H. Johnston of Barnet; now res. in Sacramento, Cal.
Children :
i. William A.,5 b. April 1, 1854; d. Jan. 4, 1869.
ii. George E.,5 b. Sept. 30, 1856 ; d. March 22, 1857.
iii. Frank C.,5 b. March 31, 1859; d. Oct. 29, 1866.
iv. Forrest J.,5 b. March 18, 1872.
25 OSCAR J.,4 (James, 3, John,2, William,1) b. Oct. 11, 1847; m. by Rev. J. M. Beattie, March 9, 1876, Nancy E., dau. James Dunn (b. Feb. 13, 1842.) He d. July 20, 1897.
Children :
i. Frank J.,5 b. Nov. 2, 1877; res. Boltonville; m. June 25, 1908, Grace, dan. Harvey Orr (b. March 4, 1885). Ch. Nancy Margaret, 6 b. Nov. 11, 1909.
ii. Freeman J.,5 b. Aug. 4, 1879.
iii. Alexander H.,5 b. Nov. 21, 1883.
26 CHARLES S .. 4 (James,3 John,2 William,1) b. Dec. 15, 1853; m. Jan. 1, 1880 at Stratford Hollow, Esther W. Burdick (b. Aug. 18, 1855; d. Jan. 2, 1903).
Children :
i. Lois May,5 b. Feb. 6, 1881; m. March 29, 1898, John R. Bishop (b. Barnston, Stanstead Co., P. Q., Nov. 1, 1866). Children both b. Rumford Falls, Me. (1) Harlan Richard,6 b. June 21, 1899. (2) Ar- nold Eugene,6 b, Nov. 21, 1901.
ii. Myrtie Cylena 5 b. Sept. 6, 1887.
iii. Eva Dora,5 b. Nov. 19, 1892.
27 MARTIN HARTLAND,4 (John,3 Robert, William,1) b. May 17, 1857 ; com. sch. ed .; farmer on homestead, introducing many improvements ; invented and patented the 1st heater for watering troughs, applying the princi- ple of downward draught ; installed the 1st silo in town, and was the first to use the Babcock test for milk, and the first to test for tubercu- losis and has been active promoting the interests of farmers in legisla- tive sessions at Montpelier. Has been, and is still interested in the brick and granite industries of the town, employing many men. (See Chap. XVIII.) Member since the age of 16 of the United Pres. ch. at Ryegate Corner ; collector for many years, also S. S. Supt., and with
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GENEALOGY-GIBSON.
J. H. Symes and S. F. Nelson, a committee for building the present church at a cost of $6,600, and dedicated free from debt. He m. Jan. 1, 1884, Mary Caroline Clark (b. Peacham, Dec. 11, 1864; d. June 19, 1901). [She was a descendant of Rev. E. W. Clark, a native of Haverhill, N. H., the 1st missionary to Hawaii, her sister Martha (Mrs Hilton Pedley ), being a missionary for many years in Japan ; gr. niece of Oliver Johnson, the noted editor ; gr. gr. dau. of Rev. David Merrill .* author of the celebrated "Ox Sermon."] President many yrs. of the local W. C. T. U., prominent in town and county church and temperance work. A woman of rare worth whose death was a great loss to her family and the community.
Children all born in Ryegate :
i. John Clark,5 b. May 22, 1885; grad. St. Johnsbury Bus. Coll.
ii. Charles Edward,5 Jan. 1, 1887; grad. Dartmouth Coll., 1910.
iii. Paul Miller,5 b. Oct. 16, 1888; in Dart. Coll., class of 1913.
iv. William Martin,5 b. Sept. 20, 1890.
v. Mary Helen,5 b. Nov. 15, 1892; in St. J. Acad.
vi. Clarissa,5 b. Oct. 31, 1894; in St. J. Acad.
vii. Robert Wesson,5 b. Jan. 3, 1897.
viii. Jesse Merrill,5 b. Dec. 8, 1899.
ix. Martin Hartland,5 (twin to above) ; d. Nov. 20, 1900.
x. Mary Florella,5 b. June 19, 1901.
xi. Caroline Elizabeth,5 (twin to above.)
28 WILLIAM A.,4 (Pringle, 3 Alexander.2 William,1) b. May 27, 1861; ed. St. J Acad. On farm till sold, 1883; in bus. with his father at So. R., under the name of P. Gibson & Son, 1884-'91; clerk for former, 1891-'95; in employ of Pike Mfg. Co., Haverhill, N. H., 1895-'97; deputy-sheriff for Grafton Co., 1897-1904, and jailor at Haverhill, Jan. 1897, till the jail was completed at the county farm ; P. M. at Haverhill, March 1, 1897-June, 1904; rem. to Concord, N. H., now in Nelson's depart- ment store, Manchester, N. H. He m. Jan. 15, 1885, Martha, dau. Daniel Wormword of Groton.
Children all b. in Ryegate.
i. Frances Cevesta, 5 b. May 27, 1886; ed. Haverhill, N. H., Acad., and bus. sch. at Concord; m. June 28, 1906, Herman L. Tabor of C., contrac- tor and builder. Ch. Harold Ellsworth,6 b. May 7, 1909.
ii. Benjamin Harrison,5 b. March 9, 1889; ed. Newbury H. S .; res. Concord, N. H., cashier for Nat, Biscuit Co. He m. Dec. 8, 1909, Pearl A. Taft of St. Johns, N. B.
iii. Rosabel,5 b. Jan. 2, 1891; m. March 30, 1910, Walter K. Blackburn. engraver ; res. Concord, N. H. Ch. Ralph Wallace, b. Aug. 15, 1911; 29 MARTIN D.,4 (James W.,3 David,2 William,1) b. Barnet, Jan. 22, 1852; farmer, on homestead, which he sold a few yrs. ago and rem. to Barnet Vil., and res. there. He m. Nov. 8, 1883, Ida Olena Felch of St. Johns- bury (b. St. J., Dec. 24, 1861 ; d. Barnet Sept. 28, 1884.) Ch. Milo Albert,5 b. Aug. 22, 1884; grad. McI. Acad., 1902; Vt. Univ., 1906; teacher one yr. at Johnson, 3 yrs. at Burlington. Accepted an ap- pointment from the Carnegie foundation which stationed him for one year at Kiel, Germany; ret. to Am. 1898; in Europe 1910-11; has delivered lectures upon the Passion Play of Ober-Ammergau. Mem- ber of Delta Psi College Fraternity ; Waterman Lodge, No, 83, F. & A. M .; Burlington Chapt., No. 3, R. A. M .; Burlington Council No, 5, R. and S. M .; Burlington Commandery, No. 2, K. T.
* NOTE .- Rev. David Merrill, a native of Peacham, who also d. there, while a Con- gregational minister in Ill., preached a sermon from Exodus xxi: 28, 29, which was one of the most powerful temperance arguments eyer delivered, and which has had a circula- tion of many millions of copies.
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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
ROBERT GIBSON FAMILY.
(Ancestry same as preceding family.)
ROBERT,1 son of Robert, and gr. son of Alexander, b. Auchenloden Farm, Oct. 22, 1761; m. 1st at Paisley, 1791, Bethia Lee of Stanley Green ; slie d. and he m. 2d in the spring of 1811, Jean Baird of Paisley (b. 1779; d. April 20, 1850). They came to Ryegate from Scotland, 1820 and bought of Stewart and Wm. Harvey, the farm where his son Wm. F. afterward lived. He was an elder in the church in Scotland, as his father and gr. father were before him, and on coming to Ryegate was chosen an elder in the Ass. ch. holding the office during life. He d. Jan. 4, 1842, and his w. 1853; bur. in Walter Harvey cemetery. Robert was the only one of the Gibson family who adhered to Rev. Win. Pringle in the church troubles, and was called "The Apostle," and his son Wm. F., was distinguished from the other Wm. Gibsons by the title of "The Apostle's Will."
Children :
i. Bethia,2 b. July 21, 1792; d. July 16, 1877; m. James, 2 ( Wm.,1) Gibson, Q. V.
ii. Robert,2 b. March 27, 1794; came to America several years before his father; was employed in building the State prison; emigrated to Canada and lived near London, Ont., and d. un-m. 1861.
iii. Alexander,2 b. March 5, 1796; m. Agnes Baird of Paisley ; lived and d. in Scotland.
iv. Agnes,2 b. Oct. 19, 1797; m. James Esden in Scotland, and rem. there.
v. Janet,2 b. June 1, 1804; d. y.
