JESSE D. GAULT, one of the well-known citizens and successful farmers of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, came here in 1879 and is located in Section 36, Washington Township. He was born in Worcester County, Maryland, near the Virginia line, July 8, 1828. His father, Obed Gault was born in Maryland son of Archibald Gault, a Scotchman. Archibald Gault was a sea captain. Retiring from the high sea he married and settled in Maryland. Mr. Gault's mother was Nancy (Burroughs) Gault, daughter of Henry Burroughs a descendant of Scotch-Welsh ancestry. She was born and reared in Maryland. Obed and Nancy Gault were the parents of fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters. They removed from Maryland to Ripley County, Indiana where they spent the residue of their lives, the father dying at the age of seventy-five, and the mother at the age of ninety-one years. Mr. Gault was a farmer all his life; cast his vote with the Republican Party and worshiped with the Methodist Church of which he was an honored member.

Jesse D. Gault received his education in the common schools of his native state and remained in Maryland until he was twenty-three years old. At the age of thirty-five he married Isabella Haynes, and by her had two sons. The older, Albert Morton, was born in Ripley County, Indiana, August 28, 1865. He married a lady of Des Moines, Iowa, and is now residing in Sacramento, California, where he has an excellent position as freight agent. He recently built a home in that city, which cost him $3,200. The second son, James E., was killed by accident November 4, 1890 at the age of twenty-two years and five months. He was an expert mechanic and received good wages. He left a wife and one child.

In 1870 Mr. Gault married Rebecca Sulton, who was born in Ripley County, Indiana, daughter of William Sulton. Her death occurred in Mills County, Iowa. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Church.

December 4, 1884, Mr. Gault wedded Mrs. Eliza M. Hanks a native of Union County, Indiana, and a lady of intelligence and refinement, who is his present companion. Her father Andrew Dunbar was born in Mason County, Kentucky, and died in Indiana at the age of seventy-two years; her mother, nee Sarah Stover, was born in Carter County, Tennessee, and is still living at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Gault was first married in Decatur County, Indiana, to Albert G. Hanks, a native of Woodford County, Kentucky. By him she had two children, viz.: Lillye Huffer of Decatur County, Indiana and Mentor O. Hanks of Silver City, Iowa. Mr. Hanks died in 1873 in Decatur County, Indiana.

In 1879 Mr. Gault came to his present location from Mills County, Iowa. Forty-five acres of his farm has been broken, but there was not a building on the place. With the characteristic energy of the western pioneer he went to work to make improvements. He now has a good cottage home, a grove and orchard, stables and other necessary outbuildings and good fences. He is making a specialty of stock raising, having seven horses and yearlings of a good breed, some fine cows and swine. Politically Mr. Gault is a Republican. Mrs. Gault has been a member of the Christian Church from which she now holds a good letter.

Contributed by: Darlene Vergamini