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WILLIAM F. GORE, a well-known and wealthy
farmer of Taylorville Township,
has for many years made his home on section 12. He was born in Trigg County, Ky., October 31, 1828, and is a son of John and Sophia (Barten) Gore,
the former of Irish descent and a native of South Carolina. The father was
a farmer by occupation throughout life, and was only a boy when his parents removed to Kentucky. There he lived until 1830, when he came to what is now a part of
Christian County.
He located on a tract of land in Taylorville Township,
and for two years lived in a log cabin, which he erected on the land. Then, removing to South
Fork Township,
he entered a piece of land, which is now the home of our subject. This property of one hundred and sixty acres
on sections 12 and 13 was unimproved prairie, which was held at $1.25 per acre.
On his new farm, Mr. Gore erected a log
cabin, 16x18 feet, in which he made his home for a number of years. The Indians were very numerous at that time,
but were not troublesome until the Black Hawk War. When he came to
Illinois he made the trip with ox-teams. For
years he was obliged to do his trading in Springfield, and in order to find a market for his stock drove them to St.
Louis. He participated in the War of 1812, while his father was one of the heroes of the Revolution. He was
a member of the Methodist Church,
and was active in the organization of schools and roads.
Our subject's mother died in 1831. Her family
comprised the following children: Mary, widow of Homer Wright, of Missouri; James, deceased, and Mary J., twins; Margaret, who died in 1824;
John, a farmer of Taylorville Township;
Rebecca, who lives at Friend, Neb., and is the wife
of Jacob Sheble; Joseph, a retired farmer of Taylorville; William F., our subject; and Benton F., who died in 1883. There was
one child, Sophia, who is now deceased, born of the second union of our subject's father.
From boyhood, William F. Gore was trained
to agricultural duties, and from the age of two years has been a resident of this county. His education was obtained
in the subscription schools of those early days, which were kept only two or three months during
the winter. He walked often as far as three miles to the log schoolhouse, where he was a student until sixteen
years of age. He remained upon his father's homestead until he reached his majority, after which he worked for
farmers by the month for a year, receiving $12 per month. During the summer he farmed a piece of rented land for
four years, and in the winter worked at various occupations. Returning then to the old farm, he took charge of
the same until his father's death. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of the old homestead, and has since
extended the boundaries of his farm to one hundred and sixty acres.
In August, 1862, Mr. Gore enlisted
as a private soldier under the Stars and Stripes and was engaged as First Duty Sergeant, being mustered into service
at Springfield. His term of enlistment
was for three years, and he saw much active service. His first engagement was at Franklin, Tenn., after which he took part in the battles of Resaca, Tunnel Hill and Buzzard's Roost. He was wounded at Chickamauga by a minie-ball, which entered his left arm. He was taken to the hospital in Nashville,
where he remained three months, and was mustered out as Orderly-Sergeant, receiving his discharge July 7, 1865.
He at once returned to his farm in this county, and has here carried on operations ever since. He is always foremost
in all public enterprises, and in times of peace and war has been a true citizen and patriot. He is a member of
the Grand Army of the Republic.
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