By 2d marriage.
vi. Margaret,2 b. Jan. 15, 1812; d. Dec. 4, 1892; m. March 24, 1835, as 2d w., James Davis of Peacham, who d. Jan. 27, 1880. No ch. An adopted dau. lives in Maryland.
vii. Janet,2 b. Oct. 9, 1813; d. March, 1894; m. March 17, 1842, A. Harvey Brock, q. v.
viii. Matthew Baird,2 b. Aug. 9, 1815; res. Boston; paper hanger; m. 1st, Mrs. Anna Sumner of Boston. 2d, Mrs. Lizzie Taylor of Boston. He d. May 30, 1881.
1
ix. William Fulton, b. Aug. 19, 1817.
1 WILLIAM FULTON,2 (Robert,1) b. at Johnstone, Aug. 19, 1817; came to Am. with parents, brother and two sisters; farmer on homestead till 1890, when he bought a small place at Ryegate Corner, where he d. Was quite ingenious, well-read, a good singer, of strict integrity. Prohibi- tionist in politics. He m. by Rev. Thos. Goodwillie, May 21, 1846, Phebe Buchanan, dau. Wm. and Janet [Buchanan] Somers (b. Bar- net, May 17, 1823 : d. March 10, 1901). Ed. Danville and Peacham Acad's and Newbury Seminary. Member 1st of Ass. Pres. ch., Bar- net; both joined the Ass. Pres. ch. Ryegate, Sept. 30, 1848; she was a member 10 or 12 yrs. of Ref. Pres. ch. Barnet. He d. Jan. 20, 1899.
Children :
2 i. Anna Somers,3 b. April 20, 1847.
ii. Janet Buchanan,3 b. Jan. 16, 1849; d. Oct. 14, 1850.
iii. Ella Letitia, 3 b. Jan. 7, 1851 ; m. Wm. T. McLam, q. v.
iv. Curtis H .. 3 b. Aug. 15, 1853; d. Aug. 15, 1854.
3 v. Carma Jean,3 b. Nov. 6, 1855.
4 vi. Sumner Cornelius,3 b. Dec. 26, 1857.
5 vii. Frederick Lincoln,3 b. Aug. 28, 1860.
6 viii. Frank Llewellyn 3 b. Sept. 29, 1862.
ix. Edith Bethia,3 b. March 25, 1865; m. E. S. Miller, q. v.
2 ANNA SOMERS, 3 (Wm. F.,2 Robert,1) b. April 20, 1847. Ed. McIndoes Acad., m. Feb. 18, 1868, Josiah H. Moore of Barnet (member of Co. D, 1st Vt. Cav., in the Civil War; enlisted Sept. 25, 1861, private; pro. for
361
GENEALOGY-GIBSON.
bravery to 2d Lieut., wounded June 29, 1864 ; taken prisoner and con- fined in Libby Prison till exchanged Dec. 1864; must. out June 21, 1865). Settled near Rushford, Minn., 1868, and res. there; farmer. Hed Aug. 15, 1911.
Children :
i. Howard Burton, 4 [Moore] b. July 4, 1872. At home.
ii. May Louverne, + [Moore] b. Nov. 14, 1874; d. Jan., 1903.
iii. Edith Maude,4 [Moore] b. March 13, 1878; m. Jan. 1, 1902, Charles Allen Fobes ; res. Sleepy Eye, Minn , electrician. Ch. (1) Anna May,5 h. Feb. 6, 1904. (2) Janett,5 b. Aug , 1906. (3) Margaret,5 b. Nov. 6,1910.
iv. Alice Genevieve,4 [Moore] b. Feb. 28, 1883; at home.
v. Ray Judson,4 [Moore] b. March 29, 1888; student at Wisconsin, Univ., in civil engineering.
2 CARMA JEAN,3 (Wm. F.,2 Robert,1) b. Nov. 6, 1855 ; ed. Peacham Acad., Emp. 1879-'82, Taunton (Mass.,) Ins. Asy .; in Dak. with bros., 3 yrs., in Ryegate 2 yrs., in Dak. 1888-'90, in Ryegate, 1890-1904; rem. to Morgan Hill. Cal., fruit raising. Mem. U. P. ch., Ryegate, and now of Morgan Hill U. P. ch., and connected with S. S., missionary, and temperance work.
SUMNER CORNELIUS, 3 ( Wm. F.,2 Robert,1) b. Dec. 26, 1857 ; ed. Peacham Acad., went to So. Dak., 1879; farmer near Bard, Hanson Co., 24 yrs., ex- cepting eight yrs., general merchant at Bard, and P. M. Rem. Dec. 1903 to Modesto, Cal., fruit raising and farming ; united with U. P. ch , Ryegate, 1875; connected with M. E. ch. at Bard ; has held public office ; Probitionist. He m. at Rushford, Minn., Nov. 1, 1888, Fran_ ces A., dau. James,3 (James,2 Wm.,1) Nelson of Ryegate (b. Oct. 8 1856). Mem. of Pres. ch., in Cal. and in S. S., and temperance work. Children :
i. Nelson William,4 b. Sept. 20, 1889.
ii. Olive,4 b. Nov. 28, 1890.
iii. Gladys, 4 b. June 28, 1892.
iv. Donald Cameron,4 b. Sept. 25, 1896.
v. Isabel Edith,4 b. April 18, 1899.
5 FREDERICK LINCOLN,3 b. Aug. 28, 1860; ed. Peacham Acad., teaching win- ters; entered N. E. Conservatory of Music, 1884, grad. from dept. of piano and organ tuning, teacher of vocal music and piano tuning ; took a course later in Emerson School of Oratory, Boston, and in company with his wife and others. frequently gave literary and musical entertainments ; joined U. P. ch. 1875. He nt. Jan. 16, 1900, Cynthia A. Wilson of Lyme, N. H,, where they res., and are members of Cong. ch. Rem. 1911 to White River Junction.
Children :
i. Marion Estelle,4 b. Dec. 15, 1900.
ii. Velma Ardelle,4 b. Oct. 22, 1903.
FRANK LLWELLYN,3 (Wmn. J.,2 Robert,1) b. Sept. 22, 1862; ed. Peacham Acad ; went 1883 to So. Dakota; farmer there till 1902; in Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, nearly three yrs. in all; in Miss. and S. S. work in W. Va., Sept. 1905-Aug, 1908, when he ret. to Ryegate to regain his health He m. June 14, 1911, Agnes Bernice, dau, of J. E. Cox of Wells River (b. June, 1892). Farmer in Groton.
GIBSON-GILCHRIST.
ELIZA,3 or Elizabeth, dau. of John,2 ( William,1) Gibson b. Ryegate, Dec. 15, 1813; m. Sept. 27, 1848, Dea. James Gilchrist of McIndoe Falls [He was b. in Barnet, Jan , 1792 ; lived with his brothers and sisters in the brick house next north of the Cong. ch. at McIndoes; after m. he built and lived in a house now owned by the heirs of Mrs. John
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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
Gleason. John Gibson spent his last years with his dau. there. Dea. G., Azro Dutton and John Gleason were the promoters in building the church and academy. Held offices and was town representative 1840- 41.] He d. Sept., 1878; she d. June, 1901.
Children all born in Barnet.
i. Oscar J.,4 [Gilchrist,] b. Aug. 8, 1849; grad. Dartmouth Coll, 1871, Long Island Hospital 1874 ; physician at Rutland, Vt. He m. Oct. 3, 1876, Martha E. E. Bradford, (b. Grafton, Nov. 22, 1843.) Ch. Bt h Bradford,5 b. Peacham, 1879; grad. Mt. Holyoke Coll., 1902.
ii. Elizabeth J.,4 [Gilchrist.] b. Sept. 29. 1851; m. Sept. 8, 1874, Amos Boyd Perry, merchant at McIndoes, (b. Cabot, Vt., June 2, 1845.) Res. Mass.
Children :
(1) Mabelle Louise,5 [Perry] b. McIndoes, Nov. 27, 1875; m. Oct. 16, 1901, Herbert Stephen Drew. Ch. b. at Cambridge, Mass., (1) Louise Perry,6 [Drew], b. March 2, 1905. (2) Herbert Chandler, 6 [Drew,] b. Feb. 19, 1909.
