GAMMILL, Captain John C.

GAMMILL, CLARK, PHILIPS, MORGAN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/19/2014 at 03:31:40

Biography ~ Captain John C. Gammill

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 693:

CAPTAIN JOHN C. GAMMILL, of Leon, belongs to one the early families of Decatur County. His father, JAMES GAMMILL, settled here in the spring of 1854. He was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born April 13, 1813. At the age of nineteen years he went to Ohio, where he married Miss ANN CLARK. When he came to this county he settled on section 13, Hamilton Township, where he lived until his death, which occurred January 16, 1886. His wife survives and resides at the homestead. There were nine children, all of whom grew to maturity, and seven are living, all residents of Decatur County but one son, JAMES, who removed to Nebraska in 1883.

Captain GAMMILL was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, February 6, 1842, he came to Decatur County with his father in 1854. August 10, 1861, he enlisted in the Third Iowa Cavalry. Previous to this he had been in the States service several months. His regiment operated in Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. When the regiment was organized he was made Orderly-Sergeant of his company. He veteranized January 1, 1864, and May 2, following, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. July 12, the same year, he was made First Lieutenant, in which capacity he served till the close of the war. When the regiment received orders to muster out, July 1, 1865, he went before a military commission and was examined for a commission in a colored regiment. The result was an appointment as Captain in the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Colored Infantry, by President JOHNSON. He served in that capacity till mustered out of service, January 9, 1866, and during the last three months of his service he commanded the regiment. It would be impossible, within the limits of a brief sketch, to give more than a mere outline of the war record of Captain GAMMILL, who was in constant service four and a half years. Among the battles in which he participated may be mentioned Pea Ridge (where he was badly injured,) Guntown and Tupelo. After the latter engagement he commanded a company in an expedition against the Confederate General PRICE, in Missouri. At Mine Creek, where he commanded a company the fight was desperate. Here Generals MARMADUKE and CABAL were captured, with five pieces of artillery, three stand of colors and many prisoners. Captain GAMMILL took part in the Wilson raid, in March, 1865. In April following he was sent with 800 men to take possession of the Government property at August, Georgia. This was just before the surrender of JOHNSTON’S army, and was about the last of his service with the Third. He participated in less than fifty engagements. He was a brave and gallant soldier and served the country long and well, and left a record that his posterity may well be proud of.

In 1874 Captain GAMMILL went to Nebraska and engaged in stock-raising. In December, 1878, he sold out and returned to Decatur County. In 1879 he was elected treasurer of the county and served four years. In 1882 he reengaged in the stock business in Nebraska. He owns a ranch in Frontier County of over 2,000 acres of land, where he spends much of his time, though is family still resides in Leon. He has a fine farm in Hamilton Township, Decatur County. Mrs. GAMMILL was formerly Miss MARY A. PHILIPS, daughter of Rev. WILLIAM PHILLIPS, who died of cholera in Cincinnati, in 1849. Mrs. GAMMILL came to Decatur County with her step-father, DAVID A. MORGAN. Mr. and Mrs. GAMMILL have eight children, six of whom are living –JAMES, CHARLOTT, ELIZABETH, ANNA BELLE, FRED A., and REEFY. The deceased were WILLIAM and WALTER, aged ten days and sixteen months, respectively.

Transcribed by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historial Society Musuem, January of 2014