Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Gurney, John B 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 3:15 am

Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

John B. Gurney, a farmer and breeder and raiser of live stock, in which 
connection he has attained more than local reputation, was born in Jackson 
township, Will county, Illinois, January 18, 1866. His parents were Edward and 
Melissa (Buss) Gurney. The father was born in Gloucestershire, England, April 
7, 1834, and died in Wilmington, July 4, 1897, while his wife, who was born 
September 18, 1842, still survives him. He came to this country in 1843 with 
his parents, the voyage being made upon a sailing vessel which was six weeks 
in crossing the Atlantic. The family landed at New York city and by canal and 
the Hudson river proceeded to Buffalo, thence by boat to Chicago and on by 
train to Channahon township, Will county. Edward Gurney lost his parents, 
William and Ruth Gurney, soon after their arrival in the new world. They left 
a family of six children, three sons and three daughters. Being thus left an 
orphan, Edward Gurney made his home with Nial N. Osborn for a number of years 
and began farming for himself on section 17, Florence township. Later he 
purchased land in Wilton and Jackson townships. He improved his farm in 
Jackson township and the year in which he was married—1859—he built a frame 
house upon that place. With the breaking plow he turned the sod and 
transformed the wild land into richly cultivated fields. Wild game in those 
days was plenty, including deer, turkeys, geese and ducks. There were also 
many wolves in the district and all of the evidences of frontier life could 
here be seen. Mr. Gurney continued farming for a considerable period and for 
five or six years was engaged in the grain trade at Elwood, Illinois. 
Subsequently he purchased a farm in Florence township, but afterward sold the 
property and then purchased one hundred acres for forty dollars per acre. 
Later he purchased one hundred acres more at sixty dollars per acre. In 1892 
he built a house in Wilmington, where his last days were passed. He was a 
worthy and honored pioneer settler who aided in laying broad and deep the 
foundation for the present development and upbuilding of the county. He served 
as school director for many years, was justice of the peace and highway 
commissioner. His political allegiance was given to the whig party in early 
life and he afterward became a stanch republican. He was a man of many 
excellent traits of character, esteemed for his genuine personal worth. The 
family numbered five children, three sons and two daughters: Edgar G., who 
died in 1900, at the age of thirty-nine years; Frances L., the wife of Frank 
Althouse, a resident of Oregon, Illinois; John B., of this review; Frank W., 
who is living on the old homestead in Jackson township; and Ruth A., the wife 
of J. W. Herriott of Chicago. Mrs. Herriott is secretary of the King's 
Daughters in Chicago and a delegate to the convention at Wheeling, West 
Virginia. John B. Gurney, whose name introduces this record, pursued his early 
education in the district schools and afterward had the advantage of a course 
in the Bloomington (Illinois) Business College. He was reared to farm life, 
early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors incident to the 
development of the fields and the production of crops. When twenty-three years 
of age he started out upon an independent business career and has always 
followed farming and stock-raising, at first operating eighty acres of land, 
which he cultivated for two years. Later he and his brother Frank farmed two 
hundred acres for two years. In 1892 he was married and afterward farmed two 
hundred acres on his own account until 1904, when he purchased an additional 
tract of one hundred and sixty acres, so that he is today the owner of a 
valuable farming property of three hundred and sixty acres. He built an 
addition to the old homestead in 1897 and built a fine barn in 1905. He is a 
breeder of full blooded Shropshire sheep, also buys and feeds sheep, having a 
thousand head upon his farm at the present time. He is likewise a breeder of 
Percheron horses and is the joint owner of the full blooded French Percheron 
stallion Jasmin, register number 48414 in the French book, and in the American 
register number 31367. He likewise breeds full blooded Poland China hogs and 
also White Holland turkeys. His stock-raising interests are extensive and he 
is one of the well known and successful representatives of this line of 
business in Will county. On the 17th of August, 1892, Mr. Gurney was married 
to Miss Beatrice Wayne, at old Perth, New York. She was born near that place 
May 28, 1868, and is a daughter of John and Angeline (Brower) Wayne. The 
father was born in England, January 13, 1828, and died February 17, 1896, at 
old Perth, Fulton county, New York. His wife, who was born September 12, 1830, 
died at Amsterdam, Montgomery county, New York, August 26, 1905. In their 
family were twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, of whom eight are 
now living: Elizabeth/the wife of Lewis Shipman; Anna E., the wife of G. W. 
Filmore; Frances, who married Eugene Simpkins; George B.; Catherine, the wife 
of Burnside McCord; Ida, the wife of J. V. McIntyre; Mrs. Gurney; and Grace 
D., the wife of Charles Fox. The father, John Wayne, was a glove manufacturer 
at Gloversville, New York, for a number of years, but spent his last years as 
a farmer. He was a lover of fine horses and owned some splendid specimens of 
the noble steed. He served as school director for many years and the cause of 
education found in him a stalwart friend. His political allegiance was given 
to the republican party and his religious faith was indicated by his 
membership in the Baptist church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gurney have been born five 
children: Marjorie M., Edward B., George W., Archibald J. and Olive G. Mr. and 
Mrs. Gurney are prominent and faithful members of the Presbyterian church at 
Wilmington, with which he has been identified since 1891, while for the past 
twelve years he has served as elder and as one of its trustees. He is also 
superintendent of the Sunday school at the present time and does all in his 
power to promote the growth of the church and extend its influence. Mr. Gurney 
is strictly temperate, never having tasted liquor in his life. He is a member 
of River camp, No. 124, M. W. A., at Wilmington. He has served as school 
treasurer for a number of years and was elected school director in the spring 
of 1906. He is deeply interested in all that pertains to public progress and 
his aid and co-operation can always be counted upon to assist in measures for 
the public good. His life has been actuated by high and honorable principles 
and his business career has been characterized by laudable ambition and 
watchfulness of all details and indications pointing to success. In all of his 
dealings he has been strictly reliable, so that his is an honored name in 
business circles.

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/gurney2453nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 7.7 Kb