Pg. 208 JOHN BROWN GILLESPIE John Brown Gillespie, third son of William Theodore and Mary E. Brown Gillespie, was born October 26, 1896 near Bay City, Illinois. After his mother�s death, he, his father, brother and sister moved to Johnson County, Illinois, where he grew to manhood. He was a farmer and shingle-maker. He married Jerusha May VANDIVER, daughter of Clayborn Minor and may Jane (King) Tull Vandiver, February 26, 1893. They lived in Belknap, Illinois and were the parents of five children; Lloyd E., Born September 10, 1894; Gilnor, born 1896 died in infancy; Halley Loren, born September 30 1898; John Vernon, born October 26, 1902 and Novetia Opal, born July 3, 1909. Lloyd E. married Viola Blanche AVERY, daughter of Charles A. and Lena Doll AVERY, on August 21, 1917 at Forman, Illinois. Lloyd and Blanche had seven children: Lena M. born August 9 1918, married Paul Bean of Belknap on November 13, 1938; Charles L. Born May 8, 1922, married first Odessa HUMES of Metropolis, Illinois and second Clara Bradley PHEMISTER. Clara was from Williamson County; Blanche Ruth, born September 2, 1924 died in infancy; Mary Elizabeth, born July 6, 1926 married Walter McBRIDE, November 10 1944; John T., born May 17 1929, married Geraldine STONUM of Vienna, Illinois, on October 10, 1951; M. Margaret , born August 1, 1934, married Paul GRAVES of Belknap on January 27, 1953; Theresa A. born May 1, 1938, married Carle GRAY on March 24, 1956. Lloyd and Blanche lived in Belknap, Johnson City and Galatia before moving back to Belknap in 1934 where they purchased the 108 acre farm in Section 17 Township 12 S.R. 3E near Vienna that Lloyd�s great Aunt Melissa had bought in 1891 and where her son Harmon A. ALFORD was living. They farmed there until Lloyd�s death on February 3, 1968. Blanche continued to live on the home place until her death February 3, 1986. Her son John T. continues to farm the land. Hally Loren married first Ruth GEORGE of Karnack and second Ethel ALBAUGH of Williamson County. They lived in northern Illinois and Michigan until 1945 when they purchased a small acreage adjoining the farm of Lloyd. There they raised three daughters: Dorothy, Joan and Lorene. Hally Loren died January 26, 1959. He is buried in Wildcat Cemetery near Vienna, Il. His widow Ethel moved to Peoria to live with her daughter Lorene. She lived there until her death. John Vernon GILLESPIE married first Ethel YATES. They had two sons; Paul Vernon and Richard Leon. John and Ethel were divorced when the boys were infants and they were raised by their paternal grandparents as their own sons. John Vernon then married Eva BRANSCUM of Johnson County. They were the parents of two daughters; Bernis and Florence and a son John Vernon, Jr. They lived in Peoria and Michigan where John Vernon Sr. was in the construction business. He died in 1963. Novetia Opal married first Clarence BRANSCUM. They lived in Peoria where Clarence worked in a factory. They had two sons; Robert and Lonnie Lee and an adopted son Danny. After the death of Clarence N., Opal married Weldon Thomas FULFS from Arkansas, who was living in Peoria and worked at Caterpillar Tractor Co. where they made their home until Opal�s death in 1981. John Brown Gillespie and his wife May are buried in Wildcat Cemetery in Johnson County. John B. died February 2, 1942 and May died April 16, 1966 ---Submitted by Theresa Gillespie Gray grand-daughter of John Brown Gillespie. WILLIAM GILLESPIE William Theodore GILLESPIE, the sixth child of James and Euphemia Barbara (LEWIS) Gillespie was born on September 20, 1846 in Pope County. His father, James was born in New York in 1810 and lived in Kentucky before coming to Pope County, Illinois. His mother Euphemia B. was born in Kentucky in 1815. They were married in pope County, October 2, 1832, and purchased their first farm there in 1837. They were the parents of ten children, Julia who died in Pope County ; Mary Ann Easter born 1835, who married Jacob M. House; Jane Ann, born 1836, married first, William H. STEWART, a widower with two small children, and second Jesse HODGES of Johnson County, Il; Henry who died I Pope County; Letha Ester born 1842, married James S. BORTHTHICK; William Theodore, who married first Mary E. BROWN April 9, 1965, and second Martha (SHERWOOD) Casper; Melissa born 1849, who married first Andrew ALFORD on Dec 17 1865 and second Tennessee S. HOUSE. Loisa who died in pope County; and Lewis Filmore who with one other infant died in this county. The parents of William T. and his other brother and sisters worked hard and prospered, having started with 40 acres on the N.E. � of Section 33 Township 15 S.R. 7E., and acquired more than 300 acres near New Liberty, Illinois at the death of James on Feb. 8, 1857 at the age of 47. His widow then married John JACOBS of Pope County. She died 1864. William Theodore and his first wife, Mary E. the daughter of henry and Surelda BROWN of Pope County, had four children, James O. born 1867, and died 1884 at the age of 17; William H. 1868, and who died young; John Brown born October 26 1869 near Bay City, Illinois; and Josephine Lavinia born August 2, 1873. William Theodore and his wife and children lived an farmed on land in Township 16, near New Liberty, Illinois, and served with Company I, 136th Volunteer Infantry until he was honorably discharged in 1865. After the war was over, he engaged in farming in pope County and later in Johnson County. He was living near Belknap in Johnson County, Illinois at the time of his death on January 24, 1896 and is buried at Wildcat cemetery in Johnson County. His widow Martha moved to Marlow, Ok. after his death. She died there on April 1, 1927. ---Submitted by Mrs. Theresa Gillespie Gray, great granddaughter of William Theodore Gillespie.