BIOGRAPHY - WILLIAM GASH
William
T. Gash was for many years actively identified with the agricultural life of
Ford county, cultivating one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 23.
Peach Orchard township, but since 1903 he has lived retired in Melvin, still
retaining possession of his farm property, however, from which he derives a
good rental. Mr. Gash was born in Wilsford, Lincolnshire, England, his natal
day being June 3, 1837. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Bullimore) Gash, were
likewise natives of Lincolnshire, where they spent their entire lives, the
father passing away there in 1856, while the mother survived for a long
period and died in 1888, at the advanced age of eighty years. Their family
numbered four sons and four daughters. Thomas and Helen are in Australia.
Charles is still a resident of his native land. The other members of the
family, Ann, Robert, Edward and Ellen, are all deceased, Edward having
passed away in Henry county, Illinois.
William T. Gash was reared in his native land and there acquired a very meager education, having attended school but three months. He has, however, added greatly to his knowledge through experience, reading and observation. At the age of fourteen years he secured employment as a footman, which continued to be his work until he attained his majority. Having heard favorable reports concerning the advantages to be enjoyed in America he then, in 1858, made his way to the United States, locating first in Henry county, Illinois, to which place he was accompanied by two cousins. He secured employment at farm labor, working in that way for two years. At the end of that time, feeling justified in embarking in business on his own account, he rented eighty acres of land and through the assistance of a friend he operated it until 1864, when he was married and established a home of his own. He had a house erected on the property which he rented and in that continued to make his home for several years but in 1869 he came to Ford county and purchased eighty acres of land. He later added a tract of forty acres and now owns one hundred and twenty acres in Peach Orchard township, situated on section 23, two and a half miles northwest of Melvin. He was here engaged in general agricultural pursuits throughout a long period, or until 1903, when he removed to Melvin, where he has since lived retired, enjoying in well earned ease the fruits of his former toil.
As above stated, Mr. Gash was married in 1864, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah A. Bevins, who was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1844, a daughter of William and Mary (Bott) Bevins, who were natives of England. They came to the United States in 1843, locating first in New Jersey, but in 1858 they made their way to Henry county, Illinois, where they passed away. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gash has been blessed with two daughters and two sons: Elizabeth is the wife of William E. McLaughlin, a resident of Melvin; Clifford, of Omaha, Nebraska; and Cora married C. M. Foster, of Clarence, and they are on our subject's farm. Their eldest child, William H., died in 1898, at the age of thirty-two years, leaving a family of five children.
Mr. Gash gives his political support to the republican party. For the past twenty years he has filled the office of justice of the peace and has also been school director for a like period, while he was road commissioner for six years, township collector three years and township assessor three years. He was reared in the faith of the Episcopal church, while his fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a public-spirited man, ever ready to give his aid and cooperation to any movement which tends to benefit the community. His record as a business man, as an official and as a private citizen has been so honorable that he has gained the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
Extracted 16 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 550-554.
