Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 606 - 607 

REV. GEORGE GAY came to Southern Kansas in its pioneer days, and while assisting to redeem a portion of the uncultivated soil also labored to incline the hearts and minds of the people to religious things. In the pursuance of his pious duties he traveled over a stretch of territory eighty miles long and forty-five miles wide, which embraced twelve appointments, he being expected at each place once in three weeks. In wide contrast to the modes of travel by the clergymen of the present day, these trips were made many times laboriously in a lumber wagon, and frequently over heavy and almost impassable roads. 

            It is hardly necessary to say that in those days the salary of the itinerant was by no means a munificent one, and in order to add to his means of subsistence Mr. Gay took up a tract of land in Lincoln Township, which he by slow degrees eliminated into a good homestead, upon which he still lives, but the operations of which are carried on by his son. Mr. Gay, in addition to his other labors, freighted goods from Florence to Eldred, and employed himself incessantly first at one thing and then another, in order to "get on." He can now, however, look back upon a well-spent life, and enjoy the fruits of his toil and sacrifices. His course has been such as to gain him the esteem and confidence of the people around him, and he is passing his declining years in the ease and comfort to which he is so justly entitled. His home lies about five miles from the village of Greenwich, is pleasantly situated, and forms a pleasing country picture delightful to contemplate.           

            The boyhood years of Mr. Gay were spent in Huntingdon County, Pa. He was born on the site of Altoona, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, where his birth took place on the 8th of March, 1816. He was the second in a family of six children born to William and Margaret (Schmidt) Gay, the father a native of Maryland, and the mother of German extraction, her ancestors having lived along the banks of the classic Rhine. The paternal grandfather, Henry Gay, who married Miss Hannah Hendricks in his early manhood, was an Englishman by birth and parentage, and emigrated to the United States in time to carry a musket during the Revolutionary War; later he served in the War of 1812 as member of a cavalry regiment. He was then quite well advanced in years, and was one hundred and nine at the time of his death, which took place in Muskingum County, Ohio. Grandmother Gay was of Irish extraction, and born in the city of Cork. She survived her husband a few years, and also died in Muskingum County, Ohio. 

            The maternal grandparents of Mr. Gay, Dr. Nicholas and Margaret Schmidt, natives of Germany, crossed the Atlantic at an early day, and located in Bedford County, Pa., where Dr. Schmidt engaged in the practice of his profession, and where both spent the remainder of their days. The father of our subject followed teaming before the day of railroads in Pennsylvania, being employed mostly among the iron furnaces. He spent his entire life in his native State, and died there about 1842, when sixty-nine years old. He also had served in the War of 1812. The mother, after the death of her husband, removed across the Mississippi into Iowa, where her decease took place about 1873. 

            Our subject before leaving his native State served an apprenticeship as a cabinet-maker, and followed his trade in Pennsylvania until coming to the West. He had received a very good education, completing his studies in the graded schools at Bellefonte. Soon after reaching the twenty-fifth year of his age he was united in marriage with a maiden of his own county, Miss Nancy Stookey, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride on the 23d of March, 1841. Mrs. Gay was born Jan. 18, 1821, and was the third child of Adam and Nancy (Ellenbarger) Stookey, who were also natives of the Keystone State. Her paternal grandparents died in Lebanon County, Pa., while the parents of her mother died in Center County. 

            Mr. and Mrs. Gay after their marriage lived for a time in Center County, whence they removed to the town of Western, and from there about 1855 to Illinois. In the latter State they were residents for about twelve years, of Caledonia in Putnam County. Their next removal was to Michigan, and they settled in the little town of Lamont, near Grand Haven. Five years later, in the spring of 1871, they started out overland for Southern Kansas, beginning the journey in May, and arriving in this county in July following. 

            Mr. Gay at once pitched his tent in Lincoln Township, and homesteaded eighty acres on section 32. He commenced breaking the soil, and put up a temporary shelter for his family. He began his ministerial labors in Kansas, in the interests of the United Brethren Church, in 1872, and thereafter traveled all over the counties of Sedgwick, Butler, Cowley, Sumner, Harvey and Reno. He was stationed at different places, sometimes one year, and sometimes two. In the meantime he retained possession of his land, which was operated by his son.           

            Mr. and Mrs. Gay became the parents of thirteen children, of whom five are now living. They were named respectively: William, Hannah, Margaret, Adam, Stookey, Martha Jane, George R., Henry, Bascomb, John W., Charlie, Emory and Franklin. The eldest son, William, was a private in Company K, 11th Illinois Infantry, during the late war, and at the battle of Pittsburg Landing on Sunday morning, April 8, 1862, was wounded. He was taken to St. Louis, and entered on the hospital books as an unknown person, died, and was buried in an unknown grave; Hannah, Mrs. J. N. Cochran, is a resident of Wichita; Adam died at the age of ten years, four months and thirteen days; Martha, Mrs. Walker, is a resident of Gratiot County, Mich.; George R. died at the age of five years and three months; Henry died at the age of three years, two months and twenty-eight days; John died aged one year, three months and twenty-one days; Charlie married Miss Fanny Loster, of Wichita, on the 3d of July, 1882, and is a resident of Winfield, Cowley County, this State; he is a harness-maker by trade. Emory, a carpenter, married Miss Freddie Klentz, on the 2d of January, 1887, and is a resident of Wichita; Franklin lives on the home farm.           

            Mr. Gay was superannuated five years since, but regains his deep interest in religious matters, and is frequently the assistant at the local meetings. As one of the oldest settlers in this part of Sedgwick County, and one who has contributed his full share toward its intellectual and moral progress, he is held in voluntary respect. He knows all about the hardships and privations of life in a new country, and his experience forms a rich storehouse, where he has garnered much from his observation of human life, and the ways of the world.

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