FYI- Not related. Rice, James M. Peoria, City and County, Illinois: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co, 1912. JAMES GAUL The spirit of romance is an eccentric and capricious thing. We are accustomed to think that we must go to the lives of the kings and noblemen of ancient time, to the warriors of the middle ages, to the knights of the Round Table, to the old lands of fair women and brave men, before we meet in its truth and beauty. But the spirit of romance is all about us. It finds its place in the most commonplace histories, in the lives of plain business men, in the humble homes of a city. The life history of the subject of this sketch, James Gaul, holds its share of the glamour of romance. It reaches back to ancient times, when the old Gauls swarmed into Briton and Ireland and settled there, in the time of Caesar. Mr. Gaul traces his name and his descent to these ancient warriors, who conquered by strength of arms, and founded a mighty country as a result of their deeds. There is a curious story current in the annals of James Gaul's family that a tribe of these warriors left Ireland for Asia Minor, after the invasion of Caesar, where they flourished to such an extent that the country became over-populated, and the men were obliged to draw lots to see which should set out with their families for a new country. After the drawing of lots, the little band went down to the sea in flimsy ships, and after many hardships and much loss of life, the survivors landed in America and were positively the first inhabitants of this country, and the ancestors of the American Indians which Columbus found here on his arrival. The story is unsubstantiated, but has subsisted in the Gaul family for many generations, and its claim to truth gained force when fifty years ago and old Indian, one hundred years of age, died on an Oklahoma reservation, claiming to have been a direct descendant of one of the Gauls of that little band. The family in Peoria today is represented by the subject of this sketch, James Gaul, and his brothers, John and David Gaul. James Gaul was born in Peoria on November 16, 1858. His father was John Gaul, a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, where there are still many families of his name. John Gaul came to America in 1842 and settled in Louisville, Kentucky, where he married Miss Ellen Phelan. They came to Peoria in 1847, and opened a little bakery at 514 Merriam street. Later this shop was moved to 313 Merriam street, where the family resided, and where the father died in 1882. James Gaul, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Peoria, finishing the eighth grade in the old Sixth Ward school, which is now the Webster. When he was twelve years old, he left school and entered his father's bakery, where he was employed until his father died, when he opened a saloon and grocery store at 313 Merriam street. In this business he continued for three years, when he was appointed by Mayor Warner as meat inspector, which office he held for two years. He held successively several government positions. He was guard at the house of correction, and was appointed by Grover Cleveland as government store keeper under Wilson in 1887. In 1888, he opened a butcher store at 317 Merriam street, and inside of a year this business had expanded into two shops, the other being at 915 Hurlburt street. The following year, he traded his two shops for a fine farm in Fulton county, near Middle Grove, where he moved and gave his attention to farming for five years. He returned to Peoria after this period as manager of the real-estate business of his brother John Gaul. This business was originally located in the German Fire Insurance building, but it now occupies beautiful offices on the eleventh floor of the Jefferson building. Mr. Gaul's business ability is remarkable. He is bold and aggressive, but cool and prudent; wide-reaching, but exact; prompt to the minute in all engagements; instant in his intuitions of men's characters; a natural negotiator, a keen and concise talker; at work early and late; always coming out right in practical results. He has added many departments to his brother's business, until it now includes a renting agency, an agency for farm lands, a guaranty rent agency, and a department for the care of estates. Besides these activities, Mr. Gaul is also connected with his brother David in a house-building business. On May 15, 1905, at St. Charles Catholic church, in Bloomington, Indiana, occurred the marriage of James Gaul and Miss Grace Olive Duncan, of that city. Mrs. Gaul is a charming woman, and has won hosts of friends in her husband's native city. Politically, Mr. Gaul owes allegiance to no party. He votes independently for the best man. He subscribes to no religious doctrines except the doctrine of broad-minded tolerance for all men. Masterful men always forge ahead. In tribal conditions they become chiefs; in war they are generals; in politics, the statesmen and party leaders; in the professions, they command the honor of their fellowmen; in journalism, they control public opinion; and in business they rise from nothing to be financiers, merchants, millionaires. Mr. Gaul has still many years of life before him. If the beginning of his life shadows forth the end, the badge of preeminence among his fellows is already his.