Biographical Sketch of John Gage - Montgomery County, Illinois The following is the account of the immigrant John Gage and his descendants. William Montgomery Gage, born in Cahoes, New York was the paternal great, great grandfather of Olin Clayton of Raymond. The name William Montgomery Gage figures heavily throughout this history. A microfilm copy of the Gage legacy is on file in the National Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Gage Genealogy "It is speculated that the immigrant John Gage, of Stoneham in Suffolk, England, came to America with John Winthrop Jr, son of the Governor, landing in Salem, Massachusetts June 12, 1630." "In 1633, they with ten others were the first proprieters of Ipswich, Mass." "The Honorable Thomas Gage Esquire, born about 1675 to 1680, possibly in Yarmouth, Massachusetts and died sometime after January 5, 1737-1738, possibly in Freetown, Massachusetts, was the son of the above John and Ann (?) Gage, first to settle at "Freeman's Land", Lot 11, later to be named Freetown, Mass." "Data gleaned from land records and Thomas Gage's first wife, Remember's will, gives light to the fact that Thomas acquired a "tract of land known as "Ye Freeman's Purchase, transacted in 1659, transferred by deed from Wamsutta, the son of Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag people and his squaw Tattapanum, to 26 purchasers in consideration of 20 coats, 2 rugs, 2 iron pots, 2 kettles, and 1 little kettle, 8 pairs of shoes, 6 pair of stockings, 1 dozen hoes, 1 dozen hatchets, 2 yards of broadcloth and a debt satisfied to John Barnes which in all probability was "firewater." "The proprietors were a colonial body and all transactions till 1683, when the town was incorporated, were chronicled in what was known as the "Proprietor's Record." "Massasoit was named in the deed, but he did not sign it." "The deed was acknowledged by Wamsutta and Tattapanum June 6, 1659." "Chief Massasoit, chief of the Wampanoag governed most of Rhode Island and Massachusetts and was present at the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621." "Massasoit's son Wamsutta kept the peace with the Pilgrims until he was succeeded by Metacomet, who made war on the settlers due to their increasing demands for land." "On March 26, 1675-1676 King Philip's War, a name that Metacomet was also known by, was fought and 55 men were slain." "History has it, that Thomas Gage of Yarmouth, Massachusetts had three sons named John, William and Henry Gage who were all killed in that bloody skirmish." "The Honorable Thomas Gage Esquire of Freetown, Massachusetts was first married to Remember (Farrow) Terry on September 7, 1716, the daughter of John and Mary (Hilliard) Farrow." "Record of the marriage is in Dighton, Mass. Remember was the widow of a man named Terry." "No children were born from Thomas and Remember's union." "He later married a Mary Durfee May 28, 1719. Record of the marriage recorded in Freetown, Massachusetts." "Their children were Thomas born May 1, 1723, Mary born February 7, 1720 and Susannah, born June 29, 1721." "It stands to reason that their had to be another marriage before Remember or Mary, as William, his son was born 1700." "William Montgomery Gage, probably born on or before June 4, 1696 and died at Freetown, Massachusetts July 6, 1753." "William's date of birth is most times documented as 1700, but he was witness to a deed on June 4, 1717, when it is presumed he was 21 years of age." "In a history of Bristol County, Massachusetts, it states that in 1725, William Gage was employed to teach school for one year for 32 Pounds and to board himself." "In 1730 to teach for 40 pounds." "William married Hannah Davis, daughter of William and Mary (Makepeace) Davis of Freetown, Massachusetts." "Mary Makepeace, mother of Hannah Davis, was the daughter of William