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GOURLEY 

GENEAIOGY 


Class -J 

Book__ 

()0{pght}j°Jl^  'v' ' 

COPYRIGHT  DEPOSrr. 


GouRLEY  Genealogy 


.lAMKS  Cori!  I.i;^'      l,S(tK-lS74 


Genealogy     of    Samuel     Gourley 
and  his  descendants, 

1784-1909 


Together  with  accounts  of  the  families  of  Albert  E.  Gurley,  Thomas 

B.     (Gourley,     James    Gourley,    C.    C.    Lounsberry,    .lames 

(lourley,  Arthur  Gourley,  Thomas  Gourley,  Samuel  B. 

Gourley,  Joseph    r.ourley    and    (ieorge 

Gourley,  and  account  of  Gourley 

Re-union.  IWH. 


BY 

C.  T.  Hevdecker 

("opvKionT  1!»(>9  Bv  C.  T.  Hkydkcker 
Waikegan.  Illinois 


Price  $1.00 


■^ 


Cs^  r 


^a.  A,  i-^  5  5  2  8 
AUG    5    1909 


^-     1     I    !■ 


GOURLEY 


GURLEY 


■PKOFINDA   tKHNIT'. 


May   it  be   realized  in   whatever  clime,    in   seeing  clearly  our  duty  to 
(iod,  and  to  avoid  danger. 

This  book  is  dedicated  as  a   souvenir  to  my  beloved  wife,  Caroline  A. 
Heydecker,  a  daughter  of  the' late  James  Gourley. 


IIO.MK   (JF   C.   T.    IIK^  l)i;(Ki:i;,    WAlKlJiAN.    ILL.S. 


PREFACE. 


In  the  preparation  of  this  little  book,  entitled  "(ienealog-y  of  Samuel 
Gourley  and  Hi«  Descendants,"  I  have  attempted  to  collect  all  the  matter 
of  general  interest,  tog-ether  with  such  data  as  has  been  obtainable  relating^ 
to  said  family,  from  about  the  year  1784  down  to  and  inchiding  the  present 
time,  giving  the  facts  as  were  best  known  to  the  descendants,  which  have 
been  retained  in  this  book  in  the  original  letters  written  by  the  relatives, 
and  those  who  knew  the  general  facts  relating  to  the  family. 

To  this  has  been  added  the  names,  dates  of  birth,  marriages  and 
deaths  of  all  of  the  descendants,  so  far  as  has  been  al)le  to  be  traced  l)y 
correi^pimdence  and  interviews. 

The  compiler  desires  to  recognize  and  thank  for  courtesies  extended 
in  this  research  Albert  E.  Gourley.  James  Gourley,  Arthur  (iourley.  C.  C. 
Lounsberry.  Thomas  B.  Gourley.  INIartha  Gourle}-  Gehlman.  I-"rancis  A. 
Day.  Samuel  B.  Gourle\-  and  Alary  B.  Crawford. 

In  writing  a  work  of  even  this  small  character,  it  required  a  large 
amount  of  ])^itience  and  correspondence,  which  is  amply  repaid  by  the 
satisfaction  that  all  have  been  ready  and  \\-illing  to  lend  a  helping  hand  in 
gathering  these  facts.  It  is  hi)]K"d  that  this  little  volume  will  be  of  interest 
to  the  family  and  a  mode  of  preserving  the  facts  and  records  therein  set 
forth.     If  this  is  thereby  accomplished,  it  will  have  answered  its  jjurpose. 

C.  T.  "Heydi-xkkr. 
Waukegan.  Illinois,  August  16,  1909. 


SAML'EL  (.(  ll•|<l,l•:^■•S  I  AM  II,  V. 

1.  SaniiR'l   ("lonrU'v.   1). ;   d.   at    I'ickaway   Co..  Ohio.,   about 

iS2();iii. . 

2.  Xancy  Sibbet.  at    lMiila(Icl])liia.  I'a.:  d.   \X()0.  a^ed  89  years,  at  Mt. 

X'ornoii.  Iowa. 

Their  chihhxMi  arc  : 

,^.  William  :  ne\-er  married  ;  died  ah  >nt   iN-o. 

4.  Sainuol  Sibbct  (  10). 

3.  Xaiicy  Sibbet ;  m. .  Lawrence:  no  cliildrcn. 

C).  John  :  never  married  ;  (b't-d  licfore  he  was  j^o. 

/•  Jaiiie.s  (30). 

5.  Josepli  (  105). 

u.      Isaac:  ne\"er  married;  dead. 
b'our  children  (bed  in  infancv. 

SAML'EL  sip.r.i-rr  Ci  jirlia's  i  \milv. 

10.     Samuel   Sibbet   Gourlew  b.   (  )ct.    i  ^.    1800:   d.   Dec.   22.    i8;8:   m. 
Ian.   14.  1823. 

I  I.  J-Jizabeih  Ivi'binson.  b.  -\ul;'.  2J.  1803  :  d.  .^e])t.  _'~.  1839. 

Their  children  are: 

12.  Thomas  15.,  died  in  infancv. 

13.  Xelson  K..  b.  Aui^.  31.  1827:  d.  Sept.  26,  1828. 

14.  I  lannali  Taulinc  (28).  • 

15.  Thomas  lUirrell.  b.  May  14.  1834. 

16.  Mary  Klizabeth.  b.  Dec.  kj.  1837:  (b  Jan.  4.  1838. 

Tliomas   11.   ( iourley.  nephew    of  James   (lonrlev.  late  of  Sprini^- 
fiekl.  111.,  and  son  of  Samuel  S.  (loifrley. 

17.  Thomas  I'..  (Iourley.  b.   Ma\    14.   1834:  lives  at  I'a.so  Robles.  Cal  ; 

m.  May  3.  i85(;. 

18.  .\lthea  Lillian  Hinckley. 

Their  children  are : 

11 


ig.  Clarence  \\'illiam,  1).  Jan.  28,  i860. 

20.  Alice  Luella,  1).  Xov.  15,  1862. 

21.  Minnie  Florence,  b.  Dec.  29,  1864. 

22.  Jennie  Eliza,  h.  Jan.  31,  1866. 

2^.  Arthnr  Franklin,  b.  Aug.  8,  1868. 

24.  Charles  Allen,  b.  Xov.  4,  1871. 

25.  Addison  Phelps,  b.  April  17,  1873. 

26.  Thomas  Adelbert.  b.  Xov.  10,  1874. 
2y.  Xellie  Marcia,  b.  April  13,  1878. 

Letter  of  Thomas  l\.  Cionrle}',  Part  IF 

28.  Hannah  P.  Gourlev,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  S.  (lourlev;  b.  Se])t.  14, 

1829:  d. -' .  1885;  m.  AFnrch  i,  1848. 

29.  Abram  Haas  :  both  are  dead  :  never  had  an\-  children  :  resided  at 

Pekin,  111. 

JAMES  GOL^RLEY'S  FAMILY. 
(Letter  of   Martha  J.    Gehlman.   Part   II.) 

The  family  Bible,  now  with  Mrs.  Francis  A.  Day,  Springfield.  111., 
contains  the  following : 

30.  James   Gonrley,   son  of   Samuel   Gourley   and   Xancy    Sibbet.   was 

born  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.,  Aug.  2,  1808;  d.  March  26. 
1874. 

31.  Fucy  Ann  Poe,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Rebecca  Poe,  was  born  in 

Chatham   C;>..    Xorth   Carolina.    lune    11,    i8t8:   d.   April   20, 
1863. 

XV)TE. — Thomas  Poe,  a  brother  of  Lucy  Ann  (  Poe)  Gourley,  mar- 
ried Jane ,  who  died.  They  had  children:  Elizabeth,  Mar- 
garet and  Lemuel.    He  then  married  Rebecca  Bond,  and  they  had  Emma  ; 

Olive,   who  'married  Roberts,  a  minister,  at   St.   Paul,  Minn. ; 

Frederick  ;  Femuel.  married  Lucy  Ann  Payne  ;  their  children  are  James. 
Thomas,  Lemuel  and  Lucy  and  others  whose  names  cannot  be  learned. 

James  Poe,  also  a  brother  of  Mrs.  James  Gourley,  married  (name 
of  wife  cannot  be  obtained).  Their  children  are:  Lemuel,  wdio  was  killed 
at  battle  of  Shiloh,  Tenn. ;  Xeoma,  Cornelius  and  others  whose  names 
cannot  be  obtained.    One  of  the  daughters  married  a  Mr.  Gill. 

Mr.  James  Gourley,  an  old  citizen  of  this  city,  breathed  his  last  on 
March  26,  1874,  about  10  a.  m. 

Mr.  Gourley  was  confined  to  his  room  just  three  weeks  with  pneu- 
monia, suffering  great  pain  during  the  greater  part  of  his  sickness.  Mr. 
Gourley  was  66  years  of  age;  was  well  and  favorably  known  in  this  city, 

12 


w  1k'i\-  1k'  IkuI  resided  tor  m;in\  \cars.  As  a  liiisino^  man,  in  his  vcjuncfiT 
da\s,  \\v  was  cncrm'tic.  jirdnipl  and  reliable,  lie  tilled  the  office  of  con- 
stable, deputy  sherilT  and  deputy  I'nited  Slates  marshal,  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  lliose  having'  business  with  him.  lie  was  for  a  number  of  years 
the  tyler  of  a  body  of  Masons,  of  which  he  was  a  mcml)er.  and  in  all  the 
relations  of  life  he  was  known  as  the  ])ossessor  of  a  kindly  heart,  ever 
ready  to  ser\e  his  friend^,  and  atf'ectionately  attached  to  his  larc^c  family 
of  children  and  grandchildren.  He  was  strictly  honest  in  his  dealings 
and  charitable  in  his  judij;nient  of  the  acts  of  his  fellowmen.  Peace  to  his 
ashes  and  sym])athy  for  his  children  in  the  loss  of  a  father  that  was  always 
near  in  atHiction  and   ver\-  indulijent. — S pi  iir^ticld  Monitor. 

31a.  James  ("iourle\,  ->on  of  .Sanniel  ( lourley  :  1).  Au-^'.  2.  1808.  at  West- 
moreland Co..  i'enn.  ;  d.  March  26,  1874.  and  l)uried  at  Sprinf^- 
field.  111.:  m.   l-'eb.  27.  1837. 

31b.  Lucy  Ann  I'oe.  of  Chatham  l"o..  .\orth  Carolina;  b.  June  ii.  1818: 
d.  April  20,  1863.  and  buried  at  .'-^prino-field.  ill. 

LhiUlren  : 

31C.  Martha  Jane   141). 

;^2.  William    llenr\     Harrison    (50). 

7,7,.  L'harles  Sibbct   {56). 

34.  1-rancis  .\nn   (  62  ). 

T^^.  Albert  l-'ranklin   (7O). 

3^).  Mary  Louise  (85  ). 

i,y.  Caroline  Alice  (87). 

^S.  James    Thomas  (93). 

39.  Ada  Emma  Dora  (100). 

40.  Ahiyble  Clark  (  107  ). 

41.  Martha  Jane   Gourley.   daughter   of  James   (lOurley;   b.    Xov.   29. 

1837:  resides  at  Si)rini;held.  111.  :  m.  Sejtt.  24.  1866. 

42.  l-'rnest  1".  ( iehlman.  b.  .\])ril  28.   1827:  <l.  May  25.  i8<j8;  burierl  at 

Sprintrficld.  111. 

Children  : 

43.  hrederick.  b.  Jan.   15.   i8()8.  at  S])iinofield.  111. 

44.  Alice  \'..   (48  ). 

45.  I'rancis  Taylor,  b.  C)ct.   K).   1871.  at  Springfield.  111. 

46.  Ernest  tiourley.  b.  Oct.  31.  1874.  at  S]irin.q;held.  111. 

47.  Louis  Walker   (49). 

13 


48.  Alice   E.   Gelilmaii.  daughter  of   ^lartha  J.   Gourlev;  b.   Xov.   29, 

1869;  m.  Oct.  26.  1904. 

