Jessie R. Gulick

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: EVERITT, GULICK, HILLEARY, PIPER

 

JESSE R. GULICK, a resident of Newcomb Township, and the son of Joseph and Eliza (HILLEARY) GULICK, is a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, and was born Dec. 8, 1840. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Ohio. They settled in Pickaway County, the latter State, soon after marriage, whence they removed to Champaign county, Ill., in 1858. The elder Gulick was a farmer by occupation. After coming into this county they first located in Condit Township, whence in 1860 they removed to Piatt County, this State, of which they remained residents for seven years following. In the fall of 1867 they removed to Jasper County, Mo., where they still reside.

The parental household included twelve children, six sons and six daughters, of whom Jesse R. of our sketch was the second of the family. He came to Champaign County with his parents and remained with them until twenty-one years old. He had for three years, however, been engaged in teaching during the winter season. In the fall of 1862 he entered Asbury University, at Greencastle, Ind., where he remained for three years, in the meantime furnishing by his own labors the money necessary for his expenses.. This course, however, had a serious effect upon his health and he was obliged to abandon his studies before graduating.

Returning to Piatt County, our subject worked on the farm in the summer and taught school in the winter. His tastes, however, inclined to the legal profession, and in the summer of 1866 he entered the law office of Coler & Smith, under whose instruction he pursued his studies for one year. He was admitted to the bar in 1867, and at once opened an office in the city of Champaign, where he followed his profession for two years, and thence removed to Vandalia, Ill. He built up a good practice in the latter place, but in 1872, on account of failing health, was obliged to abandon it. He was School Commissioner pro tem for about three months, and was also tendered the office of Prosecuting Attorney, which he declined. He once more resumed briefly his farm life, returning to his profession when able, in the meantime varying its duties by dealing in live stock until the spring of 1875. He then returned to Champaign, and followed his profession until 1878, when he virtually abandoned the practice of law and took possession of his present farm in Newcomb Township, which he has since occupied. This comprises 630 acres, most of which is tillable, and upon which he has erected a fine modern dwelling, with all the other accessories of a first-class farm estate. He has been remarkably successful in his farming and business operations, and ranks among the representative citizens of the township, who began life in a modest way, and have by their own efforts attained to a good position, both socially and financially.

Mr. Gulick was married in the city of Champaign, Dec. 17, 1867, to Miss Louisa L. EVERITT, a native of Newcomb Township, born Dec. 4, 1848. She is the daughter of Joseph T. and Jemima (PIPER) EVERITT, who were natives of Lewis County, Ky., and a sketch of whom appears in the biography of David L. Yancy, elsewhere in this volume. Our subject and his wife became the parents of seven children—Edward E., Joseph P., Roscoe E., Clyde D., Maggie G., an infant deceased, and Wilber L. While living in Mahomet Mr. Gulick served as Police Magistrate, and he has been School Director in Newcomb Township. Socially he belongs to the I. O. O. F. Mr. and Mrs. G. are both members of the Baptist Church.

While Mr. Gulick has always been a stanch Democrat, and has contributed in a large measure to the success of the party in the county, yet he has never sought office for himself but has preferred to assist his friendfs in their ambition for party or political honors, and he numbers among his friends many of the prominent men of both the dominant parties in the county, as well as in his old home at Vandalia and other counties in this section of the State. As a lawyer during his practice he brought to bear on the duties of his profession a mind well trained in that most difficult and exacting of all professions. He was a pleasing and graceful speaker, and a strong and vigorous thinker, and his pleadings and legal papers were prepared with that degree of accuracy and legal acumen which characterizes the well-informed lawyer.

Mr. Gulick is a gentleman of large stature, good appearance and pleasing address, and it is with pleasure that we present to our numerous readers his portrait, together with a view of his handsome and elegant country home.