and Ann (Johnson) Makepeace, who were married May 23, 1661." "William was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Mellows) Makepeace." Thomas made his first appearance in a book called "Transcript of Boston Records" in 1637." "Thomas died January or February of 1667, his will dated June 30, 1666 and is found in Dorchester, Massachusetts town records." "Interestingly enough, one of Thomas's daughters was named "Waitawhile Makepeace." Somehow I think this family may have been of Indian descent! "In Volume 20 of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, pages 212-216 under the heading of "The Posterity of William Davis of Freetown, Massachusetts," "It states that Hannah Davis, the 12th daughter of William Davis and Mary Makepeace, married William Gage of Freetown, Massachusetts." "The children of William Montgomery and Hannah (Davis) Gage were, William, John, Thomas, Susannah, Joseph, Hannah, Remembrance, Sylvester, David and Elizabeth." "William Montgomery Gage, son of William and Hannah (Davis) Gage, was born October 10, 1725 and married May 6, 1748 to Mercy Huddleston, daughter of Isaac and Eleanor (Mortimer)Huddleston of Dartmouth, Massachusetts." "William M. Gage was a Captain in the Revolutionary War and his sons, John, William, Isaac, Walter and Joseph, also served in the war and were his strong supporters." "The children born to William Montgomery and Mercy (Huddleston) Gage were John, William, Isaac, Walter, George, Robert, Joseph, Hannah, Richard, Benjamin, Mercy, Mary and Eleanor." "Walter Gage, son of William Montgomery and Mercy (Huddleston) Gage, was born June 8, 1755." "He married to a Sally Roberts of Ferrisburg, Vermont and during their lives lived in Ferrisburg, Danby and Vergennes, Vermont." "The children born to Walter and Sally (Roberts) Gage were Peter, Ama, Jeremiah, William, Samuel, Orange, Richard, Chase and Benjamin." "William Montgomery Gage, the son of Walter and Sally (Roberts) Gage was born August 15, 1780. He married Salome Noble on December 1, 1803 the daughter of Solomon and Lucy (Holcomb) Noble." "Lucy's husband, Solomon was the son of Peter Noble, born in Sheffield, Massachusetts." "Lucy, Solomon's wife, was the daughter of Jonathan and Abigail (Hilliard) Holcomb." "Salome, wife of William Montgomery Gage, was the descendant of Thomas Noble who came from Yorkshire, England in 1630." "The children born to William Montgomery and Salome (Noble) Gage were Deidamia, Chrislor, Harriet, Julia, Horace, Horatio, James, Whitney and Amos B. Gage." "After the demise of Salome (Noble) Gage, William Montgomery Gage married Abigail Higbee of Chittenden, Vermont." "She died February 14, 1879 and William died October 1, 1856." "Children born to William Montgomery and Abigail (Higbee) Gage were Myra, Abigail, Walter, Orange and Salome." "Amos Barnum Gage, son of William Montgomery and Salome (Noble) Gage, married May 8, 1842 in New York, to Susan Fonda, who was born in Holland on April 4, 1821 and died March 10, 1880." "The information about Amos Barnum Gage and Susan Fonda, can be found on the marriage license of their son William Montgomery Gage, which is on file at the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro, Il." "In view of the fact that three descendants of William Montgomery Gage married Fondas, I am therefore giving a brief history of the Fonda's in America." "Jellis Douwse Fonda came to America from Holland, settling in Beverwyck, now Albany, New York in 1654." "He married A. Hester and their son Douw Jellis Fonda was the father of six children and his son Isaac was the ancestor of the Fonda's who married Gage's." "The children born to Amos Barnum and Susan (Fonda) Gage were William, James, Amos and Effie." "All of the children of Amos and Susan (Fonda) Gage were residents of Montgomery County, Il." "William