Forrest D. Gore, one of the most prominent and influential
farmers of Macoupin County, is living on the old Gore homestead in
Carlinville township. He was born October 1, 1854, in Chesterfield township,
Macoupin County, and is a son of David and Cinderella (Keller) Gore.
Michael Gore, grandfather of our subject, was born in South Carolina,
but early in life moved to Kentucky. He was a farmer, race horse breeder and
cattle dealer. He removed to Madison County, Illinois, in 1830, and entered
land which he improved and farmed until his death in 1843. He married
Elizabeth Mitchell, a native of Kentucky, and five children were born to
bless their union, namely: Zerilla; Eliza; David; Michael and James. In
religious belief, the grandfather was a Methodist, and his wife a Baptist.
She died in 1851.
David Gore was born in Trigg County, Kentucky,
April 5, 1827, and moved to Madison County, Illinois, in 1833, his father
not bringing the family to the new home until that year. During his youth,
he attended the old log school house in his district, and labored on the
home acres, his parents dying before he became of age. He enlisted for
service in the United States Army during the war with Mexico, and served one
year in the quartermaster's department, until the war closed. He then
returned to Madison County, and later located at Plainview, Macoupin County,
where he at different times purchased large tracts of land, improving, in
all, four farms. In 1850, he laid out the town of Plainview, and served as
postmaster of that village during the administration of President Buchanan.
He left Plainview in the spring of 1861 and located three miles north of
Carlinville, in Carlinville township, buying three-quarters of a section of
improved farm land, in addition to an 80-acre timber tract. He was at one
time owner of 800 acres of land and was one of the most extensive farmers of
the county. He remained upon the home property until the fall of 1889, when
he retired from agricultural pursuits and moved to Carlinville where he has
since resided. He is a strong Democrat in politics, and has been an
important figure in local and State politics. He was a member of the State
Senate of Illinois for two terms, and was State Auditor from 1892 to 1896.
He was a member of the State Board of Agriculture for 20 years, and was
president of that body at the time when Carlinville was chosen as the
location for holding the State Fair. It was largely due to his efforts that
Carlinville secured this attraction, in the face of petitions from many
larger cities in the State, including Chicago, Peoria and Bloomington.
Although well along in years, Mr. Gore is a very active man and is a credit
to the community in which he has labored w long and with beneficial results.
In 1853, Mr. Gore was joined in marriage with Cinderella Keller, a native of
Kentucky, and they became the parents of seven children, as follows: Forrest
D.; Truman K.; Victor M.; Adelia; Thaddeus V., deceased; Edward E.; and
Cinderella, deceased.
Forrest D. Gore was educated in the common
schools of Macoupin County, and in Blackburn University at Carlinville. He
then engaged in agricultural pursuits which he has followed throughout his
entire career. He purchased a farm of 120 acres in Nilwood township, which
he owned and conducted for 12 years, selling it in 1897. In that year he
took possession of the old homestead, which consists of 320 acres located in
section 9, Carlinville township. He has met with a high degree of success in
general farming and stock raising, in 1902 his farm producing 3,500 bushels
of wheat, 4,000 bushels of corn, 1,000 bushels of oats, and 150 tons of hay.
At the present time he has 60 head of cattle, and also a tract of five acres
devoted to the raising of fruits of all kinds.
In 1880, Mr. Gore was
married to Carrie I. Bird, a daughter of Joseph Bird, one of the old
settlers of Macoupin County. Six children have blessed this union, namely:
Forrest B.; Victor M.; Joseph H.; Gladys I.; Hazel L.; and Hugh Lee. Our
subject is a Democrat in political affiliation, and has filled a number of
local offices, among them that of school director. He and his family are
active church members, and his eldest son is preparing to enter the
ministry, attending Shurtliff College at the present time.
Extracted 2018 May 05 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 79-81.
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