GAY

Mrs. Gay, living in this neighborhood, dropped dead on last Friday morning and was buried in the Bilbo graveyard Saturday. She was born in Randolph County, N. C., in 1802, and had been a resident of this county for many years. – Rockville Republican, October 23, 1889

GILKERSON

The mortality among our old citizens lately has been very great: The deaths are recalled of Mrs. Harry Boyd, of Nyesville; Alex Buchanan, of Judson; Abram Collings of Green township; Alex Puett, Miss Jane Gilkerson, Mrs. Mary Whipple, Jas. S. Rogers and Mrs. Dr. W. D. Thomas, of Rockville. These were all in the neighborhood of the three score and ten limit and several of them four score years of age. – Rockville Republican, December 12, 1894

“The last pioneer settler of Raccoon Township, John Calvin GILKERSON, has gone to his reward after a long life of usefulness. For some time his death has been expected but after all it came somewhat suddenly last Saturday morning. No man in southern Parke was better known than he. Born in Mercer co KY May 27, 1809, he came to this county with his parents in the fall of 1821. They settle in Raccoon Township where he remained throughout his long life. He was always a man of sterling integrity. He operated the pioneer sawmill, which he himself built on his farm in 1837, for many years hauling the lumber to Rockville where it was disposed of at good prices. All the work of building the mill was done by himself. From 1839 to 1846 he built several flatboats which he floated to the Wabash River and sold. August 24, 1842, Mr. Gilkerson married Mary Rea, sister of the 1st clerk of Parke County. They had no children. August 5, 1874 after over 30 years of happy married life, she died, since which time his sister has kept house for him.  In 1844, he was elected justice of the peace for his township, an office he filled with one short interval until his death, altogether about 50 years. In his judgments he was eminently fair and just and it is said that but one of his decisions was ever reversed on an appeal. Elected an elder in the Rockville Presbyterian Church in 1853 he continued in that honorable position until his death although of late years, on account of the infirmities of age, he was not a regular attendant at church. A remarkable thing about Mr. Gilkerson was that although hampered by a terrible impediment in speech, so that he ordinarily spoke with the greatest difficulty, yet when he made a public prayer his impediment was removed and he spoke as other men. The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at his residence, Rev. William Torr officiating. Burial in Rockville Cemetery. Politically, he was originally a Whig and afterwards an uncompromising Republican. He was a man of sound judgment, ripe experience, well read and very intelligent. He will be greatly missed in his community. Full of honored years, respected by all, he has been gathered to his fathers.” - Rockville Republican, April 17, 1896

GORE

Calvin Gore of Jessup, committed suicide by shooting last week. He was to be an important witness in a lawsuit and killed himself rather than testify against certain other people. – Indiana Patriot, June 5, 1873

GRIFFIN

Mrs. Lucy Griffin, aged 57 years, died at her home, three miles north of here Sunday, Feb., of heart disease. The remains were buried at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Monday, Rev. Spohn conducting the service.”  - Rosedale Herald, February 29, 1896