(2) Virginia Elizabeth,5 [Perry], b. Apr. 2, 1889.
iii. John Alexander,4 [GilchristJ. b. Feb. 21, 1854; lived at McIndoes; rem. April, 1881 to Seneca, Kan., where he was in creamery bus. Elected 1885 cashier of State Bank, afterward National Bank of Seneca; rem. 1878 to Kansas City, Mo. In live stock commission bus. 11 yrs. K. C. stock yards; 1898 to date manager of interests for non-resident owners of supply house. He m. 1st, McIndoes, Oct. 1876, Fannie H. Hibbard, who d. March, 1881; bur McIndoes. Ch. (1) Leslie James, 5. b. April 13, 1878; res. El Paso, Texas, where he is cashier of State National Bank. He m. May 31, 1909, at Maquam, Ill., Lydia Green. Ch. Jean,6, b, 1901. (2) George A.,5 b. 1880; d. June, 1881. He m. 2d 1886, Mrs. Ocker, a widow. Noch. but her child's name was changed by the courts from Fred S. Ocker to Fred S. Gilchrist, who res. at Wichita, Kan.
In reviewing these annals of the Gibsons we must offer a tribute of admira- tion to these sterling families and the part they have performed in the social, religious, and business life of Ryegate for more than a century. And that the attempt to gather their annals has elicited the interest of their descendants, is attested by the fact that no fewer than fifty- seven persons of these families have furnished records or assisted in their compilation.
GILFILLAN. *
The Gilfillans who settled in Vermont, came from Balfron, Scotland. Balfron lies in the region of Strathendrick or Valley of the Endrick, a river somewhat smaller than the Passumpsic. It empties into Loch Lo- mond. Balfron is about 18 miles northwest from Glasgow and is a village of eight or nine hundred people. The parish records of Scot- land have been lately gathered up and are now stored in Edinboro. Most of the early settlers of Ryegate and Barnet can be traced to ancestors more or less remote from these records of old Sterling. The Gilfillan family ean be traced back nearly to the beginning of the 18th century. The parish church of Balfron after the revolution of 1688, was organized anew in 1691. One of the elders was Wm. Gilfillan and it is recorded that he attended every ineeting of the session for 20 years. In another line of the race was Samuel Gilfillan, a son of a inerchant at Bucklyvia about three miles from Balfron. He was a life time minister at Camrie. His wife was Rachel Barlas, who was
*By W. N. Gilfillan.
363
GENEALOGY-GILFILLAN.
known as the "Star of the North," being a wonderful housekeeper and homemaker. They had 12 children. Of these James was a minis- ter at Sterling and George became a noted writer and preacher for almost 42 years at Dundee. He was one of the most notable Scots- men of his time and was considered by many to be the brightest star in the literary firmament of Perthshire. Another brother was William, whose sons James and Samuel were a long time engaged in East India trade and later as bankers in London where they now reside.
The direct ancestor of the Gilfillans who came to Vermont, was Thomas who married Margaret Dunn. The place they occupied was known as " Wood End," a part of the Ballikinrain estate about a mile from Balfron. The old honse is gone but the new one is said to be just like it and is now occupied by a family named Robertson. A glimpse of Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond can be seen from this place. Wil- liam Gilfillan, son of Thomas married Helen Stevenson, daughter of Robert Stevenson and Mary Adam, his wife, of the parish of Denny. They gave their names for marriage on May 17th, 1759. Their chil- dren were James, William, Robert, John, Thomas, David, Margaret and Mary. Wm. and Thomas came to America in 1790, Robert, John, David and Margaret in 1794. The others remained in Scotland DAVID,1 married Margaret Warden and settled on a farm on Danville line, now occupied by the family of the late James Lang. They cleared the land from the primeval forest and were pioneers indeed. He is described as a sturdy Scot of the old school. The Sabbath day was as sacred to him as life itself. As there were many Sabbaths when there was no preaching "Society meetings." as they were called, were held at his house, "conducted with as much decorum and sanctity as any church service." He may well be described by another "as an old father, somewhere back in the country perhaps, square and solid as a block of granite, yet simple and kindly as the wild flowers that bloom in his own meadow lands, an old father honored by all who knew him for his truth, fidelity, piety, sympathy and good neighborliness, a steadfast servant of God." He d. Aug. 30, 1853, aged 76 years. His wife d. March 24, 1852, aged 71 years. They are buried at Barnet Center. Their children were William,2 who married Jane Dixon. They had six children. He d May 2, 1874, aged 71 years. She d. Sept. 7, 1876, aged 69; bur. at Westmore.