Montgomery Gage, son of Amos Barnum and Susan (Fonda) Gage, was born November 11, 1843 in Cahoes, New York." William married Mary Melissa Sides, daughter of Matthias and Sarah (Bost) Sides, very early settlers of Nokomis, Il, on October 27, 1878 in Nokomis, Il." "William Montgomery Gage was a merchant in Nokomis for many years and later became a carpenter." "He was secretary of the Carpenters Union, when it was first formed in Nokomis, Il." "He was very skilled in cabinetry and fine finishing." "The children born to William Montgomery and Mary Melissa (Sides) Gage were Lulu Luetta Gage, born July 13, 1880, in Nokomis, Il, Elmer Gage, born December 12, 1881, in Nokomis, Il, Suavilla Edna Gage, born November 5, 1885 and died December 4, 1890 in Nokomis, Il and Curtis Burwell Gage born November 29, 1893 in Nokomis, Il and died tragically in a drowning accident on July 3, 1911 in Christian County, Il." "William Montgomery Gage died February 23, 1934 in Nokomis, Il." "Mary Gage died July 13, 1930 in Nokomis, Il." "Lulu Luetta Gage, daughter of William Montgomery and Mary Melissa (Sides) Gage, was born July 13, 1880 in Nokomis, Il." "She married Warren Franklin Hulbert, son of Warren Moses and Martha (Traylor) Hulbert, on December 5, 1898 in Nokomis, Il." "Martha Traylor was the daughter of Caleb and Martha (?)Traylor, the grandaughter of James and Nancy (Cardwell) Traylor, who came to Montgomery County, Il in the 1840's from Dinwiddie County, Virginia." "Both her parents and grandparents are buried in the old Nichols Cemetery in Coffeen, Il." "James Traylor was the son of Humphrey and Sarah (Cousins) Traylor." "Humphrey served in the Revolutionary War in the state of Virginia." "He saw battle at King's Mountain." "Children born to Warren Franklin and Lulu Luetta (Gage) Hulbert were Suavilla Isadora Hulbert, born June 6, 1900 in Nokomis, Il, Lloyd Warren Hulbert, born March 22, 1902 in Nokomis, Il, Howard E. Hulbert, born February 18, 1905 in Nokomis, Il, Everett W. Hulbert, born October 23, 1906 in Nokomis, Il, Grace E. Hulbert, born January 25, 1909 in Nokomis, Il, Edna Hulbert, born June 13, 1911 and Ida Mae Hulbert, born July 15, 1913 in Nokomis, Il." "Suavilla Isadora Hulbert, daughter of Warren Franklin and Lulu Luetta (Gage) Hulbert, was born June 6, 1900 in Nokomis, Il." "She married Charles Leo Clayton, son of Charles Henry and Martha Elizabeth (Bass) Clayton, on June 8, 1921 in Nokomis, Il." "Charles Leo Clayton was born April 5, 1900 in Nokomis, Il and was delivered by Dr. William H. Geddy, who married his grandmother, after the death of her husband Henry Clayton in Oberlin, Ohio. Henry Clayton was born in England." "Dr. William H. Geddy served in the Civil War with Company D 178th Ohio Volunteer Infantry." "Suavilla (Hulbert)Clayton died May 1, 1970 in Shelby County, Il, due to a massive coronary." "She had been on the phone with a neighbor and went outside to see if she had a particular Rawleigh Product, which she and her husband sold for years." "Suavilla never returned to the phone and she was found lying on the ground by neighbors." "At the time, her husband Leo was sick and hospitalized at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Il." "Charles Leo Clayton died August 23, 1987 in Hillsboro, Il." "Charles Leo and Suavilla Isadora (Hulbert) Clayton were parents of Paul Clayton, born March 13, 1923 and died the same day in Nokomis, Il, Dale Everett Clayton, born August 1, 1924 in Nokomis, Il, Charles Warren Clayton, born January 10, 1927 in Nokomis, Il and Carl Marvin Clayton, born March 31, 1933 in Nokomis, Il." "All three brothers served the armed forces during WW II." "Dale Everett Clayton, son of Charles Leo and Suavilla (Hulbert) Clayton, was born August 1, 1924 in Nokomis, Il." "Dale married Lavonne Merle Armentrout on March 1, 1945 in Witt, Il." "Dale was