CAPT. RUFUS GALE
Capt. Rufus Gale, farmer, Monroe township, the subject of this sketch, was born in Madison in 1831. His father, Elmore Gale, was born in Massachusetts, Nov. 28, 1795. He came to Madison on a raft, in Nov., 1813, and was therefore one of the early settlers of the city and county. Elmore Gale and his father Rufus Gale (who was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1771, and was a great bee fancier), settled on a farm which is now a part of the lower end of the city of Madison.
He married Miss Elizabeth Brown, who was the daughter of Thomas Brown, a native of Maryland, who was an early settler at Madison.
He was Associate Judge of the county in early days, and was a prominent business man of Madison in the pork business.
Capt. Gale was raised in the city of Madison, and attended the common schools of the place. He enlisted in the United States service, in the 6th Reg. Ind. Vols. in the three months' service; was among the first sworn in in the State; was mustered in as first lieutenant of Co. E, and served as such till the close of the term. He then re-enlisted in the 39th Reg. Ind. Vols. (8th Cavalry) in September, 1861; he was mustered in as captain of Co. H, and served until August, 1865, and was with his regiment in all of the principal battles of the regiment. The most noted of these campaigns was with Gen. Sherman, from Shiloh to North Carolina, known as the march to the sea. The regiment was Gen. Sherman's escort at the time of Gen. Johnston's surrender. After the war Capt. Gale returned home, and was elected County Auditor of Jefferson county, and served for two terms. After his second term as Auditor expired, he engaged in farming in Monroe township, where he still resides upon his farm of 100 acres of well-improved land.
In 1870 he was married to Miss Harriet M. Sering, daughter of John G. Sering, one of the early-born inhabitants of Madison. Mr. Sering was one of the first queensware merchants of the city. He and his father-in-law, Mr. John Mellen, were the first firm who dealt exclusively in china, glass and queensware. Mr. Sering was Clerk of the county for many years.
NICHOLAS GASAWAY
Nicholas Gasaway (deceased) was born November 1, 1806, in Clark county, Ind., near the Gasaway Church, the second Methodist society formed in the State.
December 22, 1831, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Jackson, of Jefferson county, Ind. He removed to this county and located in Smyrna township in 1832, where he continued to reside during the remainder of his life.
He was converted and joined the church when only seventeen years old, under the ministry of Rev. James Armstrong, at Shiloh, on Kent Circuit. Many a Methodist preacher remembers the genial face and hearty welcome of this good brother. His home was ever open for the itinerant, when the best was always brought out to grace the occasion. In the theology of Methodism he was well read,--it was his study. New and novel notions found no place in his belief. What the Bible taught, as interpreted by Wesley, Fletcher, Clark, Watson, he took as the basis of his belief, and conformed his life to it. To the young minister he was a safe counselor and warm friend. Many of the ministers who, at different times, found rest at his home, also found they could obtain the soundest of instruction from this man of God.
He served the church in the capacity of steward for twenty years, and for forty-two years he was a constant reader of the Western Christian Advocate.
He died in 1879, at the age of 72 years. He left a widow and seven children, three boys and four girls--Elmore Y., Wilber F., Charles D., Margaret, Mary, Louisa and Clara. Elmore Y. is married and living in Chicago, where he is agent of the Pacific Express Company.
Wilber F. is married and farming in Kansas. Charlie D. is living in Chicago, and is agent of the American Express Company. Margaret is living in Grand Forks, Dak., with her son Miles E. Harbin. Louisa is married to E. L. Smalley, a lawyer, and is living in Waverly, Iowa. Clara is married to L. C. Tate, a marble dealer at Bloomfield, Ind. Mary is unmarried, and lives on the old home-place, which consists of ninety-two acres of fine land, situated just north of Volga.
Mrs. Gasaway, widow of Nicholas, died in 1883.
Nicholas Gasaway was school trustee for many years, and was a kind father and a devoted husband.
MARCUS AURELIUS GAVITT
Marcus Aurelius Gavitt was born in Madison, Indiana, June 27, 1824, son of M. A. and Elizabeth (Handy) Gavitt. He was brought up in the city, and attended the Presbyterian Sabbath-school. About all of his scholastic education was obtained there. His father was of French origin; his mother was a Pennsylvania Dutch woman.
