Ford County IL Archives Biographies.....Gash, William June 3, 1837 - 
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Norma Hass http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00013.html#0003021 March 5, 2017, 7:29 pm

Source: History of Ford County, Illinois: from its earliest settlement to 1908, volume 1, pages 550-554
Author: Gardner, Ernest Arthur

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.

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