Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Gougar, William 1818 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 9, 2007, 12:41 am

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

WILLIAM GOUGAR. The Gougar family is widely and favorably known throughout New 
Lenox Township as having borne no unimportant part in the development of its 
agricultural resources. The subject of this notice is one of the worthiest 
representatives of the family and was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, August 
24, 1818. His father, William Gougar, was a native of Berks County, Pa., and 
was married in early manhood to Miss Catherine Abel, who is likewise a native 
of the Keystone State. The parents of our subject left Pennsylvania in 1818, 
and settled in Pickaway County, Ohio, where they resided eight years. They 
then emigrated to Vermillion County, Ind., and sojourned there until June, 
1831. That year witnessed their arrival in this county, which was then 
included in Cook County, and they settled on section 18, in what is now New 
Lenox Township. The father followed farming all his life, and departed hence 
March 31, 1861. The mother had passed away January 6, 1854, also dying at the 
old homestead. To William Gougar and his wife Catherine there was born a 
family of eleven children, nine sons and two daughters. William, Jr., was the 
fifth child and was twelve years old when his parents came to Illinois. He 
learned the art of farming in all its details, obtained a practical education 
in the common school and remained a member of the parental household until a 
man of thirty-two years. About this time the California gold excitement was 
attracting large numbers to the Pacific Coast and Mr. Gougar decided to join 
the caravan, left home April 3, 1850, and set out overland to the Golden 
State. He arrived at his destination early in July and engaged in mining, also 
the raising of vegetables for three years and three months. At the expiration 
of this time, becoming satisfied with his Western experience, Mr. Gougar 
returned home via the Isthmus and remained with his father until his marriage. 
This important event occurred December 28, 1859, the bride being Miss 
Clarissa, daughter of Baldwin and Hester M. (Bickle) Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins was 
born in New York State, forty miles from Rochester, while his wife was a 
native of Pennsylvania. After marriage they settled in Danville, Ill ., where 
they lived two years, then removed to a farm five miles west of Kankakee, 
where the mother died in 1852. Mr. Hawkins survived his wife for a period of 
twelve-years, his death occurring at the same place in April, 1864. To the 
parents of Mrs. Gougar there was born a family of six children, four of whom 
lived to mature years. Mrs. Gougar was the fourth child and was born in 
Kankakee County, February 19, 1839. She lived there until her marriage, 
acquiring a common-school education and becoming familiar with all useful 
household duties. After her marriage with our subject they settled on a farm 
on section 20, New Lenox Township, where they have since lived. Mr. Gougar is 
a landowner to the extent of five hundred and sixty acres, comprising one of 
the finest bodies of land in New Lenox Township. He has effected fine 
improvements, including a set of convenient modern buildings, while he keeps 
himself posted in regard to all matters connected with agriculture and avails 
himself of the most improved machinery in the cultivation of the soil. Our 
subject and his estimable wife are the parents of four children—Joel W., who 
is farming in New Lenox Township; Hester M., who died in infancy; Helen and 
Frank at home. The Democratic party finds a warm supporter in Mr. Gougar. He 
has held the various minor offices of his township and with his wife is a 
member in good standing of the Episcopal Church, together with their daughter 
Helen and son Frank. Mr. Gougar in December, 1888, revisited California and 
the scenes of his early operations in the mining district, returning the 1st 
of April, 1889. We invite the attention of the reader to a lithographic 
portrait of Mr. Gougar, which appears on another page of the Album.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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