Ford County IL Archives Biographies.....Gourley, W.T. June 27, 1858 - 
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Norma Hass http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00013.html#0003021 March 5, 2017, 7:40 pm

Source: History of Ford Conty, Illinois: from its earliest settlement to 1908, Volume 2, pages 756-760
Author: Gardner, Ernest Arthur

When one meets a man who at a tender age was thrown upon his own 
responsibilities for a livelihood, has overcome obstacles and difficulties, 
and in the face of these has in later years attained a high degree of success, 
he cannot but feel that just credit is due to such an individual. This is the 
case of W. T. Gourley, whose name introduces this record. He was born in 
Indiana, June 27, 1858, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Gourley, the former a 
native of Indiana and the latter a native of Virginia. The father was 
previously married, and there are two daughters of that union, Margaret, of 
Iowa, and Mary, a resident of Oregon. Of the father's second marriage five 
children were born but three of the number are now deceased, the sister of our 
subject being Mattie, who resides in Princeton, Indiana. Both the father and 
mother are now deceased.

W. T. Gourley was left an orphan at the early age of two years, and was then 
taken into the home of an aunt, by whom he was reared to the age of seven. He 
then came to Ford county, Illinois, to make his home with a cousin with whom 
he remained until he had reached the age of eighteen years. During the period 
of his boyhood and youth he attended the common schools, wherein he acquired a 
fair English education, while from the ages of fifteen to eighteen he was 
employed at herding cattle in the Pan Handle district of Ford county. He then 
invested his earnings in a team and some farm implements and leased a tract of 
land, which he operated during the succeeding three years. So successful was 
he that he was at length enabled to purchase some land, becoming the possessor 
of forty acres situated on section 27, Brenton township. This has continued to 
be his home to the present time, although at different times he has added to 
his original purchase until his place now comprises two hundred and forty 
acres. He has improved his property with suitable outbuildings for the shelter 
of grain and stock and also occupies a comfortable home. In addition to 
tilling the soil he also operates a threshing machine and corn sheller, having 
been thus engaged for the past quarter of a century so that in this connection 
he is well known not only in his home locality but throughout various sections 
of the county. He also raises stock on quite an extensive scale, making a 
specialty of full blooded imported Norman horses, which he has handled for 
twenty-seven years.

In 1880 Mr. Gourley established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss 
Margaret Thomas, who has proved to him a faithful companion and helpmate on 
the journey of life. She was born in Onarga, Illinois, a daughter of Lewis and 
Elizabeth Thomas, and is one of a family of four children. The father served 
as a soldier in the Civil war, being a loyal defender of the Union cause. He 
was captured by the rebel soldiers and incarcerated in Libby prison, where his 
death occurred. The mother, however, is still living and makes her home in 
Onarga.

Five children grace the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gourley, namely: Gertrude I., 
the wife of William Asherman, of Thawville, Illinois; Wilbur E., a resident 
farmer of Brenton township; and Rolland T., Walter W. and James Arthur, all 
still under the parental roof.

In his political views Mr. Gourley is a republican and for five years served 
as road commissioner, while for six years he filled the office of school 
director, taking a warm interest in the cause of education. He supports the 
First Presbyterian church at Piper City. He is a self-made man in the truest 
sense of the term and is therefore deserving of the highest praise, for unlike 
others who are compelled to start out in life at an early age, he has 
encountered many obstacles but possessing a courageous spirit he has 
surmounted every difficulty and has pushed his way upward to success. He is 
now the owner of a valuable farm property and in his various business 
connections is well known, meriting the highest respect and esteem from all 
with whom he is associated either in business or social capacity.

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