Gaddis, John W. bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 764-765; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
John W. Gaddis. There are few things in life that inspire a more general interest than does a sketch of a successful business man, who by achieving fortune himself, gives an example to those trying to climb the ladder of fame, and encourages those who are in the busy commercial world to hope for similar successes. Our subject is a man of decided ability, and is generally conceded to rank among the first business men of Fairview. He is a partner in the firm of Gaddis & Hill, dealers in groceries, hardware, paints and notions. He is also Cashier of the Fairview Banking Company, of which T. H. Travers is President, L. W. Davis, Vice-President, and P. B. Voorhees, Assistant Cashier.
Our subject was born in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., December 5, 1859, being the son of Dr. John V. D. Gaddis. He grew to manhood in his native place, attending the public schools of that city, and at a later date the Jacksonville College. He afterward took an academic course at Freehold, N. J., and a business course in the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He removed to Fairview, Ill., in , and engaged in business at his present place, the firm name being Gaddis & Wilson. He bought out his partner in 1883, and up to 1887 operated the business by himself, at which date he entered into a partnership with Harry C. Hill. This firm is doing an immense business, and by means of strict integrity and industrious habits on the part of the managers is growing in popularity all the time. They carry a large stock of goods, amounting to $4,500.
Mr. Gaddis was married March 19, 1889, to Miss Sarah L. C. Ledeboer, the daughter of Dr. L. Ledeboer, of Holland, Mich. Of this union has been born one child – Lillie Ray. The subject of our sketch is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Fairview Lodge, No. 350, and holding the office of Worshipful Master. He is a Democrat in political belief, and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Reformed Church, of Fairview. He has built an elegant residence in the western part of the village, and has bright prospects of fortune before him.
Dr. John Gaddis was one of the early settlers of this place, and is numbered among the oldest and most popular physicians of Fairview. He was a very distinguished man and possessed a rare amount of natural ability, and has received a thorough education and so fitted himself for his chosen profession. His birth occurred in New York City, and he was graduated from the Eastern College of Medicine and Surgery. He happened to know a family that was coming West and so concluded to try his fortunes in the wild country and enjoy the rudeness of pioneer life.
Dr. Gaddis married Miss Julia Wilson, daughter of the Rev. A. D. Wilson, the founder of the German Reformed Church of Fairview. She was the second in number of the six children born to her parents, and came with them to Fairview from her Eastern home. Dr. Gaddis met with great success, and in connection with his professional duties was also interested in mercantile lines. It was for the purpose of educating his daughter – Maggie – that he removed to Jacksonville, where our subject was born. Of the entire family three children reached maturity – Maggie, Kate and John W. Maggie is at the present writing Mrs. James F. Bless, a manufacturer of Newark, N. J.; Kate L. married H. M. Joralmon, a resident of Denver, Colo., and for a long time on the editorial staff of the American Field. Our subject was the youngest in the family, and he is the happy possessor of both fame and fortune, and has many warm personal friends who rejoice in his success.