48a.  Eugene  E.  Bone,  b.  Jan.  12,  1867.     Resides  at  Springfield,  111. 

Children : 
48b.  Robert  Gehlnian.  b.  June  2.  1906. 
48c.  Francis  Eugenia,  jj.  May  21,  1908. 

Note. — Eugene  E.  Bone  was  Cirand  Chancellor  Commander  of  the 
r)r(Ier  of  Knights  of  Pythias  of  the  State  of  Illinois  for  the  vear  1908-1909. 

49.  Louis  Walker  (ieblman.  son  of  ^iartha  J.  C.uurlev:  b.  IMarch  28, 

1877;  m.  June  11.  1902. 

49a.  Lillian  E.  Wood,  b.  March  (j,  1881.    Resides  at  Springfield,  111. 

Children : 
4yb.  Louis  \\'ood,  b.  !\Iarch  7.  Itp4. 
49c.  ]\Iargarite  Lucile.  b.  Sept.  3,  i(p5. 
49d.  Leonard  ^\'ood,  b.  Aug.  28,  1907. 

50.  AA'illiam  Henry  Llarrison  dourley.  son  of  James  Ciourley ;  b.  March 

2t.   1840:  deput\-  naval  officer.  Xew  York  Citv :  m.   Sept.   3, 
1863. 

51.  Ella   Sutherland,   1).   Dec.    28,    1841,   a   daughter   of   Judge   James 

Sutherland,  Jr..  of  Xew  York  Citv. 

Child : 

52.  Blanche  (53). 

53.  Blanche  Gourley,  daughter  of  \\'illiam  Henry  Harrison  Gourley  ; 

b.  June  16,  1868;  resides  at  Detroit.  ^Nlich. ;  m. ,  1891. 

54.  John  F.  Richartz. 
Child : 

55.  Ruth  Dorothy,  b.  April  18.  1892:  d. . 

Divorced;   second  marriage  ( 190  ). 

55a.  Eranklin  Trapp. 

Says  the  August  19  issue  of  the  Republican  Xc-^'s,  a  journal  ])ub- 
lished  in  X'^ew  York  City : 

"There  is  no  officer  connected  with  the  customs  service  who  has  a 
better  knowledge  of  the  laws  and  requirements  of  that  service  than  Harri- 
son \V.  Gtjurley.  special  deputy  naval  officer.  He  is  one  of  the  authori- 
ties on  the  complex  ciuestions  constantly  arising.  ]\Ir.  Gourley  has  passed 
through  nearly  every  grade  of  naval  office  work,  thus  eminently  fitting 
him  for  the  responsible  position  he  now  occupies. 

14 


"Mr.  ( idurlc}'  \\a>  Ixn'ii  in  Spiiut^ficld,  III.,  and  >tU(lic(l  law  there. 
Ik'  \\a>  originally  appointed  to  the  naval  ottiee  a>  a  ])ers<inal  appointment 
of  .Xhrahani  Linet^ln  in  iSoi,  and  is  now  a  special  (Icpiity  naval  officer. 
.\  conrleons.  kindl\-  i^enllenian  in  personal  and  Iju^ine^-^  hfe.  hut  strictlv 
])usiness  where  husiness  is  involved." 

5().     Charles   Sihhet  ( iourley.  son  of  James  (rtjurley;  h.   Dec.  3.    1842; 
d.  Aui^-.  22.  1884:  huried  at  Junction,  (^rec^on  :  m. . 

^j.      .Mary  Stewart,  h.  ;  d.  Au.c;-.  ().   1883:  huried  at   Portland, 

( )remdn. 

Children  : 

58.     .\da. 

51).      .Minnii,-  .M . 

(yD.     GeorjT^e. 

fil.     James. 

Xo  trace  can  he  ohtained  of  thi>  Iiranch  of  the  familv. 

ri2.     I'rancis   .\nn   Cioiu'iey,   daug^hter   of  James   Gourley :   h.    Vch.    14, 
1844:  resides  at  Springfield,   111.:  m.   March    1.   18^)4. 

<)3.      .\athan  ( iillman. 

Children  : 
(^.     Charles  I  larrison   (67). 
()5.     .\lhert  l-'ranklin  (71). 

Divorced:  second  marrias^e  Jan.  7.  18(^7. 
/"(».     lh)ratio  A.  Day,  h.  Nov.  25.  18 — :  resides  at  Sprini.;:-field,  111. 

\o  children. 

()j.  I'harles  Harrison  (iillman,  .son  of  Francis  Ann  Gourley  :  h.  (  )ct.  23, 
1864:  d.  April  6.  1903;  huried  at  hreelove.  Pa.:  m.  .Ma\  2^. 
1897. 

68.      .\l\rtk'  .\.   I'.raden,  1). :  resides  at  ParkershurL;.  W.  \'a. 

Children  : 

6i).     ^\'illiam  (iourley.  h.  Sept.  2=,.   i8yy. 

70.  Mary  l"rancis,  h.  March   18,  1901. 

71.  Alhert   I'ranklin  Ciillman.  son  of  Francis  A.  (Iourley:  h.   Xov.    13. 

1867:  m.  . 

72.  Crlia  J.  Cantrall,  h.  Dec.  18,   1871. 
Children : 

73.  I  iarry  A.  (  75a  ). 


] 


74-     Maybel  L.  (750). 

75.     Blanche  C,  b.  July  2,  1892. 

75a.  Harry  A.  Gillnian.  daughter  of  Albert  Franklin  ( lillman  ;  1).  Jime 
18.   1887;  m. ,  1908. 

75b.  . 


75c.  Mayble  L.  Gillman,  daughter  of  Albert  P^ranklin  Gillman  ;  b.  April 
25.  1890:  m. ^ — . 

75^1. • 


76.     Albert  Franklin  Gourle_\',  son  of  janies  Gourley  ;  b.  Oct.  29.   1840 ; 
resides  at  Springfield.  111. ;  m.  May  31,  187 1. 

yj.     Jcnnett  Craig,  b.  July  ii,  1848. 

Children : 

78.  Roy  J.    (81  ). 

79.  \  incent  C,  b.  Sept.  16.  1884. 

80.  Louis  Hill,  b.  Oct.  17,  1889. 

81.  Roy  J.  (iourley,  son  of  Albert  b^ranklin  Gourley;  b.  Feb.  6,   1874; 

resides  at  Springfield.  111.;  m.  June  10,  1896. 

82.  Mary  Ethel  Beroley,  b.  Dec.  21,  1876. 
Children  : 

83.  Ethel  Fern.  b.  Dec.  17,  1897. 

84.  Roy  Clifford,  b.  Feb.  17,  1902. 

85.  Mary   Louisa   Gourley,   daughter  of  James   Gourley:  b.    Fell.    [4, 

1849;  <^b  Sept.  17,  1875  ;  buried  at  Barry.  111. ;  m.  June  12.  1873. 

86.  E.  J.  Hurt.  b. ;  resides  at  Barry.  III. 

Child  : 

Baby,  died  when  a  few  days  old. 

87.  Caroline   Alice  Gourley.   daughter  of  James   Gourley;   b.   Jan.   2^. 

1851  ;  resides  at  Waukegan.  111.;  m.  April  18.  1875. 

88.  Christian  Townsend  Heydccker.  b.  Sept.  4.  1846;  resides  at  AVau- 

kegan.  111. 
Children  : 

89.  Coral  T.,  b.  Feb.  21,  1880. 

90.  Nina  Louisa,  b.  Dec.  12.  1883;  *-^-  0<-'t.  2^,  1884. 

91.  Bessie  Irene,  b.  March  16.  1886. 

92.  Alice  Emma.  b.  June  2.  1888. 

16 


C  T.  llc\<k'ck(.'r  i>  a  dcsccndanl  of  1  l(.'iir\  rowiiM-nd.  of  the  Town- 
send  brothers,  who  were  driven  from  Hoston.  Mass.,  as  Quakers,  and. 
with  others,  made  the  settlement  at  Oyster  Hay.  Long^  Island.  X.  Y.,  and 
we  here  produce  the  family  coat  of  arms  of  the  Townsend  anrl  Hevdecker 
ancestors : 


C.  T.  lleydeeker  was  state's  attorney  for  his  county,  being  elected 
three  times,  and  held  many  positions  of  honor  in  the  fraternal  societies 
of  which  he  is  a  nKinl)er. 


93.  James  Thomas  Gourley.  son  of  James  (lourley:  b.  Jan.   iS.   1S33 

resides  at  Springfield.  111.;  m.  Dec.  5.  1878. 

94.  Anna  M.  Rubly  :  b.  March  18.  1858. 


Children  : 
95.     Harrison  C.  b.  June  8,  1879;  d.  Aug.  22,  1879. 
Louise  (99a). 

Georoe  Wood.  b.  Sept.  2^^,  1883. 
James  Thrjiiias.  b.  Jan.  2t^.  1891. 
Samuel  Rubl}',  1).  June  25.  1898. 


96 

97 
98 

99 


99a.  Louise  Gourley,  daughter  of  James  T.  Gourley :  b.  Sept.  26,  1881  ; 
m.  Sept.  2.  1903. 

99b.  Alillard  Lobdell.  b.  July  9.  1879:  resides  at  Springfield,  111. 

Children  : 

99c.  Anna  Louise,  b.  Aug.  25.  1^05. 

99d.  Charles  Jerome,  b.  Jan.  2J,  1908. 

100.     Ada  Emma  Dora  Gourley,  daughter  of  James  Gourley;  b.  Feb.  2"/, 
1855;  resides  at  A\'aukegan.  111.:  m.  Dec.  24.  1874. 

]Oi.     George  S.  Gehiman.  b.  April  21.   1853:  d.  Feb.   i,   1905:  buried  at 
Waukegan,  111. 

L  hiblren  : 

102.  L\nn  Severs,  b.  Sept.  14,  1875;  d.  (  )ct.  6.  1876. 

103.  Albert  James  (105). 

J04.     (ieorgianna.  b.  Se])t.  18.  i'^79.  at  Denver.  Colo. 

105.  All)ert  James  Gehiman,  son  of  Ada  Emma  Dora  Gourley;  b.  Dec. 

0,  1876;  resides  at  Chicago.  111.;  m.  July  6,  1908. 

106.  Anna  Ring.  b.  Xov.  6.  1881. 

107.  Ma}ble  Clark  Gourley.  daughter  of  James  Gourley;  b.   Xov.  28, 

1857;  d.  March  5.   1887;  buried  at  Springfield.  Ilk;  m.  X"ov. 
30.  1880. 

108.  Wilbur  \A".  Jilson,  b. . 

Children  ; , 

109.  Louis  A'.,  b.  Jan.  4.   1882. 
no.     Ella  A'iola  ('in). 

111.  Ella  A'.   Jilson.   daugnter  of   Mayble   Clark   Gourley;   l\   Dec.   26, 

1883;  m.  June  28,  1905. 

112.  Roy  J.  Mason,  b.  June  22,.  1878;  resides  in  Chicago.  111. 
Child : 

:ii3.     Kenneth  Wilbur,  b.  July  i.  1906. 

■a 

18 


I'AKl'  II. 

'I'lio  tollowiii^  letters  contain  much  of  the  family  liist(jry  obtainable. 
relatin>^-  to  the  branches  of  the  ( iourle}'  family  in  the  I'nited  States: 

Allicrt  E.  Giirlcy.  of  W'illiniaiUic.  Conn.,  has  rccrntly  puhlislicd  "'\'hv  History 
and  Genealogy  of  the  GnrJLy  l-"aniily."  from  wliich  we  extract  the  following  as 
being  of  interest  to  this  hraneli  of  tlie  family  : 

"The  Gurley  motto  is  "Profunda  Cernit' — May  it  lie  realized  in  whatever  clime, 
in  seeing  clearly  our  duty  to  God,  and  to  avoid  danger. 

"Part  l-'irst  contains  a  very  interesting  account  of  our  lirst  ance.stor  of  which 
tile  author  of  this  histo-y  has  been  aide  to  fmd  any  record  of.  He  is  Ingelrani  de 
(iurley.  who  accompanied  William  the  Lion  from  .\\)rmandy,  France,  to  Scotland 
in  the  year  1174.  and  for  his  sage  counsels  and  good  advice  King  William  gave  him 
a  tract  of  land  in  Kincraig,  in  Fifeshire.  which,  J  l)elieve,  is  possessed  by  the  name 
to  tliis  day." 

XoTK. — Webster's  International  Dictionary.  1902.  page  2077,  says,  under  dale 
oi  1174,  "William  the  Lion,  King  of  Scotland,  is  taken  prisoner  by  jhe  I-".nglis!i  : 
lie  acknowledged  the  suzerainty  of  Henry  11." — C.  T.  IL 

In  sjieaking  of  their  religious  con\ictions.  he  s;i3->  : 

"1  tind  one  who  defied  (in  Scotland)  the  power  of  the  Pope  of  Rome — that 
he  had  any  power  over  the  soul — but  for  this  and  the  pamphlets  he  had  secretly 
printed  and  circulated  he  had  to  flee  Scotland,  and  went  to  Fngland,  but  the  king 
being  a  Catholic,  he  .soon  had  to  leave  Fngland,  and  went  to  Canada,  where  he 
remained  for  three  years,  and  then  returned  to  Fngland.  where  he  thrashed  a  man 
one  da}'  in  Parliament  for  his  aliusive  language  to  him  :  and  for  this  thrashing  he 
gave  this  member  of  Parliament  he  was  put  in  prison.  I'.ut,  nevertheless,  he  always 
denied  the  power  of  the  Pope  of  Rome  to  save  or  condemn  the  soul  of  man.  This  is 
the  only  account  of  any  Gurley  that  I  find  that  was  ever  arrested  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Atlantic  ocean,  and  only  one  in  the  L'nited  States,  and  that  an  old  soldier 
who  was  arrested  for  imbibing  too  much  whisky  and  placed  in  the  lockup  over 
night  and  biied  the  next  morning. 

"1  fmd  that  no  Gurley  in  the  L'nited  States  at  the  present  time  that  is  either 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  or  the  sale  of  any  intoxicating  drink  of  any  kind,  and 
but  very  few  that  use  it  in  any  form. 

"And  for  one,  I  am  jiroud  of  tlie  name  of  Gurley,  and  i)elieve  all  shotild  be. 
T  have  made  special  inquiry  in  relation  to  temperance,  character  and  religious  quali- 
fication-; relative  to  our  name,  and  the  same  applies  to  the  name  Gourley  and 
Gourlay." 

In  a  letter  to  ^Ir.  C.  C.  Lounsberry,  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  he  says  :  T  have 
copied  oflf  a  few  extracts  which  may  be  interesting  to  you.  and  I  Iiave  a  few- 
more  of  a  similar  ciiaracter.  Just  how  far  you  design  to  carry  your  work  I  do 
not  at>  yet  fully  understand.  If  you  simply  wish  to  trace  back  the  line  of  Goureys 
to  which  your  mother  is  connected,  or  a  general  work  for  printing.  However,  that 
may  be,  you  have  started  right  for  either — to  get  all  the  information  you  can  and 
then  look  across  the  water  for  the  balance. 

It  looks  to  me  now  from  what  you  state  to  me  in  your  letters,  that  if  you 
design  to  carry  your  undertaking  to  a  complete  success  that  after  you  had  obtained 
all  the  information  you  could  on  this  side  that  some  one  would  h.ive  to  cross  to 
tilt  other  side  and  search  the  records  there.  The  records  in  Fdinburgh,  Scotland, 
are  kept  in  the  best  of  style  and  presume  they  are  about  the  same  in  Ireland. 

After  the  Gourlays  fir>t  settled  in  Kincrai,g.  I'ifeshire.  there  was  one  who 
crossed  over  and  settled  in  the  north  part  of  Ireland,  and  afterwards  I  learn  others 
went  to  Ireland,  but  the  larger  part  of  the  Gourlay  people  remained  in  Scotland 
where  there  are  quite  a  number  of  them  at  the  present  time.  .\  few  went  to 
Fngland.  .\lso  there  is  a  branch  wiiich  came  to  this  country  about  1675  and  settled 
South,  and  if  you  look  in  the   P.  O.  directory,  you  will    find  several   P.  O.  by  the 

19 


name  of  Gurlay.  Gurley,  Madison  Co.,  Alabama  ;  Gurley,  Marion  Co.,  Ohio ;  Gurley. 
Horry  Co.,  S.  C. :  Gurley,  Falls  Co.,  Texas ;  Gurley's  Creek,  Jefferson  Co.,  Ala.,  and' 
Gurleyville.  Tolland  Co.,  Conn,  (my  native  town).  I  have  spent  some  six  years 
of  my  life  in  traveling  in  the  U.  S.  and  been  on  the  borders  of  Canada,  and  been 
in  Alexico  twice,   lived  twice   in  your  state. 

If  you  should  conclude  to  want  to  have  the  records  of  Scotland  or  Ireland 
looked  up  in  relation  to  the  Gourlay  history  'with  the  intention  of  getting  out  a 
book  gives  the  history  of  those  living  in  Scotland  and  Ireland  so  as  to  connect 
with  those  on  this  side  I  would  be  pleased  to  know  about  it.  I  am  carrving  on 
the  work  I  am  now  engaged  in  wholly  at  my  own  expense,  but  to  visit  Scotland  and 
Ireland  to  search  the  records  there  I  should  want  my  expenses  paid  mostlv  by 
others.  If  you  should  desire  anything  of  this  kind  you  perhaps  might  get  others 
to  assist  in  paying  for  looking  up  these  records,  but  I  leave  the  master  with  you. 

Extract  from  Burke's  History  of  the  Commoners.  In  notice  of  the  family  of 
Spens  of  Lathallan.  Xathaniel  Spens  of  Lathallan  was  restored  heir  to  his  father 
in  1662.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Gourlay  of  Kincraig  and  had  a 
son  and  successor  Thomas  Spens  of  Lathallan  who  married  his  cousin  Margaret 
Gourlay,  grandchild  of  Sir  Thomas  Gourlay  of  Kincraig,  and  had  two  sons. 

"Profunda  Cernit"  is  the  Gurley  motto.  "May  it  be  realized  in  whatever  clime, 
in  seeing  clearly  our  duty  to  God  and  to  avoid  danger." 

Extract  from  Burke's  history  of  the  Commoners,  Vol.  4.  In  notice  of  the 
family  of  Taylor  of  Pennington.  Col.  Philip  Van  Cortlandt  who  died  May  1st, 
1814  had  a  numerous  family.  His  daughter  Catharine  Van  Cortlandt,  twin  with 
Mrs.  Taylor,  married  Dr.  \\'illiam  Gourlay.  of  Kincraig,  Scotland,  and  of  Maderia, 
and  had  issue. 

John   died   without   issue. 

Jane  married  John  Austine,  Col.  in  the  British  army  and  Brigadier-General  in 
the  Portuguese  army  during  the  Peninsular  war  under  the  Duke  of  Wellington. 
They  had  issue,  John,  Eliza,  Susan,  Anna.  Maria. 

Other  children  of  Dr.  William  Gourlay,  of  Kincraig,  Scotland,  were  :  Eliza  ; 
Catharine,  married  1st  Capt.  R.  Douglas,  R.  N.,  by  wliom  she  had  no  issuer 
Gertrude. 

Col.  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  of  America,  married  Catharine,  daughter  of  Dr.  Wil- 
liam  Gourlay,  of  Kincraig.  Fifeshire,   Scotland,  in   1787. 

Sir  William  Bickerton,  of  Suffness,  died  in  the  time  of  King  David  Bruce,  and 
left  behind  him  three  daughters :  John  Gourlay  married  one  of  them,  and  got  wMth 
her  the  lands  of  Kincraig  in  Fife.     (New  Register.) 

Extract  from  collections  concerning  the  Scottish  History  of  Sir  James  Dal- 
rymple.  Baronet,  ■  Edinburg.  1705.  Preface  pages  78  and  79.  Speaking  of  the 
Register  of  New  Bottle.  In  the  year  1293  I  see  Sir  Andrew  Frazer,  designed 
Vicomes  de  Stirviling.  a  witness  in  a  character  by  William  Gourlay  to  this  Abbacy, 
joined  with  Patrick  de  Graham.  John  de  Callentra  and  William  de  Stirviling, 
Knights. 

THp^IAS  B.  GOURLAY. 

El  Paso  de  Rables,  Cal..  December  16,  1896. 

C.  C.  LouxsBERRV,  Marshalltown,  Iowa. 

Dear  Sir :  Your  favor  of  November  8th  is  received.  I  will  cheerfully  give  you 
all  the  information  I  can  in  regard  to  the  Gourley  family,  but  am  sorry  to  say  it  will 
be  limited,  and  reaches  back  to  Grandfather  Gourley  only  and  was  received  chiefly 
from  Grandma  Gourley.  My  grandparents  on  my  father's  side  came  from  Ire- 
land, about  the  year  1784,  grandma  came  from  near  Belfast,  but  if  I  ever 
knew  what  part  of  Ireland  grandfather  came  from  I  have  forgotten,  neither  do  I 
know  if  they  were  acquainted  in  Ireland.  The  voyage  was  made  in  a  sail  vessel 
and  took  six  weeks,  during  w-hich  time  they  became  engaged  and  were  married  in 
Philadelphia,  at  which  place  they  landed.  Grandfather's  name  was  Samuel.  Grand- 
mother's, Nancy  Sibbet.  They  settled  for  a  number  of  years  in  Pennsylvania  but 
removed  to  Ohio — Pickaway  Co. — where  he  died  about  the  year  1820.  He  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade  which  he  followed  for  a  livelihood.  They  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, ten  sons  and  one  daughter.  Of  these  I  can  remember  but  seven — William 
(Samuel  Sibbet.  my  father),  Nancy  Sibbet,  John,  James,  Joseph  and  Isaac.  Of 
these  Samuel,  Nancy,  James  and  Joseph  were  married.  Samuel  married  Elizabeth 
Robinson,  in  Ohio.     They  had  five  children,  three  girls  and  two  boys. 

20 


'I'Ik'  two  clck'st  ;nul  tlic  youiijijcst  died  young.  My  sister  died  ;it  Pekiii.  111., 
some  years  ago,  was  married  to  Abram  Haas,  but  left  no  cliihlron.  'iiiis  leaves 
me  alone  of  my  father's  family.  My  parents  moved  to  Wapello,  Louis  Co.,  Iowa, 
in  1837.  He  built  the  lirst  house  in  that  town,  lie  and  mother  and  my  youngest 
sister  tlied  at  that  place  in  1839.  Xancy  Lorance  left  no  children.  James  (^I^s. 
Gehlman's  father),  left  a  large  family  of  which  she  can  better  inform  you  than  I. 
Joseph  left  four  daughters  and  two  sons  who  live  in  ditTereiit  i)arts  of  this  state. 
Three  of  the  girls   are  married. 

William,  John  and  Isaac,  also  Grandma,  died  on  the  homestead  in  Singen 
Grove,  Liim  Co..  Iowa.  Lk'rtram,  Grandma,  died  in  1860,  the  sons  several  years 
previously.  I  came  to  this  state  in  1859.  Uncle  Joe  and  Aunt  Xancy  came  to 
California  in  1864  and  died  some  twelve  years  ago.  I  was  married  in  Marion, 
Linn  Co..  Iowa,  in  1859,  to  Miss  Altea  L.  Hinkley  and  started  to  this  state  in  a 
few  days  and  have  since  resided  here.  We  have  live  sons  and  four  daughters,  all 
grown.  One  son  and  two  daughters  married,  all  living  in  this  state.  Have  heard 
of  G<nirleys  in  two  ditYerent  localities  in  this  state  but  have  not  seen  any  of  them. 

With   regards,   I    am.  Yours  truly. 

T.     P>.    (ioikl  IN'. 


2926  Lorena  St..  Bkrkelkv.  C.\l..  Oct.  2.  1904. 

Mk.  C.  T.  Heydeckkk.  Waukegan,  111. 
Dear   Sir: 

Several  months  since  you  wrote  me  for  information  of  Uncle  Joseph  Gourley's 
family.  I  was  not  at  that  time  possessed  of  the  desired  information  and  did  not 
succeed  in  obtaining  it  by  writing. 

Later  I  paid  a  visit  to  Guerenvilie,  Sonoma  Co..  Cal..  and  send  you  the  family 
history  as   1   was  able  to  collect  it. 

Joseph  Gourley  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  August  12th,  1812.  Mary  Jane 
Galbraith,  his  wife,  born  in  Ohio,  Sept.  10th,  1828.  They  were  married  in  Illi- 
nois. May  3rd.  1840?  Moved  to  Linn  Co..  Iowa,  soon  after.  Came  to  California 
overland  in  1864  and  settled  near  Guerenvilie.  Joseph  Gourley  died  at  same  place, 
.\ugust  31st,  1873.  Mary  Jane,  his  wife,  died  at  same  place,  January  9th,  1880. 
Their  family  consisted  of  five  daughters  and  two  sons,  all  at  present  living  in  this 
state,  excepting  the  eldest.  Alice,  who  died  in  Iowa,  October   10th.  1846. 

RECORD    OF    BIRTHS. 

.Mice  was  born  .\pril  3r(I,  1842:  Lida  Ann  Gourley  was  born  .Vugust  loth. 
1844:  Sarah  Alice  was  born  March  6tli,  1847:  Samuel  Sibbet  wa-  born  March 
6th,  1849:  Ina  Jane  was  born  January  13th,  1855;  Thomas  Burrell  was  born  January 
23rd.  1858:  Minnie  Ida  was  born  January  20th.  1861.  Tliey  were  all  born  in  Linn 
Co..   Iowa. 

Lida  Ann  Gourley  and  Oliver  Wcscott  were  married  near  Guerneville.  May 
2n(l.  1866.  They  had  four  sons  and  one  daughter.  Two  sons.  George  and  Frederick 
are  dead.  Two,  Frank  and  I'enjaminc  are  living  and  unmarried.  jhe  daughter, 
Mary,  married  James  ISanks  and  has  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  living. 

Sarah  Alice  Gourley  and  Charles  B.  Foster  were  married  May  1st,  1857.  Foster 
was  drowned  February  8th,  1878.  They  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  Two 
sons  are  dead,  both  daughters  living  and  married. 

Sarah  Foster  married  a  few  years  after  Foster's  death  to  .\braham  Slerritt. 
in  San  Joaquin  Co..  Cal.  Live  at  present  near  Reedley.  Fresno  Co.,  Cal.  They 
had  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  One  son  and  one  daughter  are  dead.  Cannot 
give  names  of  children,  nor  dates  of  births  or  deatlis. 

Miimie  Ida  Gourley  and  I'redrick  FJIison  were  married  near  Ciuerneville,  .Au- 
gust 17lh.  18S1.  Fllison  died  in  sanitarium  at  San  l-"ranci>co.  March  I2tli,  1899. 
Seven  daughters  were  born  to  then\  including  one  pair  of  twins.  Born  in  follow- 
ing order:  (ieorgie,  Bessie,  Grace  twin,  Lida.  Ina  and  Gcraldine.  The  eldest 
daughter  married  a  Mr.  Dillon.  Xovember  14th.  1901.  Died  . Vugust  31st.  1903.  at 
Cazadero,   Sonoma   Co.,   Cal. 

2k 


Am  sorry  I  could  not  send  tlio  informaticm  sooner  and  fear  it  will  be  too 
late  to  be  of  service  to  you.  Have  had  poor  health  for  several  years,  if  anything 
additional  is  needed  will  be  pleased  to  do  all  I  can  to  supply  it. 

Hoping  this  will  hnd  you  and  yours  in  good  health  and  prosperity  1  am,  with 
regards,  Yours  very  truly, 

T.     B.     GoL'RLEY. 


JA.MES  GOURLEY. 

105  Walnut  St.,  Si'ki.vckield,  III..  Oct.  31.  1895. 
~S[r.  C.  C.  LorxsiiF.RRV, 

]My  Dear  Friend  :  Yours  of  October  12th  was  brought  to  me  by  one  of  my 
brothers,  thinking-  as  T  was  the  eldest  of  our  family  1  would  know  more  about 
what  you  wish  than  either  of  them.  I  was  the  eldest  of  ten  children.  1  recall  very 
little  but  have  often  thought  since  my  father  died  I  wish  I  had  had  him  write 
down  for  us  his  early  life.  I  know  he  was  one  of  the  younger  sons  of  his  parents 
and  know  they  had  ten  sons  and  one  daughter.  Xancy,  the  eldest.  ^Nly  father's 
parents  lived  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  emigrated  to  Ohio,  near  Circleville,  and 
entered  land  there — my  grandfather  did.  Samuel  married  there.  The  family  then 
moved  to  Linn  Co.,  Iowa,  near  Mt.  Vernon. 

The  son  Samuel  moved  to  Peoria,  111.  My  father  came  to  this  state  with  a 
brother-in-law  of  his  brother,  Samuel,  and  stayed  on  a  farm  with  them  for  a  good 
while  near  Decatur.  He  had  previously  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  from  his 
brother  Samuel.  He  walked  from  Decatur  here,  put  up  at  the  largest  hotel  then 
here  and  obtained  work,  made  friends  and  always  lived  here,  and  to  the  time  of  his 
death  used  to  say  he  had  as  boy  and  man  been  in  many  places  but  always  said  Spring- 
field was  the  place  for  him.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  our  next  neighlior  for  many  years.  Then 
he  was  elected.  ?*Iy  father  congratulated  him.  He  said,  "Jim  you  have  not  asked  me 
for  anything  but  I  cannot  forget  the  many  kindnesses  ni}-  family  have  had  at  your 
family's  hands.  What  would  you  like?"  He  replied,  "nothing  for  me  but  if  you 
would  give  Harrison  (my  eldest  brother)  a  lift,  I'd  be  glad."  Soon  after  he  left, 
my  brother  was  sent  for  from  the  Marine  ofifice  in  Xew  York  to  report  for  duty. 
He  entered  there  and  has  been  promoted  from  place  to  place  until  now  for  about 
twenty  years  he  has  been  chief  clerk.  (  Now  Deputy  Xaval  Officer  in  Xew  York- 
City. )  The  next  brother,  Charles  Sibbet  Gourley,  learned  the  jeweler's  trade  and 
went  to  Portland,  Oregon,  married  a  AlTss  Mary  Stewart.  They  both  are  dead. 
Left  two  girls  and  two  boys.  The  next  girl  Frances.  \\  as  married  to  X'athan  Gill- 
man,  is  a  widow  with  two  boys.  The  next  was  Louise  who  married  Elisha  Hurt. 
She  died  in  Barry,  111.  Albert  F.  Gourley  and  James,  jewelers,  both  married  in 
Springfield.  Albert  has  three  boys.  James  three  boys  and  one  girl.  Caroline  mar- 
ried C.  T.  Heydecker,  of  Waukegan,  111.,  has  three  children — one  boy  and  two  girls. 
Mabel  married  W.  Jilson.  is  dead,  left  two  children,  boy  Louis,  dau.ghter  Ella.  T 
have  five  children,  four  boys  and  one  girl.  *  *  *  I  do  not  think  my  father  ever 
saw  his  grandparents.  From  the  family  Bible  T  find  this — James  Gourley,  son  of 
Samuel  and  X^ancy  Sibbet  Gourley.  born  Aug.  2n(l,  1808,  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Pa.  So  you  see  his  father's  name  was  Samuel  and  his  mother's  name  Xancy,  Sibbet 
being  her  maiden  name.  Dtn"ing  the  war  a  cousin  of  my  father  who  was  called  to 
the  bedside  of  a  son  who  was  sick  at  Camp  Butler  visited  us.  He  and  my  father 
talked  of  their  families.  He  had  prepared  a  tree  of  the  jNIcCann's  his  father's 
family  and  was  then  looking  up  his  mother's  fannly.  Sibbett  said  he  would  send 
my  father  a  copy  when  done.  He  did  so  but  we  only  kept  it  a  few  daj'^s  and  my 
father  instead  as  I  wished  him  to  do.  make  a  copy,  could  not  w'ait  he  was  so 
anxious  his  mother,  sister  and  L'ncle  William  and  his  brother  Samuel's  son  who 
lived  there  should  see  it  and  send  it  back.  They  -^aid  the}'  never  got  it — and  that  1 
suppose  was  lost.  I  wrote  to  Cousin  McCann  .-ind  instead  of  sending  me  another 
copy  of  the  Sibbett  family  he  sent  that  of  the  McCann,  which  only  touches  the 
Gourleys  wdiere  his  father  married  mv  grandmother's  sister.  The  Uncle  Samuel 
I  spoke  of  moved  from  Peoria  to  Wisconsin.  He  and  his  wife  died  soon  after 
each  other  and  my  father  at  the  request  of  his  brother  expected  to  take  charge  of 
the  son  Thomas,  and  the  wife's  sister  wanted  the  girl  Hannah.  Father  went  in  a 
wagon  from  Springfield  to  Wisconsin,  came  home  by  Linn  Co.,  Iowa,  to  see  his 
mother,    sister    and   brothers.      Grandmother    and    Aimt    Xancv    would    not    hear    of 


l'.itlKr'>  l>rin^in;^  liiiii  ;iu;iy  from  tliiiii  llu-  si.sli-r  llannali  came  tn  u^  lUr  a  visit, 
llien  wi-iit  Im  Ikt  aunt.  Mrs.  Samuel  Allm  in  Pekin.  Iliomas  scvt-ral  times  visiteil 
lier  and  u>.  llannali  married  Mr.  .\l)ram  llaas.  died  --everal  years  ago,  had  always 
lived  in  PeUin.  She  \isited  i;randmother  and  Auni  .\ancy  in  Linn  Co.,  Iowa,  and 
talked  ahont  the  f.imily  and  knew  nu)re  than  1.  .She  often  said  .\nnt  .\ancy  said 
all  of  the  Ciouileys  e.ime  from  the  same  "stock,"  and  tiiouj4h  none  had  made  much 
noise  in  the  world,  all  were  respectahle  and  had  as  clean  a  record  as  any  family 
liviiifi.  Thomas  who  tirew  U])  witli  L'ncle  William.  (Irandmother  and  .Aunt  Xanc\ , 
I  feel  sure  can  tell  >ou  a  ,i>(>od  deal  tliat  1  periiap--  ne\xr  knew,  and  he  is  such  a 
ready  writer,  and  will  make  any  statement  hv  h;is  lo  tell  so  jdain.  *  *  *  (irand- 
mother dii'd  at  the  age  of  S9  ahout  the  year  1S57,  and  Thomas  married  and  went 
to  California,  in  ;i  sliori  lime  Uncle  William  died  and  .\unt  Nancy  went  with  my 
Uncle  Joseph's  family  to  where  Thomas  was  living.  I  think.  Just  after  her 
mother's  (K-atii  she  married  a  man  l)y  the  name  of  Larence.  I  am  under  the  im- 
pression he  did  not  li\e  long,  *  *  Uncle  Joe  and  wife  died  many  years  ago. 
Their  daughter  li\ed  with  .\unt  .N'ancy.  1  never  saw  Aunt  nor  rirandmother.  There 
I  have  written  .dl  tJiis  and  not  told  you  that  I  have  heard  our  grandparents  were 
horn  in  Scotl.'ind  of  Irish  parents  and  came  to  Pa.  from  Ireland.  '■'  *  *  M\ 
cousin.  Il.'innah's  hushand.  used  to  call  her  Irish.  She  would  remark.  "I  am  Scotch- 
Irish  protestant.  and  1  gIor\  in  that  I  am."  She  was  very  hright  and  could  always 
hold  her  own,  -a  fluent  talker  and  very  earnest  in  her  convictions,  no  half  way 
ahout  her.  I  can  hear  lier  say,  "I  ani  what  1  am — no  halfway  for  a  Gourley." 
Thomas,  her  hrother,  is  a  good  talker  and  writer.  1  hope  he  will  rememher  enough 
he  has  heard  of  grandmother.  .\unt  Xancy  and  Uncle  William  talk  to  have  some- 
thing to  tell  you.  The  hrother.  Harrison  W.  (iourley.  in  .\'ew  York,  married  into 
one  of  the  families  in  the  state — the  Sutherlands.  Sister  Ella  tells  II.  he  has  no 
great  grandfather.  Me  always  says  he  nieans  to  found  his  own  family. 
1    am    witli    much    interest.  Yours    sincereh'. 