His father died in 1842, at the age of forty-four years. His mother died in 1835, at thirty-seven years of age. When only ten years of age he commenced to make his own living. His first venture was driving oxen. The next he apprenticed himself to learn the confectionery and bakery business in 1837, at which he continued for five years.
In 1842 he went into a dry goods and grocery house as a clerk, and remained one year. Then he hired himself as a teamster, and drove a team for six years for one man. In 1849 he commenced driving a dray on his own account, and continued this for one year.
In 1856 was elected City Marshal on the Democratic ticket, and served one year. In 1857 was appointed on the police force of the city, and continued in that place until 1861; was then appointed City Marshal, to fill a vacancy caused by the Marshal, Mr. John Gerber, volunteering as a soldier in the war of the Rebellion. Served as a Marshal for three months, when he resigned, to join the army himself.
In 1861 he went into the 24th Ind. Inf. Vols., and was soon after commissioned Quartermaster of the regiment. Served until May, 1864, when he resigned his commission; coming home entered the auctioneering business, which he has constantly engaged in ever since, excepting the years 1875 and 1876, when he was Sheriff of Jefferson county. He was elected on the Democratic ticket; at that time the Republican majority in the county was 450--his majority was sixty-six.
Mr. Gravitt was married in 1849 to Miss Clara Denning, of Jefferson county. She died in 1856, leaving two children--Julia and Howard. He married again in 1857, to Miss Emeline Vorhees, who died in November, 1888, leaving two children--Clara and Ida. Clara is married to John Vogelsang, and lives in Chicago. All of his children are still living.
CHARLES H. GEORGE
Charles H. George is a native of Jefferson county, and was born December 4, 1849. He is the son of Thomas D. and Elizabeth (Clark) George, natives of Trimble county, Ky., and Cincinnati, Ohio, respectively.
His grandfather, Milton George, came from Kentucky and settled in Madison township, Jefferson county, in 1830.
His maternal grandfather, Capt. Samuel Clark, is a native of Baltimore, Md.; he came to Madison, Ind., in 1831. He was a steamboat captain on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and lost his life by the explosion of the boilers of the “Gen. Brown,” November 25, 1838.
Thomas D. George, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Trimble county, Ky., and died November 15, 1869, at the age of 45 years. He was a man honored by those who knew him, and was prominent in his own township, holding township offices at one time. He was actively engaged in the Baptist ministry during the last fifteen years of his life.
Thomas George, great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was one of the early settlers of Madison, having taught school there. He was a Revolutionary soldier. Mrs. E. George, the mother of Charles H. George, was one of the earliest pupils of the Lower Seminary at Madison, Mr. Reynolds being the teacher. Mr. C. H. George owns 172 acres of land.
BRUCE GILLESPIE
Bruce Gillespie was born February 26, 1831, in Dearborn county, Ind. He is the son of Robert and Margaret (Robertson) Gillespie, natives of Scotland. Robert Gillespie was born in Leith, educated in Edinburg, at the School of Medicine. He was a classmate of Dr. Wm. Davidson, who practiced medicine for many years in the city of Madison. Margaret Gillespie was born at the Frith of Forth. They were married in Scotland, and came to the United States in 1819, and settled in Dearborn county, now Ohio county, Ind. They raised nine children. Dr. Gillespie bought a half-section of land, and made a home for his family on the Frontier. He was the pioneer Doctor of that country, and lived to see the wild woods of his early home converted into peaceful homes, and towns and villages of Christian people taking the place of wandering tribes of savages. He died in 1846.
The subject of our sketch was raised on a farm, and educated in the common schools. He worked at machinery and gun-making in his younger days, and still does that kind of work along with farming.
In 1857 he was married to Miss Laura A. Gould, whose father, Samuel Gould, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1797. In 1805 he moved to the Sate of New York, and settled near Seneca Lake, where he learned the trade of tanner. In 1818 he emigrated to the White Water Valley in Indiana; there he married Nancy Wiley, in 1822. In 1836 he moved to Ohio county, Ind. In 1860 he removed to Osgood, Ripley county, Ind., where he remained the rest of his life. He died in 1882. In 1815 he worked at the same shop with Gen. W. H. Harrison.