drafted while attending U of I, and in 1945, while he was on manuvers in the China Sea, aboard the carrier Nehenta Bay, serving in the US Navy, as a Radarman 2nd Class, the Nehenta Bay was damaged heavily by a typhoon and forced to dock in San Diego, California for repairs." "While on leave, he traveled home to Montgomery County, Il to marry his sweetheart Lavonne Armentrout, at the home of her parents, John and Myrtle (Eddington) Armentrout." "John Armentrout was the son of Clarence and Ida (Towell) Armentrout, who were both born in Witt, Il." "Clarence was the son of John and Rebecca (Vermillion) Armentrout." "John was the son of Christopher and Elizabeth (Borror) Armentrout, who traveled from West Virginia to Montgomery County, Il in the early 1840's." "The same farm that Lavonne's parents resided on in 1945, had been homesteaded by John's great grandfather." "Christopher Armentrout was the grandson, of a German born immigrant, named Christopher Ermentraudt." "Lavonne Armentrout was born April 22, 1925 in Witt, Il." "Dale and Lavonne (Armentrout) Clayton are parents of nine children." Kenneth Clayton, son of Dale and Lavonne (Armentrout) Clayton, was born January 9, 1948 and presently resides in Irving, Il. Kenneth served in Viet Nam in the US Air Force, with the 37th Air Rescue Recon Squadron. Kenneth was first married to Vietnamese born, Thi Con Nguyen "Mai" on August 25, 1969, in Vinh Binh, Viet Nam. Kenneth and Thi Con Nguyen "Mai" were divorced in 1991 and had five children, Long Kim Clayton, born January 15, 1966 in Viet Nam, Son Kim Clayton, born February 8, 1967 in Viet Nam. Kenneth smuggled both boys out of Viet Nam to prevent the Viet Cong from forcing them to join their Communist Army. Kenneth would adopt both boys, as their parents were originally Vietnamese and French. Kenny Wayne Clayton was born April 2, 1970, John Leo Clayton, born June 22, 1971 and Mimi Kay Clayton, born October 5, 1974. At the time of this writing, none of Kenneth's children are married. John Clayton does however have a son, named Quentin Gabriel Clayton, born January 15, 1997 in Montgomery County, Il. His mother is Nancy Lovejoy. Kenneth later married Ruth Kulenkamp on July 16, 1994 in Shipman, Il, the daughter of Kenneth and Emma (Schroll)Kulenkamp. Kenneth Clayton became employed with Bridgestone/Firestone Tire in Decatur, Il in October of 1997, along with his brother Olin Clayton. They are both members of USWA Local 713. Ruth is employed at Dairy Queen in Hillsboro, Il. Merle Everett Clayton, the son of Dale and Lavonne (Armentrout)Clayton, was born April 28, 1949 in Montgomery County, Il. Merle served in the US Air Force as an Electronics Specialist during the Viet Nam Conflict, but was stationed in the Phillipines. Merle was first married to Debra Wrachford on July 20, 1973, the daughter of Willis Harold and Launa Merdede (Weaver) Wrachford. They had two children, Lynn Everett Clayton, born December 9, 1974 and Byron Scott Clayton, born February 11, 1978. Merle and Debbie later divorced and Debra married a Laurent of Hillsboro and Lynn and Byron's last names were changed to Laurent. Merle later married a Shirley Grishom and they were later divorced, with no children born to that union. Merle then married Debbie Hiller on October 10, 1989. Debbie was born March 31, 1958, the daughter of Russell Frederick and Audrey Merdell (Keiser)Hiller. Debbie was married before her marriage to Merle and she has two children from that marriage, Elizabeth Jann Herd, born February 2, 1982 and Jeremy Kyle Herd, born August 15, 1985. Both attend Raymond Lincolnwood Schools in Raymond, Il. Olin Clayton, son of Dale and Lavonne (Armentrout) Clayton, was born March 20, 1951 in Hillsboro, Il. Olin attended Witt Schools all his life, as did all his brothers and sisters. Olin was first employed with Hedlund