Gillespie, Elmer Lincoln

GILLESPIE, TURNER, SEE, PUGH, MCDONALD, THOMAS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/23/2009 at 15:46:44

Gillespie, Elmer Lincoln

Success has been worthily attained by Elmer Lincoln Gillespie, who is today accounted one of the prosperous farmers and substantial citizens of Rock Creek Township, Jasper County. To his energy, enterprise, careful management and keen discernment his present station in life is attributed. He started upon his career as an independent factor with no large amount of outside assistance and he is now the owner of a very desirable farm property and occupies a conspicuous place in the list of the County's agriculturists, being well known here, as was his father before him, this family having come here in pioneer times and its various members have played no inconspicuous role in the drama of advanced civilization here.

Mr. Gillespie was born in the Township in which he still maintains his home, on September 24, 1865, the son of George Washington C. and Virtue (Turner) Gillespie, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of England, the latter having been brought to America by her parents when four years of age. They came to Iowa in an early day and later, in 1864, settled in Jasper County on a farm, having first lived at Burlington, then Knoxville, Marion County. They bought a place of forty acres in Rock Creek Township when they came here, and, prospering, he became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres in Audubon County, which the elder Gillespie finally had divided among his children. His son and daughter, A. D. and Mary Gillespie, still live on the Jasper County farm, a separate sketch of the former appearing herein. During his lifetime he supported the Republican ticket, but never aspired to public office. His family consisted of eight children, six of whom are living.

Elmer L. Gillespie was reared on the home farm in Jasper County and was educated in the public schools, and early in life took up farming for himself, in 1890 buying a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Rock Creek Township which he still owns and which he manages in a manner that it yields abundant returns for the labor expended on it. Here he has erected a large, modern and attractive residence and a good barn and other buildings. He always keeps a good grade of livestock and this, together with general agricultural pursuits, has resulted in a competency.

Elmer L. Gillespie was reared on the home farm in Jasper County and was educated in the public schools, and early in life took up farming for himself, in 1890 buying a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Rock Creek Township which he still owns and which he manages in a manner that it yields abundant returns for the labor expended on it. Here he has erected a large, modern and attractive residence and a good barn and other buildings. He always keeps a good grade of livestock and this, together with general agricultural pursuits, has resulted in a competency.

Politically, Mr. Gillespie is independent and he and his wife belong to the Society of Friends.

In 1884 the subject was united in marriage with Saphrona See, a native of Story County, Iowa, and the daughter of George and Priscilla See. The latter died in Story County when Mrs. Gillespie was but six years of age, and the father subsequently moved to Jasper County, being one of the old settlers here.

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie, namely: Harry I., who married Ruby Pugh; Roy died in infancy; Chetta I. is the wife of Warren McDonald; Floy J. is the wife of E. E. McDonald, Port Angeles, Washington; Minnie P. is the wife of W. A. Thomas; Roe E.; Lawrence died when fourteen months old. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 934.