GILCHRIST, James C. 1831-1897

GILCHRIST, CRAMER, MCCLELLAND, ALLEN, ROSEBOOM

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 9/12/2014 at 00:14:22

[Waterloo Daily Courier, Saturday, August 14, 1897, Waterloo, Iowa]

The funeral of Professor J. C. Gilchrist, whose death from Bright's disease occurred at Laurens last Thursday, was held at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

Professor Gilchrist was one of lowa's most noted educators, and was at all times until health failed him identified with the advance movements in educational matters.

He was president of the State Normal School at Cedar Falls during the ten years immediately following its foundation and for a number of years thereafter held professorships in prominent educational institutions of the state. For the past two years, being unable on account of ill health, to carry on the regular work, he has made his home on his farm near Laurens and has engaged in lecture and institute work.

He leaves a wife and six children, all of whom were at his bedside, Miss Maude having arrived home from Europe one day previous to his death. His loss is deeply felt in this community.

He was 68 years old.

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[Adapted from article p.1, Cedar Falls Semi Weekly Cedar Falls Gazette, Tuesday, August 17, 1897, Cedar Falls, Iowa]

J. C. Gilchrist was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. May 20, 1831. His parents were Scotch, having immigrated to America about 1820 and settled at Pittsburg. In 1836 the family removed to a farm situated in Coitsville, Mahoning County, Ohio, and on this farm the boy, James, labored until he was nineteen years old. During his youth he received only such an education as could be obtained in the district schools at that time.

On December 3, 1849, he became a student of Mahoning Institute, Poland, Ohio, then an academy of reputation, and still prosperous with collegiate powers. He attended this school until July, 1853, interrupted, however, by his going out several terms to teach and to work. He was wholly dependent on himself for means to sustain
his studentship, and he hesitated not to go to the harvest fields, to do Janitor work in the buildings, to teach occasional classes of the academy, that he might add to his earnings of regular teaching in the common schools. From home, he could only expect encouragement, and this was never wanting. His father died in 1854*.

Coming to Iowa in 1871, he has been identified with the school work of Mason City, Sioux City, and Algona. His efforts to secure the establishment of the Iowa State Normal School at Cedar Falls were untiring, and when the Sixteenth General Assembly founded the institution he became the principal, retaining the position for ten years.

In 1858 he married Miss Hanna Cramer, a teacher. Ten children were born, three sons and three daughters.

He went peacefully to his reward, with a bright hope of eternal felicity While ia great pain some days before his death, he said he wanted to go to heaven; then added, no not until Maude comes. She arrived in time to receive his farewell blessing. The last correspondence of his life was with the trustees of the Methodist College at Jacksonville, Ill., where he had assisted in securing for Miss Gilchrist an election as Principal of the Ladies Department of that excellent school.

The funeral was held at Laurens, and the entire country surrounding
seemed to have turned out to evidence their esteem for one of our truly strong men.

Many floral tributes were sent by former students and friends, and letters of condolence by Hon. Henry Sabin and many others of prominence, who knew the intellectual strength and high character of the deceased.

Prof. Gilchrist was a member of the Legion of Honor in Cedar Falls, also of two other beneficiary organizations.

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* His father's gravestone has date of death as 1853.
The following research credit to Bob Orr:
Son of James C. Gilchrist 1781 - 1853 and Grace McClelland McGraw Gilchrist 1794 - 1876
Some of the children:
Cleland Gilchrist 1860 - 1940
Maude Gilchrist 1861 - 1952
Charles Willard Gilchrist 1866 - 1955
Grace Gilchrist Allen 1875 - 1966
Norma Lucille Gilchrist Roseboom 1879 - 1950