Bruce and Laura Gillespie are the parents of six children: William R., who graduated at the Ohio Medical College in 1887, and is now practicing in Rising Sun, Ohio county--he married Miss Bina Shiverly, of Deerfield, Mo.; Nellie, married to Dr. Firth, of Madison, Ind., and now practicing at Deerfield, Mo; Mary C., married to John Land, living in Deerfield, Mo.; John B., who lives in Washington Territory; Stephen B. and George W., who are both at home.
Bruce Gillespie owns a fine farm of 135 acres of well-improved land.
GREEN B. GILTNER
Green B. Giltner, Lancaster township, lives on a little farm of twenty acres, which he owns, that lies adjacent to the town of Lancaster, in Lancaster township. He is highly esteemed by his neighbor, as is evinced by the fact of electing him township trustee in the year 1886, and reelecting him in 1888. He is a good citizen and an upright, moral man, and a member of the Baptist Church.
He was born November 17, 1846, in Smyrna township, Jefferson county; attended the schools of that township; was married in 1869 to Miss Ella Spielman, of this township; was elected trustee of the township in 1872; elected justice of the peace in that township in 1876, and lived in that township until 1878. He then removed to Lancaster township, where he still resides. He has six living children, three boys and three girls: Leora, Thomas D., Flora, Myra C., Philip and Robert E.
He enlisted on the 26th day of September, 1861, in Co. D, Fiftieth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and served till the 9th of June, 1862, when he was discharged on account of disability. He is a member of the G. A. R. He was appointed Notary Public for Lancaster township in 1879, but resigned this office in the spring of 1886, when he was elected trustee of the township. His parents were Philip and Nancy Jane (Conway) Giltner. His father was born in Bourbon county Ky., but raised in Hunter’s Bottom, Trimble county, Ky., he came to Indiana when about 21 years old, and settled on a farm in Smyrna township, Jefferson county, where he now lives. His mother was a native of Indiana, and is now living. Mr. G. B. Giltner is a Republican.
JOHN W. GORDON
John W. Gordon (deceased) was born in Jefferson county, November 30, 1828, and was the son of William Gordon, who was born in Kentucky, July 10, 1795. His mother, Anna R. Warfield, daughter of John Warfield, was born in Kentucky.
Mr. John Gordon was raised a farmer, and educated in the old way.
He was married January 17, 1850, to Miss Sarah A. Benefiel, daughter of Wm. B. and Phoebe Benefiel, and was born in Jefferson county in 1823. The result of this union was seven children: Wm. H. H., Lewis E., Albert S., John C. F., Mary J., Sarah F. and Phoebe A. All live in Jefferson county but John C. F. who lives in Kansas.
Mr. Gordon died February 1, 1875. He had accumulated some valuable property, owned 160 acres of land. Was a consistent member of the M. E. Church, a good citizen, honored and respected by all who knew him, a model husband and father.
After his death his wife succeeded in raising and educating the family. Phoebe, the youngest daughter, has taught school for two years. The boys are all farmers.
Mrs. Gordon is a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church.
JOSEPH R. GORGAS
Joseph R. Gorgas, photographer, a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., was born Feb. 7, 1829. His parents were William and Ann Gorgas, who were natives of Pennsylvania. His father died in 1845, at the age of 56 years. His mother died at the age of 87 years, at her home in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Gorgas learned the business of photography in Pittsburgh, Pa. He came to Madison, Ind., in 1853, and engaged as clerk in the dry goods store of Mr. Irby Smith, where he remained for about three months.
He then opened a gallery for photographing, and has continued in that business ever since in Madison, with the exception of about three years, during which time he made an extended trip through the South, on a floating photograph gallery.
He subsequently returned to Madison, Ind., and re-established himself in his business. He has built up a fine trade in this line, having the best in the city. He is a superior artist in his line and deserves the great popularity which is now his.
In 1865 he married Miss Delphina Verry, daughter of Mr. John Verry, an old citizen of Madison. He has one child, Anna, who is the wife of Mr. Edward E. Powell, also of Madison.