Marth.v  Gourlky  (ii  hi m.vx. 

C.  C  LOUXSBERRY. 

Maksh.m.i.towx,    1ow.\.   Xov.  9tli.   1895. 
Mrs.   M.vrtha   (iorui.r.v   (iKiii.M.w, 
Springheld.    HI. 

My  Dear  Friend:  \  was  greatly  pleased  to  get  your  kind  letter  of  Oct.  31st.  and 
I   thank   you   most   cordially   for   same. 

My  great  grandfather  was  Samuel  (iourley.  It  is  handed  down  that  he  was 
horn  at  "Mull  of  Glass.  Scotland."  hut  afterwards  moved  to  Banhridge.  County 
Down.  Ireland,  and  there  married  my  great  grandnujther  whose  maiden  n.ame  was 
Margaret  Dunn.  They  had  seven  children,  to-wit.  Thomas.  Ann,  Mary.  IClizaheth, 
John.  Samuel  and  William,  started  for  .\merica.  which  cost  in  those  days  lift}' 
guineas  each,  that  is  $250  each,  hut  a  plague  of  scurvy  and  smallpox  hroke  out 
on  the  closely  crowded  ship  and  five  out  of  the  nine  hundred  on  the  ship  hoard 
died  an<l  w  ere  huried  at  ocean  antl  among  them  great  grandfather's  two  sons.  Samuel 
and  William.  They  were  eleven  weeks  crossing  the  ocean.  Those  left,  settled 
near  Zanesvillc.  Ohio.  My  grandfather  James  Gourley  was  born  after  they  came 
to  this  country.  They  came  in  1801.  Thomas  Gourley  married  three  times  and 
had  a  large  family  of  children  hut  most  of  them  are  now  dead.  Most  of  those 
living  ;ire  now  in  Ohio.  .\nn  married  a  Mr.  Walker.  h^lizal)eth  married  a  Mr. 
Xixon.  Mary  married  a  James  Gihson.  and  there  are  a  munbcr  of  their  children 
.It  Mt.  \'crnon.  our  state,  among  them  John  Gihson.  John  had  hut  one  son  and 
we  have  not  heard  from  him  for  many  years,  (jrandfaiher  had  the  folh^wing 
children.  Sarah  .\gnes  (mother).  .\nna  Rehecka.  James  !\rtemus,  Thomas  Wood- 
rufT,  Edwin  Rufus,  and  Samuel  Birch  Gourley.  .Aunt  .Anna  and  "Wood"  live 
in  Denver.  Colo.  Uncle  Jim  is  now  living  at  ShenaiuU)ah.  Iowa,  and  the  others  at 
Denver.     I  shall  write  to  your  cousin  Thomas  (j.  to  see  if  he  can  go  farther  hack. 

Mak.sh.m.i.tou  \,    loWA.   I-'eh.   9th.    1896. 
Mrs.    M.xrtha   Gf.hi. max, 

1  rpiote  the  following  from  the  letter  of  James  (jourley.  Detroit  Mich.:  "While 
1    don't  know  much  aliont  our  immediate  aiK-est'>r>;,   1   know   that   the  pro.genitor  of 


the  Gourley  family  in  Scotland  came  from  Normandy  in  the  year  1174  along  with- 
William  the  Lion,  King  of  Scotland  (who  was  brother  to  ]\[alcolm  the  4th,  and 
grandson  of  David  the  1st),  with  other  Norman  barons.  William  ascended  the 
thrown  in  1165,  and  reigned  nntil  1214.  Previous  to  1174,  while  engaged  in  war 
with  England  he  went  there  under  a  flag  of  truce  and  was  treacherously  captured 
and  sent  to  Normandy  a  prisoner  and  had  to  remain  there  two  or  three  years  until 
released,  as  I  said  in  1174  when  he  returned  to  Scotland  with  a  number  of  barons, 
among  the  number  Ingleram  de  Gourley,  the  progenitors  of  the  Gourleys  of  Great 
Britain.  As  the  family  increased  they  spread  over  the  shires  of  Scotland,  and 
Ireland,  and  later  from  there  to  America." 

My  mother  does  not  resemble  the  Gourle^-s  as  much  as  she  does  hep  mother's 
family,  the  Mayhews.  I  was  going  to  send  you  one  of  grandfather's  photographs 
but  have  not  succeeded  in  getting  one  yet.  Grandfather  had  blue  eyes,  and  "bay'' 
hair  as  he  used  to  call  it — that  is,  a  light  Ijrown,  but  my  mother  says  that  quite  a 
number  of  his  brothers  had  very  black  curly  hair,  and  blue  eyes  such  as  you 
speak  of,  and  one  of  mother's  brothers,  Samuel  Birch  Gourley  has  the  same  com- 
bination, except  his  hair  is  not  curly.  I  will  send  you  a  cut  of  him  in  a  few  days. 
Grandfather  Gourley  was  about  five  feet  ten  tall,  and  wlien  1  lirst  knew  him  very 
fleshy  and  muscular. 


Marshalltowx.   Iowa,   April    5th,    1896. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Gehlman  ;  Your  kind  letter  of  March  25th  was  duly  received  and 
contents  carefully  noted,  and  I  thank  you  for  same.  In  the  same  mail  with  your 
letter  came  a  letter  from  Albert  E.  Gurley  of  Willimantic,  Conn.,  who  is  about 
to  publish  a  genealogy  of  the  Gurlej'  family.     Following  is  a  cop}-  of  his  letter: 

Willimantic.  Conn.,  March  23rd,   1896. 


Mr.    C.    C.    LoUXSBERRY, 

Marshalltown,  Iowa. 

Yours  of  March  3rd,  1896.  is  before  me,  and  contents  noted  and  placed  your 
name  on  list  of-  subscribers.  My  work  will  get  into  print  some  time  between  Nov. 
1st,  1896  and  Jan.  1st,  1897.  I  connnence  my  final  summing  up  about  July  1st,  next 
and  am  in  hopes  to  get  my  work  ready  for  print  by  Oct.  1st.  if  ])Ossible. 

My  work  will  give  the  history  of  the  Gourleys  which  in  1066  was  Thomas  de 
Gourlay,  but  is  now  spelt  Gourley,  Gourlay,  Gurley,  and  Girly.  This  last  Girly 
does  not  appear  in  this  country.  Your  mother's  first  ancestor  (the  same  as  my 
ancestor),  was  Thomas  de  Gourlay.  He  accompanied  William  the  Conqueror  when 
he  went  from  Normandy,  France  into  England,  and  afterwards  one  settled  in 
Ireland,  and  today  we  are  represented  in  England.  Scotland,  Ireland  and  America 
as  my  history  and  records  will  describe  more  fully  when  1  get  them  into  print. 

I  enclose  a  sample  of  my  family  record  and  photograph,  as  it  will  appear  in  the 
book  when  printed.  The  photograph  adds  much  to  make  a  family  record  com- 
plete. Sincerely. 

A.  E.  Gourley. 


You  speak  about  the  names  of  your  father's  family  and  your  own.  You  gave 
me  the  names  of  your  father's  fa'mily  but  not  of  your  own.  1  have  written  to  Mr. 
A.  E.  Gourley  ofTering  to  aid  him  all  I  can  and  I  have  sent  him  copies  of  your 
first  letter  and  that  of  \()ur  cousin,  Thomas  Gourley,  and  copies  of  some  other 
letters.  I  think  it  would  be  well  for  you  to  get  together  as  much  as  posisble  a  full 
family  record  of  your  line,  including  dates  of  births,  marriage  and  death  as  to 
all  of  your  line  as  much  as  you  can  and  let  me  know  if  I  can  be  of  any  aid  by 
corresponding  with  memljers  of  your  family  living  at  a  distance,  for  these  dates. 

We  certainly  think  all  the  (jourleys  are  related  and  it  would  seem  that  they 
need  not  go  back  more  than  seven  or  eight  hundred  years  at  furtherest  for  any 
one  family  to  find  a  conmion  ancestor  with  all  the  others.  I  thank  you  for  enclos- 
ing card  of  Jn.o.  R.  Gourley,  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  have  taken  the  address  and 
shall  write  him  and  herewith  return  you  the  card,  as  your  brother  may  wish  to 
keep  it,  or  you  may.     I  beg  to  thank  you  most  sincerely  for  your  very  kind  invita- 

24 


tion  to  conic  and  'sec  you,  and  may  M)nic  da_v  take  advantage  of  it.  l)Ut  n'ly  regular 
employment  keeps  me  here  all  tlie  lime  and  1  rlon't  seem  to  l)e  aljle  to  get  away 
from  town.     Mother  desires  me  to  say  >he  read  your  letter  and  sends  her  regards. 

Sincerrly   yours, 

C.    C.     LuLNSHKKKV. 


j.\s.  (;()n^;l.\^ .  a.  i.  (.otklan'. 

SHIRT  M  \K1-:R.S  A\1)   I  M  I'()K'|-i;rs  ()|-  .MI:.\-S  I'URXlSlllXL,  (jUUUS. 

99  \\'oodward  Avenue. 

DiiTRoiT,    -Mil  II..    Xdv.    l.^tli.    1S95. 
Mr.  C.  C.  Lor.NsuKUKV^ 

Dear  Sir:  Yours  of  tlie  12lh  October  was  received  and  1  am  sorry  to  say  tliat 
I  am  situated  mucli  in  the  same  way  as  yourself  with  respect  to  my  forefathers. 
My  mother  was  fallier's  second  wife.  He  died  when  1  was  only  ten  years  old, 
so  that  I  never  knew  much  about  his  relatives.  ]\Iy  father's  name  was  Robert. 
His  first  wife's  name  was  Cameron.  Tliere  was  three  children  by  the  first  wife, 
William  (famous  Scotch  comedian),  Tliomas,  and  Sarah.  Thomas  died  in  Brook- 
lyn, tile  other  two  in  Scotland.  The  second  family  consisted  of  eight:  Robert.  John, 
.Margaret.  David,  George,  Lily,  James  and  Alfred — all.  including  the  first  family, 
born  in  Edinl)urgh.  Scotland.  Robert  and  Joliii.  as  well  as  father  died  in  the  old 
country.  My  motlier  whose  maiden  name  was  Lawson  and  the  rest  of  the  famil\- 
came  to  New  York  in  1856  and  lived  tliere  till  1S70  when  I  came  here  with  my 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Jean  Fair  Craig.  The  other  members  of  tlie  family 
came  here  within  three  or  four  years  after,  except  my  sister  Lily  who  died  in 
New  York  and  was  buried  in  (ireeriwood.  Her  husband's  name  was  Welwood 
Murray,      lie    went   to    California. 

