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GABRIEL PEAVLER, farmer, P.O. Spring Garden. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, is probably one of the oldest settler in this part of the county. He was born on the Holstein river, in Sullivan County, Tenn., January 27, 1813, and is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Steward) Peavler. The parents were both born in Virginia, the father of German parents, the mother of Irish. Our subject was the youngest of four children, of whom two are living - James, in Cooper County, Mo., and Gabriel Peavler. When about seven months old, his father went to Norfolk, Va., where he enlisted in a Virginia regiment being formed to fight the British in the war of 1812. At that time the city of Norfolk itself was threatened, and the regiment was stationed at that point. While serving at his post, the father was stricken with an epidemic which was then raging in that town, and died, as did thousands of his comrades. The mother also died when the subject was about five years old, and he was left at the mercy of the world. His half brothers helped him some, however, and at the age of twelve he was bound out to a man by the name of Allan, at Monticello, Wayne Co., KY., and under him subject learned the trade of making and laying brick. He remained there until seventeen, and then deciding to follow that occupation for himself, he came to Clark County, Ind., and worked for some time at that point. Next went to Bloomfield, Greene County, and from there to Marion County, when Indianapolis was but a small village, and there he made and laid bricks on the State road leading from that point. The next few years were spent in running around in different points in Indiana working at his trade, and then made Washington County, Ind., his home. In regard to his education, our subject never had a chance to go to school but about a month in his life, but after he had settled down at this point, he first commenced to teach himself, and has since obtained a rather fair education. His first occupation in Washington County was that of farming, and followed that occupation for about two years and then went to Providence, Clark County, and there opened a grocery store which he conducted for nine months, and then sold that out and opened a dry goods store, but after running that store six months at that point, he went to Pekin, Washington County, and there carried on the same business. Here he ran a store for three years, and then turning his attention again to farming, he purchased a farm near that town, which he operated for nine years. In connection with his farm he also ran a store for the accommodations of his neighbors. In 1850, he came to Illinois and first settled in Clark County, where he both farmed and carried on a store. The first year of his residence there he opened up and put under cultivation a farm of 160 acres. In that county he lived six years, and then came to Spring Garden, Jefferson County, and settled on his present farm. Here he now owns about 456 acres in Section 22, 23, 26, and 27; has about 370 acres in cultivation - about eight acres in orchard. Mr. Peavler was married, November 27, 1834, in Washington County, Ind., to Nancy McKinney, a daughter of Alexander and Susannah (Turner) McKinney, natives of Virginia. This union resulted in twelve children, six of whom are now living - Dr. J.W. (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work), born July 20, 1840; Mary Jane (wife of J.W. Fitzgerald), born December 31, 1842; Henrietta (wife of William H. Dorr), born September 3, 1844; W.T.C. (now in Huron, Dakota Territory), October 18, 1846; Nancy Frances (wife of George Will), October 20, 1858; and G.N.E., February 18, 1862. Our subject is a member of the Spring Garden Methodist Episcopal Church; also of Williams Lodge No. 242, I.O.O.F. In politics, is a Republican. Mrs. Peavler is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
"History of Jefferson County" GABRIEL PEAVLER, a worthy pioneer of Jefferson County, is one of the largest land owners of Spring Garden Township, of which he is an old settler, and no man within its limits is more highly esteemed than he. For many years he has been engaged in farming, and is well known as the owner of four hundred and fifty acres of land, which is situated on section 22. He likewise owns a mercantile establishment in Spring Garden Village which he purchased in 1893, but does not carry on the store himself, having engaged the services of a competent manager. Like many of the best residents of this county, our subject is a native of Tennessee, and was born in Sullivan County January 27, 1813. His parents, Jacob and Margaret (Stewart) Peavler, reared a family of nine children, of whom he is the only member now living. The father was a Virginian by birth and a farmer by occupation. After removing to Tennessee, he left his family and enlisted in a Virginia regiment to serve during the War of 1812. His regiment was stationed at Norfolk, which was threatened by the British, and while there Mr. Peavler contracted an epidemic which was raging among the soldiers, and from the effects of which he died while in the service. His good wife survived him five years, and on her decease the family became scattered. Grandfather Peavler emigrated from Germany to this country in an early day and settled in Virginia, where he remained until his death. Gabriel Peavler was a lad of ten years when he went to Kentucky and was bound out to learn the trade of a brick-layer and manufacturer. He remained there for about six years, after which he went to Clark County, Ind., and engaged in the brick business on his own account. Remaining there only a short time, however, he then removed to Greene, and later to Marion County, that state, and was employed in laying the brick on the state road from Indianapolis to Vandalia, ILL. He remained in the Hoosier State until thirty-seven years of age, being engaged at various times at his trade, in farming, and conducting a grocery store. In 1850 Mr. Peavler came to Illinois, and for about six years made his home near York, in Clark County. In 1856 he came to Jefferson County and made his home in Spring Garden Township, where he has since continued to reside. His first purchase of land here consisted of two hundred and eighty acres of unimproved property, which he lived upon and cultivated for a few years. In 1866 he erected a store in Spring Garden and engaged in the mercantile business for about ten years. This enterprise, however, did not interfere with his farming pursuits, as he still owned and managed his fine estate and also engaged in brick making. In 1869 Mr. Peavler disposed of his mercantile business, and purchasing more land, engaged extensively in stock-raising, now owning four hundred and fifty acres. In the fall of 1893 he again opened a store in Spring Garden, which is conducted by a man and his wife, who have been engaged by our subject to carry on the business. November 27, 1834, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy, daughter of Alexander and Susannah (Turner) McKinney, who were Virginians by birth. Mrs. Peavler was one in a famity of fifteen children, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of twelve children, only four of whom are living:
W. Taylor, who makes his home in Iowa; In early life Mr. Peavler voted the Whig ticket, and since the organization of the Republican party has been a stanch adherent of its principles. Socially he has been for many years a member of Williams Lodge No. 242 I. O. O. F. He is in all respects a sincere, straightforward man of excellent habits and kindly disposition, and besides being one of the representative citizens of his township, also has the honor of being one of the oldest residents in this part of Jefferson County.
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois" |
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