Gill, Henry C., Dr.

GILL, DAVIS, STEPHENS, ESSIG, BOWERSOCK, ROBERTS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/12/2009 at 16:50:11

Dr. Henry C. Gill, President of the of Dowden Manufacturing Company, of Prairie City, Iowa, was born April 22, 1822, in Chester County, Pa., twenty miles from Philadelphia, and in the very same house in which General Anthony Wayne was sleeping at the time of the general massacre by the Indians, and only four miles from Valley Forge. His father, John B. Gill, was born near the same place in 1792, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. Later in life the latter was Superintendent of the Winchester branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he received an appointment in the arsenal at Philadelphia. This position he held for many years, or as long as he cared to do anything. The last few years of his life were spent in quiet retirement, his death occurring in his native county, July 31, 1875.

Henry Gill, grandfather of our subject, was a Scotchman, but when he was quite young his father, whose name was also Henry, settled in Belfast, Ireland, where he became an extensive manufacturer. Henry Gill, Jr., married contrary to the laws of that country and was obliged to flee. He came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where for some time he was engaged quite extensively in the iron business. His death occurred in that state. The father of the Doctor had two brothers, David and Henry, the former a mill owner in Pennsylvania, and later in Ohio. Henry went south to Mississippi and became a large slave owner, having about five hundred at the breaking out of the Civil War. One of his sons was a general in the Confederate army and was killed during the war.

Doctor Gill's mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Davis, was also born in Chester County, Pa., in 1798, and was of Welsh descent, her father having been born in Wales. The latter was a blacksmith by trade. She had but one full brother, Evan, who was a newspaper man; and the latter's son, Lewis, is a prominent editor of the Pottstown Ledger; be was a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, being Sergeant-at-Arms of the House. His son is one of the editors of the Public Ledger, of Philadelphia.

Dr. Henry C. Gill was next to the eldest in a family of eight children, and was but fourteen years of age when his mother died, December 16, 1836. His eldest brother, Davis Gill, was a railroad man, and during the Civil War was Assistant Superintendent of the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, taking an active part in transporting troops to Washington. He wished to enter the army, and was elected Colonel of a Pennsylvania regiment of cavalry, but the managers of the railroad convinced the Government that he could do more good by running on the road than at the front, consequently he was not allowed to take command. He served as Sheriff of Chester County; he has been a very prominent man and has made a fortune. He is now living at Duffryn Mawr, Pa. Isaac N. Gill, the third son born to Mr. and Mrs. Gill, was for many years an engineer; he was later a merchant, and is now residing in Philadelphia. Elizabeth was married to Charles Stephens, and now resides in Bucks County, Pa. J. R. is a wealthy grain merchant of Prairie City. George B., the most noted of the family, is the last living man of John Brown's Party; he was with him through all the Kansas trouble, and was his most trusted and faithful supporter. He started with him for Harper's Ferry, but was taken sick and did not get there. He is now living in Sumner County, Kan., and is said to be the last of this noted party. Sally M., who is a widow, is the matron of the Philadelphia Normal School, which position she has held for many years.

As before stated, our subject was but fourteen years of age when his mother died, and his schooling was largely obtained in the common schools, attending about six or eight months altogether. After the death of the mother he began clerking in a store in his native state, and later was on the railroad for some time. When twenty-three years of age he commenced the study of medicine, and first began practicing at Pickrelltown, Ohio, where he remained three years. In 1850 he came to the Hawkeye State and located at Springdale, in Cedar County, where for the next forty years he was in active practice, and has been a most successful physician.

Doctor Gill was in sympathy with John Brown, and was his warm personal friend. 'The latter made his home near Springdale the winter before they went to Harper's Ferry. The Doctor tells many interesting events that took place during that time. In 1843 the Doctor was married to Miss Anna C. Essig, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of a German. For nearly half a century they lived contentedly and happily together and were devoted to each other. She was an excellent woman, charitable and humane, and was a kind wife and mother. Her death occurred May 6,1891. Of the four children born to their union only two are now living. Davis H. was a soldier in the Second Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War and served three years. He is now engaged in the furniture business in Prairie City. He is a prominent Grand Army man and a Mason. John A. was a merchant during his life, but died in 1876. Margaret married E. Bowersock, who is a lumber merchant in Iowa. She died leaving one child. Norah married J. T. Roberts, who was a member of the Iowa Legislature and was quite a prominent man. He died in Prairie City, and his wife is now living in Iowa City, where she is educating her son, Louis N.

Doctor Gill has been quite prominent in local politics. He was Justice of the Peace in Cedar County for eight years, served on the Board of Supervisors and the School Board for thirty-six years, and has also been connected with various business enterprises, being one of the men who organized the Dowden Manufacturing Company of Prairie City and is now its President. He came to Prairie City in 1890, and was soon afterward elected Justice of the Peace, which office he now holds. He is giving but little of his attention to his profession now, as he has a competency. He is a member of the Methodist Church and is Steward and Trustee in the same. Socially he is a Mason. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 298.