W'liile  I  do  not  know  much  about  our  immediate  ancestors.  I  <1m  know  tliat  the 
progenitor  of  the  Gourlay  family  in  Scotland  came  from  Normandie  in  the  year 
n74,  with  William  the  Lion,  King  of  Scotland  (who  was  brother  to  .Malcolm  the 
4th  and  grandson  of  David  the  1st),  along  with  other  Xorman  barons.  William 
ascended  the  tlirone  in  1165,  reigned  till  1214.  Previous  to  n74  while  engaged  in 
war  with  England  he  went  there  under  a  flag  of  truce  and  was  treacherously- 
captured  and  sent  to  Xormandie  a  prisoner  and  had  to  remain  there  two  or  three 
years  till  released,  as  I  said  in  1174  when  he  returned  to  Scotland,  accompanied  b\- 
a  number  of  barons.  Among  them  Ingleram  de  Gourlay,  the  progenitor  of  the 
Gourlays  of  Great  Britain.  .\s  the  family  increased  they  spread  over  the  shires  of 
Scotland.  England  and  Ireland,  and  later  from  there  to  America. 

In  1787  Col.  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  of  America,  married  Catharine,  daughter 
of  William  (!oui-lay,  of  Kincaird,  Fifeshire.  who  was  one  of  the  family  whose 
line  is  distinctly  traced  back  to  the  original  niein])er  by  deeds  and  conveyances  in 
the  records  of  Fife  and  is  the  line  to  which  1  believe  our  family  belongs,  because 
while  we  were  born  in  Edinburgh  my  father  and  mother  were  both  born  in  Fife- 
shire— mother  being  relateil  to  the  Gourlay  family  before  her  marriage  to  father. 
There  was  only  one  of  the  name  here  when  I  came  to  Detroit,  in  1870.  Xow  there 
are  several  families.  There  are  Gourlays  in  Albany,  Troy,  Xew  York.  Brooklyn, 
St.  Paul  and  in  Canada,  but  as  you  say  they  are  not  numerous  and  I  am  very 
much  inclined  to  be  clannish  ;ind  am  very  much  interested,  and  I  am  going  to  send 
for  a  liook  wiiich  I  understand  is  being  publisiied  giving  an  account  of  the  old 
Scotch    families   including   the   house   of  Gourlaj\ 

The  name  is  spelled  in  various  ways  as  De  Gourlay,  De  Gourle,  De  Gurla, 
Gourlay,  Gourlag,  Gurlie,  Gurli,  etc.,  but  they  are  all  the  same  family.  The  upper- 
half  of  our  trade  mark  is  tlie  family  coat  of  arms.  .\m  sorry  that  I  cannot  give 
you  more  of  the  information  which  you  desire  but  such  as  I  have,  I  gladly  give 
j^ou.     With  respect,   I   am.  Sincerely  yours, 

James  Gouri-.w. 

My  brother  George  is  a  great  entiiusiast.  He  wants  to  know  wliat  ymi  think 
of  getting  up  a   family  reunion  or  something  of  that   sort. 


ARTHUR  GOURLEY. 

I 

Chicago,  Oct.   14,   1895. 
C  C.  LouNSBERRY,  EsQ.,  Marshalltown,  Iowa. 

Dear  Sir :  Yours  of  the  12th  to  hand  and  I  am  glad  to  answer  your  questions 
as  far  as  I  can.  I  was  born  in  Ireland,  Tyrone  County,  and  worked  on  a  farm 
near  a  little  town  called  Cookstown,  Ireland,  was  married  there  and  came  to  Chi- 
cago direct  in  1871.  My  wife's  maiden  name  was  \IcKinney.  Was  married  in 
Ireland,  my  father's  family  and  wife's  family  being  neighbors.  We  have  only 
one  child  living,  she  is  married  to  Mr.  J.  L.  Campbell,  secretary  of  the  above  com- 
pany. I  have  three  brothers  living.  One  in  Oregon,  one  in  Chicago,  and  one  still 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Ireland.  My  father's  name  was  Arthur  and  he  had  two 
lirothers.  One  of  them  was  named  George  and  I  cannot  remember  much  about  him. 
The  other's  name  was  Adam  and  he  came  to  Philadelphia  about  40  years  ago, 
bad  a  large  family  but  have  only  seen  two  of  them  since  I  came  here.  My  grand- 
father's name  was  Arthur.  He  had  a  brother  that  came  to  the  states  a  long  time 
ago  and  left  quite  a  legacy  to  tlie  heirs.  My  father  was  born  in  1796.  My  mother's 
name  was  McKinney.  My  wife's  name  and  motlTcr's  is  the  same  -aamc  but  no 
relation.  My  mother's  name  was  Eliza.  She  is  dead  35  years — died  at  the  age  of 
56.  My  father  was  84  when  he  died.  It  is  hard  for  me  to  tell  the  ages  of  great 
grandfather  and  grandfather.  My  age  is  53.  When  I  came  to  Chicago  I  started 
to  work  in  a  lumber  yard  and  worked  my  way  up  through  all  the  departments 
except  bookkeeper,  of  the  largest  yard  in  Chicago — S.  K.  Martin  Lumber  Co.  I 
was  with  this  firm  19  years,  was  the  manager  for  same  nearly  15  years,  was  a 
partner  and  vice-president  five  years.  We  have  been  in  business  under  this  name 
5  years.     We  sell  over  35  millions  per  year  and  our  business  is  still  growing. 

Now  if  there  are  any  other  questions  about  the  family  would  be  pleased. to 
answer  them.  As  far  I  can  remember  this  generation  are.  all  Presbyterians  and 
was  the  same  for  four  or  five  generations  before  this.  There  was  also  a  family 
by  the  name  of  William  Gourley  and  one  by  the  name  of  Jno.  Gourley  that  lived 
in   Cookstown.   Ireland,  but  I   have  lost  track  of  them. 

Respectfully, 

Arthur  Gourley. 

Note. — Two  nephews  of  Arthur  Gourley.  the  writer  of  al)Ove  letter,  named 
John  and  Thomas,  reside  at  Waukegan,  111.,  and  are  engaged  in  the  lumber  business. 

THOMAS  GOURLEY. 

]\lrs.  Lillian  Gray  Howard,  of  Chariton,  Iowa,  furnishes  the  following  informa- 
tion relating  to  one  of  the  Thomas  Gourley  families. 

Mk.   C.  T.  Heydecker, 

Dear  Sir:  In  reply  to  yours  of  the  31st  ultimo,  will  say  my  knowledge  of  the 
Gourley  family  is  very  limited  ;  Init  most  gladly  will  assist  you  that  much. 

I  do  not  know  if  you  desire  the  family  carried  down  as  far  as  I  have  in  the 
enclosed  sheet,  but  you  can  do  as  you  wish. 

In  all  cases  of  marriages  I  am  not  acquainted  with  names.  Init  can  tind  out 
some  of  them  ;  also  children's  names,  viz, :  Reulien  Guy's  children  ;  John  T.  Sutphin's 
-wife :  William  Gourley's  family.     .\lso  Perry  and  T.  Pressley  Gaither's   families. 

I  wrote  to  Chester,  S.  C.  a  few  years  ago,  and  learned  of  James  Gourley, 
Olive,  York  Co.,   S.   C.     I   wrote  but  received  no  answer. 

Also  in  tracing  the  Wylies  (my  maternal  grandmother  being  a  Wylie),  I  wrote 
the  Rev.  David  G.  Wylie.  and  learned  that  his  maternal  grandmotiier  was  a  Gour- 
ley; hence  his  middle  name  is  Gourley.  His  address  was.  161  West  93rd  Street, 
New    York. 

With   sincere  wishes   for  your  success   in   this,   I   am. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Lillian    Gray    Howarp. 

The  Mr.  Gourley  first  mentioned  lived  in  North  Carolina,  but  removed  to 
South  Carolina.  His  sons  then  went  to  Indiana.  Thomas,  who  had  married  in 
South  Carolina  (my  grandfather),  moved  to  Monroe  Co.,  near  Bloomington ;  and 
Joseph  and  William  to  Gibson   Co.,  near  Princeton. 

Robert   Gourley.  nephew   of  above  mentioned   Mr.   Gourley.  and  cousin   of  my 

26 


graiidfatlKT,  lived  in  T^looniinji{l«)ii.  liid.  My  inotlicr  thinks  liis  wife's  name  was 
McKissick.  ik-  had  two  sons,  one,  Hamilton,  died  nnniarricd.  The  otiicr,  Williaiii. 
married  Margaret  Harliison.  One  daiifthtcr.  Sarah,  married  Joseph  Frost;  the  other, 
Rachel,  was  married  hut  do  not  know  to  whom. 

liiomas  Ciourley,  l»rother  of  the  ahove  name<I  Kohert.  went  from  M<i?iroe  Co., 
Ind.,  to  Princeton.  Ind.  We  know  nothing  of  his  family.  During  the  Civil  War 
he  was  called  "Aholition"  Tom. 

In  writing  of  my  grandfather,  Thomas  Gourley,  I  omitted  such  dates  as  I 
knew,  lie  was  horn  in  Chester  District,  1  think,  in  South  Carolina,  in  1814;  wa.s 
married  there  to  Margaret  Wylie,  ahout  1833,  and  died  in  Logan  Co.,  111.,  in  1881. 

These  dates  may  be  of  no  use  to  you  unless  in  the  placing  of  those  of  the 
s.inie  name,  and  there  seems  a  number  of  such. 

There  may  he  mistakes  in  what  1  have  written,  as  we  have  no  records,  but 
my  mother  i-  sure  about  most  of  the  names.  I  will  write  inunediatcly  to  an  aunt, 
older  than  my  mother,  who  m;iy  remember  their  grandfather's  name.  If  1  can 
be  of  an}-  service  to  you  again,  please  do  n(5t  hesitate  to  write  me. 

Thomas  Gourley  married  a  Miss  Wilson. 

(D:     Robert. 

(2).     Thomas    married    Margaret    Wylie. 
1.     Marv  E.  married  John   K.  Gaither. 

1 .  'Perry. 

2.  T.   Prcssley. 

3.  I'Vank. 

4.  Tohe. 

5.  Jay. 
.  2.     Xancy. 

3.  Lillie  A.  married   Samuel   Guy. 

1.  Annie. 

2.  Reuben  married  Mary   P>eck. 

3.  Samuel   M.  married   Hester   Ewiim. 

1.  Earl. 

2.  William. 

Lillie   A.   Gourley   also  married  John    Sut])hin. 

1.  William. 

2.  Alvia. 

3.  Margaret  A. 

4.  John  T. 

5.  Montague. 

6.  Lillie  L.,  married   U,   M.   Seal. 

1.     Alberta   B. 

4.  Margaret    R..    married    .\ndrew    D.    Gray. 

1.  Minnie   L.,   married   Chas.   R.    Kirk. 

2.  Lilian  G:,  married  Chas.  E.   Howarrl. 

3.  lulgar   E.,   married    Minnie   Soper. 
1.     Margaret    Ann  is. 

Wright. 

5.  Sarah    L. 

Thomas   Gourlev  again   married   Elizabeth   Daniels. 

1.  Martha  J. 

2.  John   P. 

3.  Agnes. 

4.  Sarah  A. 

5.  William. 

(3).     Joseph    (married  twice,   but   do   not   know   either   name). 

1.  Martha,    married     Thomas    Bugg. 

2.  Mary,  married   Cyrus  Martin. 

3.  Ij)uisa. 

4.  Margaret. 

5.  Thomas. 

Second    marriage. 
1.     Susan. 

27 


(4).     William,    married    Margaret. 

1.  John. 

2.  Thomas. 

3. . 

4.     William. 

(5).     Hugh. 

(6).     Xancy,    married    Mr.    Hindman    (?)    of    Alabama. 

SAMUEL  B.  GOURLEY. 

The  following  account  of  Samuel  Gourley's  faniil}^  has  been  furnished  by 
Samuel  B.  Gourley  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  a  descendant  of  said  Samuel   Gourley. 

