Greenbrier County, West Virginia Biography: Jesse GUM ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Transcribed and submitted by Darla Ruebush, , 1998. ************************************************************************** JESSE GUM - son of Roger and Matilda (HOLCOMB) GUM, was born on the headwaters of Jackson River, in Bath County, Virginia, July 24, 1824. When he was twenty years of age he took up his residence in Greenbrier County, and he has a farm of 356 acres in Anthonys Creek District, 175 acres of the best bottom land in the district, and all under fence. An excellent colybiate spring of superior medicinal quality flows near his residence, and he has one of the finest bearing orchards in the State, of apples, peaches, and grapes. In his younger days he was one of the most noted hunters of Western Virginia, killing in one year thirty-one deer, one bear and a large amount of smaller game. In this district, May 28, 1850, the marriage vows of Jesse GUM and Mary Jane HEIFNER were recorded, and their children were born: Huldah E., March 17, 1851; Lewis E., January 10, 1853; John A., January 16, 1858; Jesse U., November 15, 1860; Phebe L., October 10, 1864; Minnie E., November 1, 1868; Wormick O., August 16, 1874 - the six last named living in this district, and the oldest near Howard Creek. A daughter, Sarah Jane, was born November 1, 1871, and died December 20th following. John and Ruth (KEISTER) HEIFNER were the parents of Mrs. GUM, and she was born in this district, May 7, 1831. With her lives a sister, Huldah HEIFNER born August 6, 1833. Her parents moved to this district more than seventy years ago, and were among its most enterprising settlers. Mr. GUM's brother Cornelius was a Confederate soldier and died in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864. His nephew William GUM was in that war, was caputred [sic] and died in Federal prison in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. GUM are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South), and four of their children are in the same membership. He has been class-leader, exhorter, steward and trustee. Columbia Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, is his post office address. Source: Hardesty, Henry H. Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia. New York: H.H. Hardesty and Company, 1884. Rpt. in West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia. Ed. Jim Comstock. Richwood: Comstock, 1974.