The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-11-09
Hon. VIM. I. Gilclhrist.

1
In the Io,ca Homestead, printed at De-
Moines, we found recently the following
notice Of one Of our prominent citizens
The biographer is giving sketches o
members Of the Last General Assembly,
but As we have no exchange with the
Homestead, this is the only sketch we hap
pened to see:
"HoN. WV. I. GILcnRrsr, Of McGreeor
the Representative from Clayton county, is
lineal descendant of Scotch family who
emigrated to the Colony of Now York just
previous to the Revolutionary war, and set.
tied in what is now. Saratoga county, about
thirty miles northwest Of the city of Albany,
and during that memorable struggle were
driven off by the Indians under Brandt, and
Sir VIM johnson, and participated in many
Of the stirring events of that period particu.
larly at the surrender Of Burgoyne, which
took place within the present boundaries Of
that county. . ..........
The subject of our sketch lost both of
his parents at an carly age. He was raised
by grand parents on his fathers side, in the
most rigid notions of the Reformed Pres.
OytCti0u CDuICi, uuu IcCcIVcu u tOieCdOIy
good education through the hammcring Of
rigid Scotch tutor. He inherited the
patcrnal homestead and cultivated it until
he emigrated west, and had the satisfaction
of knowing that he cultivated and improv.
ed large and somewhat exhausted farm
with skill and profit to himself, and added
much 10 the sum total of agricultural
knowledge Of the State. He was appointed
Land Commissioner for selling State lands.
He was also appointed Commissioner of
Loans for investing and collecting the in.
terest on the United States Deposit Fund,
distributed among the States during the
administration of Gen. Jackson. He man.
aged that fund during the State admins
tration Of Hon. Slas Wright, and subse-
quently for period Of twelve years for his
native county, without the loss Of q single
dollar, of principal or interest. He emf
grated to the State of Illinois in 1855, and
remained for a period Of something more
than two years, and in 1867 he came to
Iowa and settled in McGregor. He came
to the west with full determination not to
engage in politics, but the people demanded
further services from him. Mr.. Gilchrist
was Democrat, up to the time Of this Re.
bellion. During the Union feeling of 1861
in northern Iowa, he was nominated as
War Democrat on the Union ticket for
Representative from Clayton county: but
owing to business engagements lie declined.
He accepted the position in 1868, looping
that he might aid in crushing this Rebellion.
and in restoring our country to peace and
prosperity. He supposed that h. might also
be instrumental IN aiding to bring about at
the proper time the great and important
project Of Ship Canal, or enlarged water
communication from some point on the !
Mississippi river to the Lakes, a very i'm
portant measure to the northwest. Mr..
Gilchrist was much interested in the Canal
matter and in every measure tending to the
interest Of the great Northwest. He is
man of ability and experience, beng now
in the sixty first year Of his age. He gave
his constituents all the advantage Of
his ability and experience and acquitted
himself most nobly Of the trust confided
in hu,."