Skii Factory in Nokomis, Il in 1969. The fall of that year, he struck out for Chicago, Il and became employed with Continental Bank of Chicago, Il, heading the Remittance Banking Division as Bank Supervisor from 1969-1976. Olin attended DePaul University in Chicago, Il, with his field of study being Business Management. Olin was first married to Hazel Hedburg on December 21, 1972 in Chicago, Il and they were divorced two years later, with no children born from that union. Olin was on vacation in August of 1976, visiting his parents farm and met Barbara Hays on August 3, 1976, in Montgomery County, Il. Barbara was born June 23, 1958 in Sangamon County, Il, the daughter of the late Dewey and Florence (Altevogt) Hays. Dewey's father Otis served in WW II. He died May 23, 1976 in Decatur, Il and is buried in Camp Butler National Cemetery. Otis's grandfather was Henry Clayton and he served in the Civil War with Company E, 32nd Illinois Infantry. Otis Hays' wife was May Thomas, the daughter of Willis and Alice (Blewett) Thomas. Alice was the daughter of Howard Malcolm and Elizabeth (McElwain) Blewett. Howard served in the Civil War with Company B, 2nd Kentucky Cavalry. Howard rode with "Morgan's Raiders." Olin and Barbara were married August 6, 1976. Olin and Barbara honeymooned in Niagra Falls, New York and upon returning resided at 5151 Winchester Ave in Chicago, Il. Barbara remembers fondly that their living room in their apartment in Chicago, had blue carpeting, blue velvet wall paper, they had blue crushed velvet furniture and blue lighting. It was definitely their romance room. They also had solid walnut, built in hutches and cupboards. Olin and Barbara left Chicago, Il in 1976 and rented the old Compton farm along Route 16 in Witt, Il. That first winter there, was one of the worst on record. They remember having 60 below zero wind chill factors and snow was so deep, it was days before they could even be plowed out. Mr. & Mrs. Clayton have photographs of that winter of 1976-77. Olin became employed with Mohawk Furniture in Nokomis, Il and also did some lumber jack work for Raymond Timpe of Irving, Il from the fall of 1976 till the end of June in 1977. In July of 1977, Olin became employed with Hillsboro Glass in Hillsboro, Il. He became a member of USWA Local 4369 and would serve as President of that local from 1986-1997. Olin was employed there until September of 1997. Hillsboro Glass was purchased by an Iranian businessman named John Gahznavi in 1996 and he would announce its closing on August 21, 1997, the very night of the Old Settlers Parade in Hillsboro, Il. Olin would then become employed with Bridgestone/Firestone Tire of Decatur, Il on October 1, 1997. Olin is now a member of USWA Local 713. Olin and his late grandfather John Armentrout built a beauty shop onto the front of their Irving home, which they purchased in 1997. Olin named the beauty shop "The Swirl N' Curl", which Barbara Clayton operated until 1987. In 1987 Barbara attended St. John's School of Nursing and Springfield College in Illinois, both in Springfield, Il. Barb graduated as an RN in 1990 and graduated Phi Theta Kapppa from SCI. Olin and Barbara Clayton purchased a home in Raymond in 1990 in the Cloyd Subdivision, along Route 48. Olin and Barbara had two children, Belinda Suzanne Clayton, born June 27, 1979 in Litchfield, Il and Andrew Olin Dale Clayton, born August 8, 1980 in Hillsboro, Il. Belinda first attended Hillsboro United Methodist Pre-School in 1983, ran by Mrs. Radamacher and Mrs. Sturm. Belinda attended kindergarten at Coffeen Grade School, due to the closing of the Irving Grade School that year and she would attend 1st grade through 6th grades at Hillsboro Grade School and Hillsboro Junior High. 7th grade through High School would be through the Raymond Lincolnwood Schools in Raymond, Il. Belinda graduated from Raymond Lincolnwood High School on May 30, 1997 and she received the Arion Award for Outstanding Musical Achievement in Band and Chorus. Belinda plays tenor sax and flute. Belinda is presently employed with Mizera's Market in Raymond, Il. Andrew Clayton attended United Methodist Pre-School in Hillsboro from 1984-1985. Andrew attended kindegarten through 5th grade at Hillsboro Schools and attended 6th through 11th grade to date at Raymond Lincolnwood Schools. Andrew is a Junior in High School in 1998. Olin, Barbara, Belinda and Andrew Clayton, belong to the Daughters and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Anita Elaine Clayton, daughter of Dale and Lavonne (Armentrout) Clayton, born November 26, 1952 in Hillsboro, Il. Anita married Loy Wahlsmith on May 18, 1974. Loy is the son of Ernest William and Ruth Irene (Campbell)Wahlsmith. Loy and Anita are the parents of Clay Williams Wahlsmith, born October 5, 1977 and Sandy Jolene Wahlsmith, born January 11, 1980. Clay graduated Valedictorian from Nokomis High School in 1996. Sandy is presently a Senior at Nokomis High School in 1998. Yvonne Marie Clayton, daughter of Dale and Lavonne (Armentrout) Clayton, was born July 21, 1955. Yvonne married Artie Hicks on June 23, 1973, son of Clifford Anthony and Maggie Bell (Jackson)Hicks. Artie and Yvonne Hicks are parents of Bonnie Jeanette Hicks, born February 6, 1974 and Lisa Annette Hicks, born June 18, 1977. Bonnie Jeanette Hicks, the daughter of Artie and Yvonne (Clayton) Hicks, was born February 6, 1974. She married Danny Cantrell on July 24, 1993, the son of Doyle Ray and Donna Marie (Green) Cantrell. Danny was married before his marriage to Bonnie and has three children, Amanda Renee Cantrell, born December 23, 1985, Ryan Daniel Cantrell, born August 7, 1987 and Kristen Leann Cantrell, born November 7, 1991. Lisa Annette Hicks, daughter of Artie and Yvonne (Clayton) Hicks was born June 18, 1977. She married Zaylon Bartimus on July 26, 1997 in Pana, Il. Zaylon was born July 11, 1975, the son of Jack and Jeanie (Stanton) Bartimus. They honeymooned in Branson, Missouri. James Dean Clayton, son of Dale and Lavonne (Armentrout)Clayton, was born February 3, 1959 in Hillsboro, Il. He married Lori Young on July 19, 1980 in Hillsboro, Il. Lori is the daughter of Marion Deon and Wilma Jean (Engeling)Young. James and Lori Clayton are parents of Leslie Jean Clayton, born July 5, 1986. Lester Norman Clayton, son of Dale and Lavonne (Armentrout) Clayton was born July 13, 1960. Lester married Frankie Kathleen Fox, daughter of Dennis Ray and Sylvia Lou (Altevogt)Fox, on October 12, 1985 and again on February 14, 1990 and were twice divorced. Lester Clayton and Frankie Fox are parents of Derek Ray Clayton, born January 27, 1985 and Kristi Nicole Clayton, born March 17, 1987. Gail Irene Clayton, daughter of Dale and Lavonne (Armentrout)Clayton, was born March 21, 1962. Gail was first married to Alan Randall on September 15, 1985 and they were later divorced with no children born from that union. Gail later married Chuck Kessler on August 20, 1986 in Witt, Il. Chuck is the son of James Henry and Ethel (Marshall) Kessler and was born August 17, 1958. Chuck and Gail are parents of Jessica Joyce Kessler, born October 2, 1990 and Charlene Abigail Kessler, born February 7, 1992, both in Montgomery County, Il. Janice Eileen Clayton, daughter of Dale and Lavonne (Armentrout) Clayton, was born October 29, 1963. Janice married Brian Volentine on December 11, 1982. Brian was born April 17, 1959, the son of Udell and Lois (Ernst)Volentine. Brian and Janice Volentine are parents of Joshua Dale Volentine, born August 9, 1983 and April Nicole Volentine, born November 20, 1986. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barb Clayton Montgomery County Genealogical Society