After  making  a  careful  investigation  as  to  this  Samuel  Gourley's  family 
and  the  Samuel  Gourley's  family  which  is  fully  set  forth  in  this  book.  T  am 
satisfied  that  the  two  Samuel  Gourleys  were  very  nearly  related  in  Scot- 
land: the  dates  of  l)irth  of  both  occurred  about  the  same  time;  they  are  prob- 
ably related  no  further  distant  than  first  cousins.  Neither  one  of  these  Samuel 
Gourley's  ancestor's  name  can   be  given. 

This  is  mv  conclusion  after  careful  investigation.  C.  T.  H. 


Samuel  Gourley  was  born  at  Mull  of  Glass,  Scotland,  about  1755. 

Lady  Margaret  Dunn  was  born  at  Bainbridge,  County  Down.  Ireland. 
al)out   1760. 

Samuel  Gourley  and  Ladj'  Margaret  Dunn  were  married  at  Bainbridge, 
Ireland,  about  1780.  emigrated  to  America  in  1801.  settled  at  Sarahsville,  Bel- 
mont Co.,  Ohio,  where  Samuel  died  Oct.  23,  1818.  and  Lady  Margaret,  his 
wife,'  March  29.   1821. 

James  Gourley,  son  of  Samuel  and  Ladj-  [Margaret,  was  born  at  St. 
Clairsville.   Belmont   Co.,   Ohio,  June   16.   1804. 

Emiline   Mayhew   was   born  at   St.   Clairsville,   Ohio,   Aug.    13,   1817. 

James  Gourley  and  Emeline  Mavhew  were  married  in  their  native  place^ 
Aug.  10,  1847. 

There  were  born  to  them  at  ]\U)rristown,  Belmont  Count}',  Ohio,  six 
children,  to-wit: 

John  William,  July  31,  1848:  Sarah  Agnes,  Dec.  5,  1850;  Anna  Rebecca. 
Feb.  4,  1852:  James  An  emus,  ]\Iarch  22,  1853:  Thomas  Woodrufif,  Nov.  8,  1854; 
Edwin  Rufus,  Sept.J9,  1856. 

In  the  j'ear  1857.  they  removed  to  Marshalltown,  Marshall  County,  Iowa, 
where  another  son  named  Samuel  Birch,  was  born  Feb.  24,  1859,  and  where 
both  James  and   Emeline  died,  James.  Jan.   17.   1888:   Emiline,  Dec.  21,   1867. 

Their  eldest  son,  John  William,  also  died  at  Marshalltown,  ]May  5,  1868, 
and  their  son,  Edwin  Rufus,  at  Gififord,  Harden  County,  Sept.  29,  1883. 

Harvey  Wellington  Lounsberry  was  born  at  Lexington.  Richland  Count}', 
Ohio,  March  14,  1844.  He  and  .Sarah  Agnes  Gourley,  daughter  of  James  and 
Emeline   Gourley,  were  married  at   ^larshalltown.  Iowa,   Nov.  22.   1871. 

Children  were  born  to  them  as  follows,  at  Union,  Hardin  County,  Iowa: 
Cecil  Claude,  Aug.  30,  1872;  Harold  Claire,  June  14.  1874.  At  Albion.  Mar- 
shall County,  Iowa:  James  Clyde,  Sept.  2,  1876,  died  Dec.  17,  1881.  And  at 
Marshalltown,  Iowa;  Mable  Maude,  Sept.  17,  1878,  died  June  27,  1883;  Carl 
William,  May  18,  1883:  Iva  Anna,  June  29,  1885:  Chancel  Ray,  April  2.  1888; 
Vance  Earl.  Aug.  24,  1890:  Forrest  Norman,  Jan.  18,  1894,  died  April  22,   1903. 

Harriet   Ellen   Isham  was  born  -. 

Cecil  Claude  Lounsberry,  son  of  Flarvey  W.  and  Sarah  Agnes,  and  Har- 
riet  Ellen   Isham  were  married  at   Cedar  Rapids.   Iowa,   Sept.  20,   1899. 

Cecil  Isham  Lounsberry,  son  of  Cecil  and  Harriet,  was  born  Sept.  9.  1900. 

Leon    Claude    born    Jan.    18.    1903,    and    died   Jan.    8,    1904. 

Charles  Benson   Slocumb  was  born  at   Phillipstown,   111..   Oct.   31,   1843. 

Hon.  Charles  B.  Slocumb  and  Anna  Rebecca  Gourley  Avere  married  at 
Eldora,   Hardin   County,   Iowa,  Jan.   22.    1874. 

Florence  Ethel,  daughter  of  Hon.  C.  B.  and  Anna  R.  STocumb.  was  born 
at    Fairbury.   Jefiferson    County,    Nebraska.    .Sept.    11.    1876. 

Minnie  Yocum  was  born  at  Bushnell.   111..  Jan.  9,   1869. 

James  Artemus  Gourlev  and  Alinnie  Yucum  were  married  at  Atwood. 
Kansas,  July  8,  1890. 

28 


(  yr.  1)..  M>n  i>i  Jaim-  A  ;iihI  Minnie  (iouik-y,  \va^  l)«>rn  at  Denver,  Colo., 
July  _'S.    1S91. 

Maude  Mayluw    \\a>  \»>vn  at    N'lutnu.  Ja-])ir  ("ouiity.   Iowa,   N'ov.  25.  1X^)6. 

'ilioni.i-  Wiindrurt'  ("minlev  and  Maude  .Mavliew  were  married  :it  Denver, 
Colo..   Nov.    14.   1S94. 

JOSKIMl    (lOCRIJ"^'. 

Mattf.on.    111.    lulv    1.    10(14. 
.Mr.   (  .     r.    licydecker, 

Waukejian.    ill. 

Dear   Sir: 

Have  been  uifornie<l  liy  Mr.  Gourjey  of  .Sprinj^ilieM.  III.,  that  you  are 
jjcttinji  up  a  family  tree  of  the  (iourley  family.  I  >h<iul(l  like  to  hear  from 
you  and   what   l)unch   of  the   family  you   helonjj  to. 

M)-  father's  name  wa.s  James  R.  (iourley,  his  father's  name  wa.s  Joseph 
Ciourley.  JaniOs  R.  (iourley  has  a  sister  livini;  in  Milroy.  Mrs.  Sallie  McXutt; 
the  al)ove  are  all  dead  except  Mi^.  Sallie  .MeXutt.  .My  grandfather  came 
from   Scotland. 

]\    you   have   any   hooks   out    in    re,y;ard   to   the    f.imily   let    me   know. 

Wry   truly  your>, 

JOIIX   T.   R.   GOURLKV. 

John  Thomas  Robert  Gourlcy,  the  only  child  of  James  R.  (iourley  and 
Mary  Jane  (jourley,  was  born  at  Shirley,  Illinois,  January  25,  1858.  When 
about  si.\  months  old,  his  mother  died.  On  .August  20.  1862,  his  father  was 
mustered  into  Company  I,  of  the  94th  Regiment  of  the  Illinois  Volunteers 
:it  I'loomington,  Illinois.  Then  after  a  forced  march  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  in  three  and  a  half  days,  he  took  part  in  a  battle  of  Prairie 
Grove,  .\rk..  December  7.  1862.  He  also  took  part  in  the  raid  over  Boston 
Mountains  in  Van  Bnren,  .\rk.,  and  a  portion  of  the  company  engaged  in  the 
repulse  of  Marmaduke  .tt  S])riiigleld.  Mo..  Jan.  8.  1863.  and  near  this  place 
it  is  supposed  he  took  sick  with  fever  and  died.  I  was  jnit  in  a  family 
by  the  name  of  John  McXitt  after  the  death  of  my  mother. 

.\t  the  age  of  about  six  years.  I  was  taken  to  Logansport.  Ind..  and  placed 
in  the  family  of  my  uncle,  Robert  G.  McXitt.  a  brother  of  my  mother. 
.\fter  his  death,  another  brother.  C.  M.  McXitt.  took  me  and  raised  me 
initil  I  wa<  twenty-one  j-ears  of  age.  Both  of  the  above  were  nij-  guardians. 
My  grandfather,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Scotland,  was  named 
Joseph  Gourley  .md  my  grandmother,  who  came  from  Ireland,  was  Margaret 
McXitt.  and  both  located  on  a  farm  near  Milroy.  Pa.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren, James  R.  Gourley.  my  father,  and  Mrs.  Sallie  McXitt.  who  is  still 
living  in  Milroy,  Pa.  On  .March  1st.  at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  I  bought 
one-third  interest  in  the  saddlery  firm  of  C.  M.  AIcNitt,  at  Longansport,  Ind., 
and  remained  in  business  with  him  about  five  years,  and  then  my  health 
failing  me,  I  was  compelled  to  seek  out-door  employment.  I  left  Logans- 
port.  .Sept.  1,  1887,  for  Terre  Il.iute,  Indiana,  and  traveled  for  I-'roeb  Bros., 
representing  them  on  the  road  for  live  years  in  the  saddlery  hardware  busi- 
ness. On  Dec.  12.  1892,  I  left  the  above  firm  and  went  with  J.  O.  Fleckncr  & 
Son,  of  Evansville,  Ind.,  and  remained  with  them  four  years.  Then  finding 
my  health  much  im|)rove(l  in  the  nine  years  1  was  on  the  road.  1  again  went 
into  business  for  myself  at  Mattoon.  Illinois,  on  Dec.  18.  1896.  where  I  am 
engaged  at  the  present  time.  .\ug.  15.  1*^)5,  in  the  manufacture  of  saddlery 
and   harness. 

J.    T.    R     GOrRI.KV 

GRORGE  GOURLEY. 

Frost  burg.   Pa..  Jan.  22.   1906. 
Mr.  C.  T.  Heydccker: 

Your  letter  handed  t<>  me  for  reply,  would  say  wc  have  a  Gourley  re- 
union here  every  year,  and  they  turn  out  like  tlies  around  a  sugar  barrel  in  fly 


time.     If  any  Gourlej's  in  j-our  section  give  me  their  names  I   will   send  them 
invitations  to  our  reunion  for  next  summer. 

I  would  like  to  know  the  object  of  your  wanting  records.  I  live  on  my 
grandfather's  farm,  which  was  among  the  first  settled,  he  first  built  a  log 
cabin,  some  time  after  built  a  plank  house  in  1845.  which  is  very  good  yet  and 
I  am  living  in  same. 

E.   C.   GOURLEY. 

It  is  thought  that  George  Gourley  and  Samuel  Gourley,  who  came  to 
America  about  1784,  were  brothers.  The  location  of  their  settlement  in  Penn- 
sylvania would  lead  to  that  conclusion.  The  following  article  on  the  George 
Gourley's  famil}^  record  has  been  furnished  by  Aliss  Mary  B.  Crawford  of 
Smickburg,  Pa. 

GOURLEY   ANCESTRY. 

George  Gourley  was  born  in  1769.  in  Ireland,  probably  in  Londonderry, 
and  in  1816  he  came  to  America,  and  after  deciding  upon  a  desirable  location 
in  Xova  Scotia,  he  sent  for  his  wife.  Rosannah  McXeal,  who  came  bringing 
their  six  children.  They  then  removed  to  Sinking  Valley,  Blair  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  Mr.  Gourley  worked  as  a  blacksmith  and  gave  evidence  of 
superior  skill  in  his  chosen  work.  Later  he  purchased  a  large  farm  in  In- 
diana County,  where  his  growing  boys  found  employment  in  clearing  the 
forest  and  tilling  the  soil  as  well  as  assisting  their  father  in  the  smithery.  It 
was  true  of  them  as  of  most  early  settlers — life  was  fraught  with  many  hard- 
ships— luxuries  were  few,  but  devotion  to  duty  developed  noble  character, 
possessing  a  sturdiness  almost  unknown  to  one  born  to  ease. 

