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Jeff & Eli Gaskill  When
Rev. Joseph Aaron Gaskill was born on October 5, 1814, in St. Clair,
Illinois, his father, Paul, was 39 and his mother, Jemima Crocker, was
34. Joseph Aaron Gaskill was a farmer and Baptist preacher. Joseph married Tabitha Canada on January 4, 1835 in Clinton County, Illinois, and they had 13 children together including 2 sets of twins. Tabitha died March 27, 1854 and is buried in Barth Cemetery, Mascoutah, St. Clair County, Illinois. Children of Joseph Aaron Gaskill and Tabitha Cannady: Louisa Jane Gaskill (1835-1937) Paul Jefferson, twin of Frank Gaskill (1837-1919) Elijah Franklin, twin of Jeff Gaskill (1837-1904) George Washington (1838-1905) Mahala C. Gaskill (1840-1940) Mary D. Gaskill (1842-1942) Henry C, Gaskill (1844-1882) Jonathan Julian Gaskill (1846-1850) Tabatha E. Gaskill (1848-1850) Joseph B (Twin Gaskill) Martha, twin of Joseph B. Gaskill (1850-1950) Joseph B. Gaskill, twin of Martha Gaskill (1850-1860) Ermae Gaskill (1853-1953) Joseph's second wife was Catherine Wanita "Kate" Fisher whom he married on December 23, 1854 in Belleville, St. Clair, Illinois; they had six children together. Joseph died in November 1869 in Henry Co., Missouri, in November 29, 1869 at the age of 55. Catherine came to Grayson Co., Texas after 1880 where she died in February 1919 and is buried in Dripping Springs Cemetery along with two of her sons. Children of Joseph Aaron Gaskill and Catherine Fisher: Orion Gaskill (1857-1948) Fairview Joseph Aaron Gaskill, Jr. (1863-1933) Dripping Springs Hubert Oliver Gaskill (1859- James B . Gaskill (1856_ Moses Alexander Gaskill (1860-1941) Walter L Gaskill (1866-1891) Dripping Springs Sarah Lucretia "Lulu" Gaskill (1868-1962)  Paul Jefferson "Jeff" and Elijah Franklin "Frank", identical twins of Rev. Joseph Aaron Gaskill Sr. (1814-1869) and Tabitha Canada (1813-1854) were born and reared in Clinton, Clinton County, Illinois. They both arrived in Grayson County, Texas on October 29, 1859, coming to Texas as surveyors under contract with the Butterfield Overland Stage Co. and laid out a trail for the stage from Arkansas to West Texas. The stagecoach service operated from 1858 to 1861, carrying passengers and U.S. mail to San Francisco, California. Jeff fell in love with the area known as Dripping Springs in Grayson County and decided to make it his home, where he cultivated his farm of 180 acres. Jeff married on November 22, 1860 in Grayson Co., Texas: (1) Lucy Ann Gooch, daughter of L.Y. Gooch of North Carolina: b. North Carolina; d. 13 September 1865 in Grayson Co., Texas They had one son - Joseph Y. Gaskill Jeff married the following year on February 18, 1866 in Grayson Co., Texas (2) Mary E. Tatum, daughter of John H. Tatum: b. 1838; d. 22 February 1866 They had 9 children: John F., Tabitha C., William H., Walter F., Virginia E., Thomas C. Louisa J., Oscar A., and Benjamin C. Jeff was a member of the Farmer's Alliance and with his wife, were members of the Missionary Baptist Church, Grayson Co., Texas. When the CIvil War broke out, Frank went back to Illinois to join the Union Army, Illinois Infantry, 87th Regiment during the Civil War, while Jeff enlisted March 13, 1862 in the 34th Texas Calvary under Col. Almerine M. Alexander for the Confederate Army. He served west of the Mississippi River. The Confederate Army failed to prevent the Union Army from crossing Atchafalaya River at Simmesport, Louisiana on May 18, 1864. Jeff was captured and imprisoned in Parish Prison at New Orleans. The old parish jail was used by the Union forces from 1863 to 1865 and ranked in the top 10 worst prisons in the United States. ("Orleans Parish Prison." Wikipedia. Viewed Febrary 16, 2021) The prison held a maximun of 1,900 menHe was sent for exchange at the Red River Landing on July 22, 1864. He entered the Confederate Army again and served until the end of the war. In the late summer of 1877 the author of "Dripping Springs News" reported that "Messrs. Thomas Headrick, P.J. Gaskill and Sherley had about 60 acres of watermelons..." that weighed 60-100 pounds. ("Dripping Springs News," The Daily News, July 22, 1877, pg. 5) Jeff Gaskill began his teaching career in the public schools of Denison in the fall of 1887. (The Daily Register, Saturday, October 29, 1887) In October 1889 J.M. Gaskill, teacher at White Mound, presented to the Grayson County Teachers' Institute the subject of georgraphy along with Miss Sallie Watson and Prof. N. Somerville. ("Teachers Institute.From the Courier. The Sunday Gazetteer, November 3, 1889, pg. 1) Jeff and Frank did not see each other again until Frank traveled to visit his brother in 1900. A few years later Frank died in Illinois in the summer of 1904 and is buried in Zion Grove Cemetery at Kell, Marion County, Illinois. Jeff died in 1919 and is buried at Dripping Springs Cemetery, Sherman, Grayson Co., Texas. Dripping Springs, June 3 -The funeral of P.J. Gaskill, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Jewell Sanders in Sherman Thursday night was held at the Baptist Church Saturday afternoon, and interment by the side of his wife, Mary E., who passed away 6 years ago. Mr. Gaskill was a pioneer citizen of this place, coming here in 1859 and had since resided on the same farm until 6 years ago when he went to Sherman and made his home with his daughter. He was an upright citizen, a noble Christian, a man always ready to help his fellowman, a loving father, a considerate neighbor. He leaves to mourn his loss the following sons and daughters: Mesdames Jewell Sanders of Sherman; Robert Adkins, Nacosa; Gus Groves, Denison; J.Y. and Tom of this place; Will of Oklahoma City; Walter of Denison; and Oscar of Dallas; a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Six grandsons were pallbearers. Dr. F.F. Brown of Sherman delivered a beautiful oration on the life of the deceased. The funeral was under the direction of S.L. Talley of Sherman. Music by Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Miller, Miss Sanders, and Mr. Cox of Sherman. The flowers were many and beautiful. The sympathy of all go out to the bereaved ones. ("Dripping Springs." Sherman Daily Democrat, Thursday, June 5, 1919, pg.3) Sources: 1850 census Clinton County, Illinois Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940 Illinois Marriage, 1815-1935 Souvenir of Texas Texas, County Marriages 1837-1977 Biography Index Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |