The record of William I. Gill, who is one of the leading citizens and progressive men of North Salem, Hendricks county, (Indiana) is that of a man who, from a modest beginning, has, without the aid of anyone, made a comfortable living, secured valuable property and laid by a competency for his old age, and at the same time won the undivided respect of all who know him as a result of his clean living and evident desire to promote the community in which he resides. William I. Gill, the son of James and Jane E. (Williams) Gill, was born in Floyd county, Virginia, on July 21, 1847.   James Gill was a brick layer by trade and in 1867, when William I. was twenty-one years of age, the family came to Indiana, settling in Eel River township, this county, where James Gill engaged in farming and also followed his trade of brick laying as opportunity presented itself, and here he lived the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1876.   His wife survived him several years dying in 1887. 

 James Gill was a member of the Masonic order and both he and his wife were earnest and consistent members of the Christian church. They were the parents of seven children who grew to maturity and three who died in childhood.   Those who lived were William I., Amanda, John T., Eli, Emma, James, Alfred and Mary. William I. Gill was educated in the common schools of his native state, and early in life learned the brick-laying trade with his father and continued to assist his father until the latters death in 1876. He then operated a brick yard of his own for about fifteen years at North Salem and in the meantime engaged in contracting and building.  In 1891 he erected the town hall and opera house building in North Salem. Later he built the bank building, which contains the Masonic hall in the upper stories, and since then has built most of the business houses of North Salem. He has also built all of the brick school houses in Eel River township except two, and a large number of concrete bridges over Hendricks county. At the present time he manages the opera house and also owns and operates a cement tile factory at North Salem. As a contractor he is recognized as one of the most efficient and trustworthy artisans in the county, and his various buildings are a tribute to his skill as a workman. Mr. Gill was married in 1877 to Lydia M. Henry, who was a native of Putnam county, Indiana, and a daughter of John B. and Elizabeth (LaFollette) Henry, her father being a farmer of that county. To Mr. Gill and his first wife were born nine children: Ora, who is a bricklayer, lives at Indianapolis, and is the secretary of the bricklayers' union of that city; Mary, who became the wife of Ollie Graves, of Marion township, this county; Beryl, the wife of Otha Williams, of Brownsburg, who is engaged in the retail meat business in that place, and they are the parents of three children, Martha, Kenneth and Louise; Malta and Brewer are still under the parental roof, Malta being the telephone operator in the local exchange; Vesta is employed in the North Salem postoffice.
The mother of these children died in March, 1897, and in 1903 Mr. Gill married Sarah Elizabeth Bunten, a native of Marion township, this county. She was the daughter of Henry Harvey and Frances (Robbins) Bunten.   Henry H. Bunten was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, in 1818, and came to Hendricks county, Indiana, in 1833, with his parents, William and Leanna Bunten. They entered government land near New Winchester and lived there the remainder of their lives. Frances Robbins was a native of North Carolina, the daughter of William and Leah Robbins, and came here in 1834 with her parents, who located in the northern part of Marion township, where her father entered government land. Henry Bunten was a life-long farmer and was county commissioner and also held other public offices of trust. He spent his entire life here near North Salem, his death occurring in 1899, his wife surviving him until 1902. Mrs. Gill lived at home with her parents until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Gill are both earnest and consistent members of the Christian church and he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, both of them also belonging to the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Gill is a man of unusual business abilities and has been one of the most important factors in the upbuilding of his home town.   He is a quiet, friendly man, always progressive and has always thrown his influence in favor of all worthy enterprises.
The family history of the LaFollettes, to which Mr. Gill's first wife belonged, is very interesting. The family originally came to the United States from France, during the time when the Huguenots were being persecuted, and first settled in New Jersey. The one male representative of the family who first came to America is the ancestor of a large and influential family, among whom are to be found Senator Robert M. LaFollette, of Wisconsin. Many of the LaFollettes have been prominent in the history of this state and nation and the Lafollettes of Putnam county have long been one of the prominent families of the county.

(Source: "History of Hendricks County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions" by J M Gregg; Henry G Todd; Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)

born in Hendricks county, Ind., December 4, 1880. Son of John T. and Mary Weddle Gill. Moved to Burt county (Nebraska) with his parents October 2, 1885 and has resided here since.   Married Dora Heath of Clarence, Ia., March 8, 1904. They have three sons, Clarence H., Glenn F. and James J., and two daughters, Virginia Bryl and Annabelle. Began farm operations for himself at the age of 20 years.   He now owns 400 acres of land northwest of Tekamah. He is the largest sheep feeder in Burt county. Also a  breeder of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs.   He is a progressive and wide-awake farmer who regards farming as a highly specialized business and seeks to keep abreast with the times in up-to-date methods.
[Source: A history of Burt County, Nebraska : from 1803 to 1929; Wahoo, Neb.: Ludi Print. Co., 1929]

born in Floyd county, Virginia, April 16, 1865, Son of James and Jane Elizabeth Williams Gill. Lived in Virginia until 13 years of age, then moved to Hendricks county, Indiana, and resided there until October 2, 1885, at which time he removed to Burt county (Nebraska) and has resided here since then. He has lived in the neighborhood where he now resides for 44 years. Owns a farm of 355 acres in Silvercreek Township. Married Mary I. Weddle of Floyd county, Virginia, January 29, 1880, who died September 26, 1927. They had four sons, James S., Charles E., John H. and Earl I., and one daughter, Laura Edna. He is one of the fine, sturdy pioneers who have built up Burt county.
[Source: A history of Burt County, Nebraska : from 1803 to 1929; Wahoo, Neb.: Ludi Print. Co., 1929]

Reed W. Dodd one of the oldest settlers of Taylor Township, Appanoose County, was born near Jacksonville, in what was then Montgomery County, now Floyd County, Virginia, the date of his birth being April 6, 1807. His parents, John P. and Sarah (Dickerson) Dodd, were born, reared and married in the State of Virginia, the father being a native of Franklin County. Their family consisted of four sons and three daughters, our subject being the eldest child, and of this family Reed W. and three daughters are now living. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Elijah Dickerson, was born in Halifax County, Virginia, and was of English descent. Reed W. Dodd passed his youth on a farm, for a short time attending a private school, living with his parents till reaching maturity. At the age of twenty-two years he married Irene Montgomery, of Grayson County, Virginia, the fourth daughter of William and Martha (Hiatt) Montgomery.
Of the ten children born to this union eight are living — Eli; Sarah, wife of William Thrift; Lydia J.; Russel, of Lucas County; Clementina, wife of Seaton Taylor; Martha E. married E. Burnett, of Clarke County; Leah Moore, of Creston, Iowa, and Frank M. Mr. Dodd has thirty-eight grandchildren, and twenty-four great-grandchildren. In the spring of 1831 Mr. Dodd removed with his family to Hendricks County, Indiana, settling among the timber, where he cleared a farm on which he lived till the fall of 1850. He then came with his family to Appanoose County, Iowa, locating on his present farm, entering 200 acres of unbroken prairie land from the Government. Here he built a small log cabin, and commenced the improvement of his farm the following season. He has devoted considerable attention to the raising of stock, principally cattle and horses, for many years, and still makes a specialty of horses. His farm now contains 204 acres of choice land under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Dodd have lived together for fifty-six years, and bid fair to live for years, both being hale and hearty.
They have been members of the regular Baptist church for many years. Politically Mr. Dodd was formerly an old line Whig, casting his first vote for General Jackson, but has voted the Republican ticket since the organization of that party.
[Source: "Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose Counties, Iowa..." by H Tannehill; Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co., 1886]