Mr.  Gourley  was  one  who  enjoyed  having  things  about  him  conveniently 
and  neatly  arranged  and  did  much  which  contributed  to  the  comforts  of  his 
home;  moreover  he  was  of  a  practical  turn  of  mind,  and  on  one  occasion  his 
attention  was  called  to  a  flower  bed,  he  replied;  "1  would  rather  see  a  good 
hill  of  paratus  Cpotatoes"). 

]\Irs.  Gourley,  nee  Rosannah  McNeal.  was  a  most  remarkable  woman  in 
many  respects.  She  possessed  a  very  amiable  disposition,  was  a  faithful  wife,  a 
devoted  mother  and  a  friend  to  all  who  knew  her,  very  industrious  in  her 
habits,  which  is  illustrated  by  this:  During  the  harvest  time  she  and  her 
daughters  assisted  in  the  fields  and  at  the  noon  hour  while  the  men  rested,- 
the  girls  cleared  the  table  and  set  the  house  in  order  and  she  sat  down  to 
her  spinning  wheel  and  busied  herself  making  preparations  for  protection 
against  the  next  winter's  cold.  In  after  j^ears  her  own  enfeebled  bod}"  seemed 
to  be  a  result  of  her  life  of  overwork. 

This  couple  being  stanch  Presbyterians  and  devout  worshippers  of  God, 
were  always  observant  of  time  for  family  prayers  and  on  Sabbath  rode  on 
horseback  to  Perrj'  Presbyterian  church,  a  distance  of  eight  miles  awa}'. 

Their  children  all  embraced  the  faith  of  their  parents.  The  sons  all  be- 
came successful  farmers  and  mechanics.  Three  of  the  daughters  married 
farmers  and  one  an  expert  tailor.  Their  children's  children  numbering  about 
sixt3'-five.  excepting  a  few  have  always  resided  in  western  Pennsylvania,  in  the 
farming  district.  As  a  people  they  are  kind  hearted,  given  to  hospitality-,  indus- 
trious, yet  find  great  enjoyment  in  recreation.  Talented  in  music  and  many  of 
them  enjoy  dancing,  or  at  least  a  number  of  them  participated' in  the  amuse- 
ment at   the   .\nnual   Reunion   of  the   Gourlej^s.   held   in    1904. 

Of  the  fourth  generation  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  are  living; 
among  them  are  found  five  who  have  chosen  the  medical  profession,  six  whose 
husbands  attach  the  M.  D.  to  their  signature,  one  professional  nurse,  one 
lawyer,  one  the  wife  of  a  Presbyterian  minister,  another  of  a  civil  engineer, 
one  of  an  inventor,  one  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  half  a  dozen  tradesmen,  one 
telegraph  operator  and  a  number  of  laborers,  teachers,  students,  business  men 
and  farmers. 

Of  the  fifth  generation  there  are  living  approximately  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five,  among  whom  are  found  teachers,  seamstresses,  students  and  a 
number  skilled  in  domestic  science  and  at  least  three  have  shown  a  willingness 
to  continue  in  this  line,  as  the}'  have  begun  "housekeeping  just  for  two."  and 
two  members  of  the  sixth  generation  were  here  to  welcome  the  j-ear  1906. 

30 


Gcors:e  riourlcv,  horn  17()9.  dictl  Sept.  6.  1S5.^:  Rosannah  McXcal.  l)<)rii 
.  rlied  Soi)t.  9.  iS53. 

Their  children:  Thomas,  hern  Oct.  28.  1S05:  John.  l)nrn  .M.iv  19.  1S()8,  dic-fl 
M.iy.  IWl:  *J;inu's,  born  .Aur.  2.^.  ISKI.  died  .March  21,  1867:  Margaret.  l)orii 
Jan.  24.  1812;  .\le.\ander.  I)orn  June  4.  1814:  Georuo.  born  March  17.  1816.  died 
Jan.  23.  1846:  Rosanna.  born  .March  12.  1819;  .Armstrong.  l)nrn  Sept.  15,  1820: 
Robert,  born  M.iv  17,  1822:  Xancv.  born  Nov.  2.^.  182.3:  Marj-  .\nn.  Ixtrn  Sept. 
18.   182(). 

*Janu's  Gonrlev.  burn  Auk-  -?>.  181(1.  died  March  21.  1867:  Margaret  'S'onnj.? 
Travis.  Ix.rn  Dec.  7.  1818.  (bed  Jan.  1.  1889. 

Their  children:  Lmisia  I'.arrett.  born  Feb.  16.  1837.  died  Sept.  2i,  1857: 
Mary  Rosannah.  born  Jan.  27.  1841:  .M.-iryaret  .\nn.  born  May  5.  1843;  died  .\uk^ 
IS.  1882:  Joseph  Travis,  born  Jnly  7.  1845;  John  McXeal.  born  .\\\m.  3.  1847; 
Wiiliani   .*^iinni^.  Imrn    Xov.   5.    185II.   die<I   .^ept.    18.    1853. 

J<  )|IX    .\l.  G()L"RLi:N', 

John  M.  Gourley.  a  descendant  of  Geo.  Gourley.  was  born  in  Indiana  Co., 
Pa..  1847.  He  had  one  sister.  Mary  Crawford,  and  one  brother.  Joseph  Gourley. 
both  of  whom  ;ire  living.  John  M.  Gourlej'  moved  from  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.,  to 
Pa.xton,  III.,  in  1870.  Me  was  married  in  1873  to  Mary  Lantz.  and  to  them 
seven  children  were  born — W'illi.im  G..  I'rederick  L..  James,  Mary,  Margaret. 
Joseph  and  HIanche.  .Ml  are  living  except  lUanchc.  who  died  in  her  infancy. 
They  still  reside  on  a  farm  near  Pa.xton.  111. 

W'm.  G.  was  married  in  1898  to  F.dith  Parker:  to  them  three  children. 
Leonard.  Orin  and  Cecil,  were  born.  I'rederick  L.  was  married  to  Margaret 
M.iclnni--.  1904.  and  now  is  a  physician  in  W'aukegan,  III.  Joseph  Gourley. 
brother  of  John  M..  was  married  to  Jennie  Doak.  1871.  to  them  three  children 
were  born.  Ma}'.  Emma  and  Preston.  Preston  died  in  infancy.  Maj-  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-six  j'ears,  F.mma  is  still  living,  married  to  W'cightman  Smith,  and 
lives   with   her   father  in   Evans,   Colo. 

Thomas  Gourley  was  second  lieuten.tnt.  2nd  P)attalion.  Pennsylvania  Rifles, 
ami  was  promoted  to  captain,  .\ddress  not  known.  This  information  was" 
found  in  a  war  history  of  Pennsylvania. 

.\ccount  of  Gourley  Reunion  as  published  in  the  Punxsutawnev  (Pa.) 
Spirit,  of  .\ugust  13,  1908: 

GOURLEY  FAMILY  HOLDS   ITS  SIXTH   .VXXLWL  CELEBR.VTIOX. 

AUGUST   12.   1908. 


150  Friends  and  Relatives  .\ttended — Doctors  Galore — Baseball  Game   was  the 

Big  Feature  of  the  Day. 

The  happy,  well-fed,  baseball-loving  Gourieys.  to  the  number  of  150.  in- 
cluding many  friends,  yesterday  congregated  at  Jefferson  Park  and  spent  the 
day.  the  occasion  being  the  sixth  annual  reunion  of  the   family. 

It  was  high  noon  Ijefore  the  enrollment  was  complete,  but  the  clans  were 
not  long  in  distributing  themselves  ;it  the  various  t.iiiles.  There  were  prac- 
tically four  bantiuets  going  on.  .ill  at  the  same  time,  but  the  Gourley  women, 
who  are  famous  throughout  this  section  as  culinary  artists,  were  equal  to  the 
occasion.  They  not  only  had  enough  on  hand  to  supply  the  reunionists  for 
dinner,  but  they  had  an  abundance  left  over  for  supper  and  at  least  three- 
fourths  of  those  present  remained  for  the  evening  event.  How  many  courses 
the  menu  car<l  contained  nobody  stopi)ed  to  figure  out,  but  there  was  a-plenty. 

The  Gourley  family  includes  a  large  sprinkling  of  M.  D.'s  and  hence  they 
lake  great  liiierties  with  capacity.  Yesterday  there  were  included  in  the  bunch 
seven  physicians,  namely:  Harry  and  Russell  C.  Gourley,  W.  F.  an<l  Meig< 
Beyer.  John  .\.  and  Clark  Xewcome  and  Dr.  .'^.  .S.  Hamilton,  and  there  are 
several    .M.   D.'s  in   the  connection   who  were  unable   to  be  present. 

The  elders  (if  the  reuning  family  were  all  present,  including  Jamts  .\. 
Gourley.  of  Big  Run:  Crawford  and  John  .\.  Gourley  and  .Mrs.  J.icob  Grube. 
of   Punxsutawney. 

31 


Relatives  from  a  distance  present  were:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  C.  AlcClung, 
of  Mason.  0.:.Dr.  and  Mrs.  John  Newcome  and  family,  of  Sigel,  and  Mrs. 
Dr.  W.   H.   Gilmore,  of  Mt.  Vernon,  III 

Guests  from  out  of  town  were  Rev.  and  'Sirs.  Coulter,  of  Big  Run,  and 
Rev.  A.  C.   Powell,  of  Marion   Center. 

Aside  from  the  noon  and  evening  banquets  the  annual  l)all  game  was  the 
feature. 

Lex  X.  Mitchell  and  Syl  Gourley  were  selected  to  prck  up  sides;  ]\litchell 
won  the  toss  for  tirst  bats,  but  Gourley  won  the  game,  22  to  18. 

The   teams   lined  up   as   follows: 

Dr.  Clark  Xewcome.  p;  ]\Ieiggs  Beyer,  c;  Jacob  Grube,  s:  Dr.  Russell 
Gourley,  1st:  Daniel  Gourley.  2nd;  Dr.  Harry  Gourley,  3rd;  Syl  Gourley,  r; 
Aubrey  McHenry.  m;  Charles  Veil,  1;  Walter  Veil,  sub  catcher;  score  22. 

Lex  ^Mitchell's  team — Dr.  John  Newcome,  p;  Lewis  Grube,  c:  Mitchell.  1st; 
George  Gourley.  2nd;  Dr.  W.  F.  Beyer.  3rd:  A.  C.  IMcClung.  r:  David  Gourley, 
m;   J.  J.   Hamilton,  s;  James   Gourley.  1;   score   IS. 

Umpire — Ty-on;   official   scorer — Dr.   S.   S.   Hamilton. 

The  game  began  immediately  after  dinner  and  was  concluded  some  time 
T)efore  midnight.  The  number  of  innings  played  is  very  much  in  doubt.  The 
official  scorer's  data  was  kept  on  wooden  pie  plates,  one  plate  for  each  in- 
ning and  as  some  of  them  were  used  to  pass  pies  around  during  the  intervals 
between    innings,   they   were    taken    into   the   system,   inadvertently. 

There  were  no  stomach  pumps  in  the  crowd  and  hence  the  rcords  will 
probably  be  lost.  It  was  generally  conceded  that  the  game  went  somewhere 
between  50  and  60  innings. 

Until  a  couple  more  pages  are  added  to  the  paper  it  will  be  impossible 
to  print  the  tabulated  score  in  a  single  issue. 

Features  of  the  game,  besides  the  battery  work,  were  Syl  Gourley's 
even  dozen  home  runs,  the  base  stealing  stunts  pulled  off  by  Dr.  W.  F.  Beyer, 
Dave  Gourley's  long  sprint  and  capture  of  a  foul   (off  the  table). 

Crawford  Gourley  and  Adam  Miller  won  the  honors  at  quoits,  their  prizes 
being  a  bunch  of  lemons  and  a  good  luck  trophy  in  the  shape  of  a  mule  shoe. 


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