ii. DAVID JR.,2, not married; died Feb. 23, 1854, aged 49; bur. at Barnet Center.
iii. JAMES,2 m. Elsie Shearer ; 3 chil., d. Oct. 16, 1887, aged 82. She d. Sept. 7, 1884, aged 70; bur. at East Burke.
iv. ROBERT,2 m. Jerusha Aldrich; 7 chil. He d. Sept. 29, 1897; aged 86; she d. Nov. 27, 1908, aged 96; bur. at Barnet Center.
v. ISABEL, 2, married John Galbraith ; 6 chil. She d. April 12, 1874, aged 65 years ; he d. May 14, 1870, aged 65; bur at Barnet Center.
vi. MOSES, 2 not married ; d. Feb. 24, 1879, aged 65; bur. at Barnet Center.
vii. ANDREW,2 m. Elizabeth Nelson.
viii. JOHN,2 m, Susan Blodgett; 5 chil. He d. Feb. 8, 1900, aged 81; she d. Feb. 23, 1891, aged 67; bur. at Brownington.
These men were born with a pioneer spirit. Six of them went to Orleans Co., in early manhood and cleared up hundreds of acres near Lake Wil- loughby. Andrew's wife was a daughter of Wmn. Nelson 2d, of Rye- gate. They were married Feb. 24, 1846, and began housekeeping in a log cabin in Brownington. They remained there seven years; moved to Hardwick and lived one year in the Goodrich Dist. Mr. G. worked on a farm for $12.50 per month, though offered $1 per day for car- penter work. He was in his prime at this time. Moved to Greens- boro in 1855 and purchased the James Shaw farm near the Lumsden place and remained 11 years. Moved to Barnet and rented the Mc-
364
HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
Phee farm near Harvey Mountain for one year. Purchased the Alex Holmes farm in the Whitehill Dist., Ryegate and lived one year there. Purchased the Walter Buchanan farm at So. Ryegate in the fall of 1867, where he died July 10, 1892, aged 77. Mrs. Gilfillan died Oct. 7, 1891, aged nearly 80. Mr. Gilfillan was a genial kindly man always glad to help in time of need. He liked to do his work well and a good lot of it. He was robust and knew but little of the "ills flesh is heir to," and was stricken down in strong manhood though past three score and ten.
WILLIAM NELSON, 3, (Andrew,2) was b. in Brownington, Vt., June 7, 1847; he was educated in the common schools and one year at Peacham Acad- emy, one term under the late C. Q. Terrill and three under C. A. Bunker; taught school in McLam Dist., in 1869-70, boarding around greatly enjoying the home life among the splendid people of that section: taught on Jefferson Hill in Newbury in '70 and '71, boarding at Wm. Bailey's and Wm. and Lucinda White's and enjoyed the term very much; was obliged to give up teaching on account of ill health and spent seven months at Dr. Jackson's Sanatorium, Dansville, New York, received great benefit and was charmed by the "simple life" of the "Home on the Hillside;" returning to the farm helped build the new house in 1874; went to Springfield, Vt., for two years as shipping clerk for the "Industrlal Works," a successful cooperative enterprise, and became president of the Co. Owing to a serious fire and the panic of '77 this Co. was obliged to suspend. He returned to the farm and married S. Elizabeth Henderson, daughter of David T. Henderson of Boltonville, Vt., March 14, 1877. D. T. Henderson was the son of James Henderson and his wife, Elizabeth Todd. Much of romance still lingers around the memory of Miss Todd who left a home of wealth and luxury in Glasgow and became the wife of a pioneer in the wilds of Vermont and the mother of 14 children. (See History of Newbury ) Mrs. D. T. Henderson was daughter of Jacob Bailey, son of Joshua son of Gen. Jacob Bailey, pioneer of Newbury. Her father was a soldier in 1812, and her grandfather and great grandfather were both in the Revolutionary army, as was her maternal grand- father, Wm. Peach. Mrs. Gilfillan was educated in the schools of Newbury and taught schoool for several terms.
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