Mr. Gorgas is a member of the I.O.O.F. and Knights of Pythias, and is Captain of the Madison Division, No. 10, of K. of P. He has held this office for two years.
GEORGE W. GRASTON
George W. Graston, dealer in flour, grain, lumber and timber, Dupont, Lancaster township, Jefferson county, Ind., and proprietor of the Dupont Flour and Saw-Mill. Mr. Graston was born in Silver Creek township, Clark county, September 20, 1834. He was brought up in Clark county until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Jennings county and remained there until 1854, engaged in farming. In 1854 he went to Shelby county Ind., where he engaged in farming for two years, and in the latter part of 1856 returned to Jennings county, and engaged in the milling business. He remained in this mill for two years, and then came to Jefferson county September 1, 1858, where he has been ever since, engaged in the lumber and milling business.
On December 15, 1858, he was married to Miss Minerva C. Corya, daughter of Isaac Corya, a farmer of this county. They have a family of seven living children, five girls and two boys, viz: Luella, Mary I., Michael E., Perry A., Laura A., Minnie and Eva. Ella is married to John Dunn, an engineer on the O. & M. R. R., and lives at Deputy, Ind. Perry and Mike are both married; Mike lives in Dupont, Perry lives in Newport, Ky.
Mr. Graston is the son of William and Catherine (Hitch) Graston, who were natives of Knox county, Tenn., and came to Indiana in 1829, and settled in Silver Creek township, Clark county. They came on horseback, and brought all their worldly goods with them, also on horseback. Mr. William Graston was a blacksmith by trade. He died in Missouri in June, 1876. His wife died in 1842, at the age of forty years.
The subject of this sketch commenced his life without any money, and by energy and industry had made a good living, raised a nice family, and is still doing well. The mill he owns at present is of the roller process, and he does the best work and makes good flour. He is also the largest farmer in the township, having raised in 1886 one hundred acres of wheat, and in 1888 raised one hundred acres of corn.
Mr. Graston has built up a large trade in his line of business and employs more men than any other person in the township. He pays out more money for hired help and does more to help the people. He has bought, paid for and shipped $12,000 worth of wheat since harvest; in 1887 he cut over 1,000,000 feet of lumber. Mr. Graston is a member of the M.E. Church and is superintendent of the Sunday-school, and also a trustee of the church and one of the stewards of his church.
He is a member of the I.O.O.F. and of the Masonic Order; and is an inflexible Democrat in politics.
REV. LOUIS GUEGUEN
Rev. Louis Gueguen, Rector of St. Michael’s Church, Madison, Ind. Father Gueguen is a native of France, and was born February 25, 1834, near Rostrenen, Department of Cotes du Nord. He graduated from the Ecclesiastical College of Plouguernevel in 1855, and went through the theological course at St. Briene, the seat of the Department, in the years from 1855 to 1859.
He came to the United States in 1859, having, before leaving France, received the order of deacon, and was ordained as priest in Vincennes, Ind., on the 8th day of December of the same year, by Bishop De St. Palais, by whose solicitation he came to this country. After ordination he was appointed as assistant to the Rev. H. Du Pontavice, at Madison, Ind., with whom he stayed the better part of one year, when he was called to Washington, Daviess county, Ind., where he was stationed for only a few months. From there he was appointed pastor of a congregation in Floyd county, near New Albany, where he stayed nearly three years, when he came, at the call of his ecclesiastical superior, to the City of New Albany, where he had charge of the Church of the Holy Trinity for a short time.
From New Albany he was appointed, in 1864, as pastor of a congregation at Loogootee, Martin county, Ind., and attending from there two country churches--one in Martin and one in Daviess county--besides having a smaller congregation in Martin county. Being relieved from two of these churches after eighteen months of service, he was retained at the Loogootee and St. Martin Churches, together, for nineteen years, and at Loogootee for twenty-one years. At both of these places he was instrumental in building churches; and at Loogootee he built a parsonage.
In 1885 he was appointed rector of St. Michael’s Church, in Madison, Ind., where he has been for over three years.
The school in connection with St. Michael’s is managed by the Sisters of Providence; the attendance is about 150 pupils.
