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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
GEORGE GILCHRIST, a farmer and stock- raiser, residing on section 17, Spring Creek Township, was born in Fayette County, Pa., April 16, 1826, and is a son of John and Eleanor (Swearingen) Gilehrist, both natives of Pennsylvania, and both died there. The subject of this sketch, George Gilchrist, came to this county in the spring of 1858, and in the spring of the following year, bought and removed to the land he now owns, where he has continuously resided except five years during the Rebellion. His farm consists of seventy acres of excellent land, all in a high state of cultivation, with a fine dwelling, good barn and out-buildings,and the best character of improvements otherwise. In August, 1862, Mr. Gilchrist enlisted in Co. K, 33d Iowa Vol. Inf., under Capt. McIntosh. At the organization of this company Mr. Gilchrist was elected First Lieutenant, and when the regiment went into quarters at Camp Tuttle, at Oskaloosa, Lieut. Gilchrist was taken ill with fever and rendered unfit for duty, and the regiment moved to the front without him. At the end of a month, however, he recovered sufficiently to be able to join his command at Memphis, Tenn., and remained with the regiment thereafter until the following March, when he was discharged on account of disability. He went then to Pennsylvania, and remained until the spring of 1868, his wife having gone there while he was in the army, and they returned to their home in Iowa, where they resided until the death of Mrs. Gilchrist, March 12, 1880. Oct. 4,1881, he was married to Miss Lizzie Vance, a daughter of Samuel Vance, of Harrison Township, this county. By this union there have been three children: Nannie B., born Jan. 22, 1883; George E. and Elizabeth F., June 5, 1885. Mr. Gilchrist is a member of the United Presbyterian, and his wife of the Christian Church. Mr. (Gilchrist is a very high-minded, upright and honorable gentleman, the very soul of honor in his transactions among men, whose word is as good as a bond, and who occupies the highest possible position in the regards of his fellow-men.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy