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 701-702; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Thomas S. Gentle. In all the broad expanse of the Prairie
State there is no county which affords sustenance to a greater number
of agriculturists than this, whose productive soil, commercial
facilities and advanced development make a pre-eminently a farmer’s
home. One of its comfortable and attractive abodes is that of the
subject of this notice, who occupies the parental homestead in
Farmington Township, having an undivided interest therein. He
also owns one hundred and twenty-nine acres on sections 14, and 15,
which is now rented, as he carries on the John Gentle estate.
The Gentles were originally French, settlement being made in
Maryland by members of the family in Colonial times. In that
State the late John Gentle was born, accompanying his parents to Ohio
in 1810 when a child of about two years. He grew to manhood near
the city of Cincinnati, marrying a native of the Buckeye State who bore
the maiden name of Louisa Higdon. Her father, Peter Higdon, was a
soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Gentle reared a family
of nine children, having had eleven born to them. They came to
Illinois with their family in 1855, and selecting a location in Fulton
County, established a home from which the husband and father was
removed in the spring of 1884. The widowed mother is still living
and has now reached the age of seventy seven years. She makes her
home with her children.
The family record is as follows: Mary J., widow of Jacob
Stathem, lives at Normal; Parthenia E., Mrs. Mottier, resides in Gibson
City, Ford County; John T. Shotwell, died when twenty-one years old;
James B. married Miss Maggie McMullen and had two children – Thomas H.
and John N., who are now inmates in the home of our subject, their
father having died in 1879; Thomas Smith is the next in order of birth;
Mrs. Maggie Bulger lives in Gibson City; Julia E. died when
twenty-seventy years old; Hattie B. is the wife of George H. Babbitt,
of Ashland, Neb.; Lulu M. married Frank Ashton and their home is in
Bryant, this State.
The subject of this biographical notice was born near
Cincinnati, Ohio, June 26, 1845, and was therefore about ten years old
when he came to this State. He began his school attendance in Oho
and continued to study in the district schools of Farmington
Township. At the age of twenty-one years he entered Lombard
University in Galesburg, pursuing his studies there four terms.
He had an experience in the work of an instructor, teaching two winter
terms in Peoria and two in Fulton County. His knowledge is amply
sufficient to enable him to secure a fine position as a teacher, but
his taste does not lie in that direction, although he met with good
success while he was thus employed.
In 1876 Mr. Gentle was united in marriage with Miss Mary L.
Kessler, a well educated lady of estimable qualities, who was born in
Ohio, but educated in Canton, Ill., High School. Her father, W.
E. Kessler, a native of Maryland, went to the Buckeye State when a
young man, learned the trade of a carpenter and established himself
there. He married Miss Kate McClain who bore him eight children,
of whom Mrs. Gentle is the eldest. The Kesslers came to this
county and for several years Mr. Kessler was engaged in farming as well
as carpenter work; he is now living in Canton. Mr. and Mrs.
Gentle have become the parents of four children, the eldest of whom is
now about twelve years old. They are named respective, Anna May,
Harry J., Ralph W. and George.
Immediately after his marriage our subject settled on the
homestead, remaining there until 1881, when he purchased ninety-five
acres in Ford County and removed thither where he remained two years
when he came back and settled on the homestead. In April, 1889,
he sold that property and purchased his present estate. He
was appointed administrator of the John Gentle estate by Judge Boyd,
and also of that of his brother, James B. Gentle. He has a
decided political bent and works earnestly to promote the interest of
Democracy. He has served as School Director several years and in
1889 was elected Township Supervisor. He belongs to Farmington
Lodge, No. 192, F. & A. M., I which he filled the chair of Master
in 1875-76-77.
The sterling qualities of Mr. Gentle are recognized by all who
know him and his genial manners prepossess strangers in his
favor. He is deeply interested in the welfare of his children and
future generations, and therefore ready to bear a part in all those
movements which will enhance the material, educational and moral
prosperity of the nation. He has succeeded well in worldly
affairs and is able to surround his family with all of the comforts and
many of the luxuries of life.
