Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Gougar, Joel William 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Joel William Gougar is numbered among the native sons of Will county, who was 
formerly identified, with agricultural interests, but is now local manager of 
the Chicago Telephone Company's exchange at New Lenox. He represents one of 
the well known pioneer families of Will county, his birth having occurred on 
his father's farm in New Lenox township in 1861, a son of William and Clarissa 
(Hawkins) Gougar. The paternal great-grandfather, William Gougar, was born in 
Germany, whence he emigrated to the United States, locating in Berks county, 
Pennsylvania, where he developed a farm. He was accompanied to the new world 
by two brothers, one of whom settled in Virginia, while the other located in 
Kentucky. The paternal grandfather, William Gougar was married in Berks county 
to Miss Catherine Abel, and following his marriage he remained there until 
1818, when with his family he went to Pickaway county, Ohio, where he 
purchased and developed a new farm, whereon he made his home for four years, 
subsequent to which time he disposed of his property and removed to Vermillion 
county, Indiana, there making his home until 1831, which year witnessed his 
arrival in Will county. Here he made purchase of a tract of wild land on 
Hickory creek, and at once began the arduous task of developing and 
cultivating the fields until he made it a valuable property, adding to his 
holdings as his financial resources increased until at the time of his death 
he owned three hundred and twenty acres, constituting him one of the large 
landowners of this county. For many years he made his home in a log cabin, in 
which the family lived in true pioneer style, but he later erected a more 
commodious frame residence and added many substantial improvements to his 
place. He was a prominent citizen of his locality and on the democratic ticket 
was elected to various public offices, serving for several years as 
commissioner, while for a long period he served on the district school board. 
He was reared in the faith of the German Lutheran church, and his home was 
frequently used as a place of worship for there was no church of that 
denomination in his locality. After many years of happy married life Mrs. 
Gougar was called to her final rest in 1854, when she had reached the age of 
fifty-six years, being survived by her husband until 1861, when he, too, 
passed away, having reached the advanced age of eighty years. Their family 
numbered eleven children, while two of the number still survive, these being: 
Lewis and Joseph E., twins, the former residing in Denver, Colorado, while the 
latter makes his home in Will county. William Gougar, Jr., the father of our 
subject, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, August 24, 1818, the same year of 
the removal of his father's family to that state from Pennsylvania. He was 
reared in the Buckeye state to the age of four years after which he 
accompanied the family on their various removals, being a lad of thirteen 
years when the father made a permanent settlement in Will county. Owing to the 
new and unsettled condition of the country his educational advantages were 
limited to a pioneer district school built near his home on the banks of 
Hickory creek. His education was supplemented in later life through reading, 
observation and investigation. At the early age of fourteen he enlisted for 
service in the Black Hawk war, spending several months in active warfare and 
enduring many privations and hardships. Two of his brothers, Daniel and 
Nicholas, were members of the militia in the Black Hawk war. Following his 
return from the war, William Gougar assisted his father in the operation of 
the home farm, remaining under the parental roof until 1850, when he made the 
overland trip to California, remaining on the Pacific coast for three years, 
during which time he met with fair success in his mining operations. In 1853 
he returned to Will county and purchased a farm in New Lenox township, the 
place being located one mile west of the village. He was there engaged in 
farming and stock-rising until 1891, when he retired from active business life 
and removed to the village of New Lenox, where he purchased a home, for he had 
become incapacitated for farm work as the result of injuries which he had 
sustained in an accident. He started out in life as a poor boy but through his 
close application, his industry and his economy, he gradually worked his way 
upward until he became the owner of five hundred and thirty acres of valuable 
farming land in Will county. He was actively identified with the progress and 
advancement that has here been made, for at the time of his arrival the 
Indians were more numerous than the white settlers and on one occasion the 
family were driven from their home during an Indian raid. He gave his 
political support to the principles of democracy and served a number of years 
as school director, aiding in the erection of school-houses and other public 
buildings. Deprived in his youth of good educational advantages and realizing 
the value of broad learning, he did what he could to furnish such advantages 
to his children as well as his neighbors' children. In 1859 occurred the 
marriage of Mr. Gougar and Miss Clarissa Hawkins, who was born in Limestone 
township, Kankakee county, Illinois. She was an estimable lady, highly 
respected in New Lenox, where she died October 28, 1899, surrounded by a host 
of warm personal friends. The family has been called upon to mourn the loss of 
the father, whose death occurred July 2, 1906. He was devoted to the welfare 
and happiness of his wife and children, taking the utmost pleasure in their 
companionship, while he was faithful in friendship and loyal in citizenship, 
so that his demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret not only in 
the village where he made his home but throughout Will county, where he had a 
wide and favorable ecquaintance. Their three children, Joel W., Helen and 
Frank, still survive. Joel William Gougar, the eldest member of the family, 
was reared to farm life on the old homestead, assisting in the operation of 
the fields during the summer seasons, while through the winter months he 
pursued his early education in the district schools near his fathers home, 
this being supplemented by study during two winter seasons at Valparaiso, 
Indiana. Following his father's removal to the village of New Lenox, the son 
operated the homestead farm until 1899, when, he abandoned agricultural 
pursuits and removed to the village, where in 1902 he engaged in the telephone 
business, and this has continued to be his occupation to the present time. He 
formerly owned two hundred acres of valuable farming-land but recently 
disposed of this to good advantage, it being a tract which was purchased by 
his father in 1884. Choosing a companion and helpmate for life's journey, Mr. 
Gougar was married December 1, 1886, to Miss Charlotte Finette Gillett, who 
was born in New Lenox township, Will county, in 1867, a daughter of Egbert A. 
and Emily Gillett, both of whom are still living and now make their home in 
Utah. Mr. and Mrs. Gougar are communicants of the Episcopal church, and Mr. 
Gougar is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Matteson 
lodge. No. 175, at Joliet. He follows in his fathers political footsteps, thus 
supporting the democratic party. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gougar has been 
blessed with a daughter and son: Myrtle Helen, who is now a student in the 
Joliet high school; and Walter B., who is a public school student. Mr. Gougar 
and his family occupy an enviable position in social circles and the 
hospitality of their own pleasant home is greatly enjoyed by their many 
friends. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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