Biography of James R. Gideon

James R. Gideon, born December 28, 1828, in Loudoun County, Virginia, was an early settler in Belle Plaine Township, Kansas. Accompanied by his devoted wife Catherine Blue, they built a prosperous life on 320 acres of land. He faced the challenges of frontier life, raising eleven children, nine of whom survived. A lifelong learner, Gideon actively contributed to his community, served on the local school board, and supported educational initiatives, all while grounding his family in strong values and a rich heritage.

JAMES R. GIDEON. The home of this gentleman and his family is pleasantly located on section 22, Belle Plaine Township, of which he is quite an early settler. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, in the accumulation of which he has been ably assisted by his devoted wife, who shared in all the hardships of their early years in the West, and who with him is now enjoying the fruit of useful and industrious lives, the respect of all who know them, and the devotion of their children.

Mr. Gideon was born in Loudoun County, Va., December 28, 1828, to Henry and Nancy (Miller) Gideon, who were natives of the same county, and of German ancestry. His grandfather, Peter Gideon, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his uncle, George Gideon, took part in the war of 1812. To his parents eleven children were born, of whom all survive save David, the ninth on the family roll. Jacob lives in Hall County, Neb.; Alfred, in Macon County, Ill.; Joseph, in Muscatine County, Iowa; Ann, the wife of Samuel Garvey, in Sangamon County, Ill.; Peter, in Hall County, Neb.; Valentine and Sanford, in Omaha, Neb.; Mary E., the wife of Andrew Bennett, in Madison County, Iowa; and Oliver, in Hall County, Neb.

While still a small infant James R. Gideon accompanied his parents in their removal to Champaign County, Ohio, where they were among the early settlers, taking up their abode there while wild hogs and bears and Miami Indians were still numerous in the region. The parents endured such hardships as fell to the lot of Ohio pioneers, and the boyhood of our subject was passed amid frontier scenes. When he was fourteen years old the family emigrated to Sangamon County, Ill., where he was reared to manhood. His entire boyhood and youth having been spent where there were no free schools, and where all educational work was kept up by subscriptions, he had not the advantages afforded the youth of this day and age, but acquired what knowledge he could under the circumstances which surrounded him, and added to his information by reading in later years.

In the spring of 1873, Mr. Gideon with his family, which at that time comprised his wife and four children, removed to Sumner County, Kansas, and settled on the farm which they still occupy. Fourteen acres of the quarter section on which he located was broken ground, and a 12×14 foot house, made of planks, was the only other improvement. He has not only well improved the acreage of which he first took possession, but has added to his landed estate, and successfully carried on his agricultural work.

A quarter of a century ago, on September 20, 1864, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between Mr. Gideon and Miss Catherine Blue. She is of Irish descent in both her paternal and maternal lineage, and a daughter of Robert and Martha (Blue) Blue, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Her paternal grandfather is supposed to have been a Revolutionary soldier. Her parents were early settlers in Menard County, Ill., where her birth occurred September 1, 1846. The family circle of which she made one comprised seven children, five of whom still live. One died in infancy, and Elizabeth in mature years; Eliza is the wife of Edward Vaughn, of Christian County, Ill.; John lives in Springfield, Ill.; Emily is the wife of Anthony Kinnamon, of Macon County, Ill.; and Nancy, the wife of Hiram Hendrix, of Nebraska.

Eleven children have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gideon, and nine still live: Anne is the wife of Robert Nugent, of Belle Plaine Township, this county; and Martha, the wife of Julius Bender, also of this county; Peter, Minnie, Oliver, Mabel, Edward, Ettie and Kalie still linger under the parental roof-tree. Mr. Gideon is a believer in the principles of the Democratic party, and therefore casts his vote in its favor. For several years he has served on the School Board of his district, and evinces an interest in educational matters, and in all other movements which tend to elevate and improve society and forward the interests of the community.