J. E. GILLESPIE
J. E. Gillespie, real estate and insurance agent, also engaged in tax-paying and loan business, came to Cass county in 1871, settling at Atlantic. He first opened a dry goods store, and subsequently engaged in the grocery trade, and then closing that out, established his present business, in which he has been successful. His office is over the Bank of Atlantic, in the Whitney block. He is a native of Ohio, born in Butler county, October 12, 1829. His father was James R. Gillespie, a native of the same State, where he lived until the time of his death. His mother was Mary Hayden, who is dead, and was buried in Burlington. The subject of this sketch engaged in teaching school in 1850. He afterwards want [sic went] to Adams county and engaged in the sale of dry goods there and in other places, for several years. He also served as deputy treasurer, and in 1865 was elected to the office of clerk of court, which position he held one term; thence he removed to Des Moines and engaged with Mills and Co., in blank book manufacturing. He was engaged for a time in a notion house in Philadelphia. He was married October 7, 1852, to Lydia Hendricks, of Wapello county, daughter of John W. Hendricks. They have two children--Florence N., now the wife of C. C. Lindner, train dispatcher, and Frank A., a bookkeeper in a Cheyenne wholesale grocery house, who will be remembered as bookkeeper in Whitney's bank. Mr. Gillespie is a member of the Methodist church, and superintendent of the Sabbath school.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 866.
