John B. Gay Sr. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}

   FamilySearch ID: 93CR-68D.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1850 in District 130, White, IN. ⁷ The 1850 census recorded in District 130 in White County: John Gay, farmer, 37, living with wife Elizabeth, 28; William H., 7; Ann S., 5; Elmina, 3; and Eliza Jane, 3 months. John was born in Ohio, the others in Indiana. His real estate was worth $3500.
His neighbor is James Gay, farmer, 41, living with his mother, Mary Ann, 67, and Joseph Gay, farmer, 32. The men were born in Ohio and their mother in Pennsylvania. James' real estate was worth $4030 and Joseph's $3000.

2. Census in 1860 in Prairie Township, White, IN. ⁸ The 1860 census recorded John Gay, farmer, 47, living with wife Elizabeth, 38; William, farmer, 17; Ann S., 15; Elmina, 11; Eliza J., 10; Alvin, 9; Sarah A., 7; Charles, 5; Kissiah, 3; and Milton, 6 months. All were born in Indiana except father John in Ohio. John had no real estate value and William $3000.
Next door is James Gay, 53, farmer, born in Ohio, with wife Kessiah, 29, born in Virginia and sons John, 7, and George, 3.

3. Census in 1870 in Prairie Township, White, IN. ⁹ The 1870 census recorded John Gay, farmer, 57, living with wife Elizabeth, 49; William, farmer, 27; Ansolena, 23; Elmina, 21; Alvin, 19; Charles, 14; Sarah, 16; Milton, 12; Kissiah, 9; and John, 7. The post office was Brookston. John's real estate was valued at $12000 and personal estate $1635. William had real estate worth $3000 and personal estate $420. Also on the census page is John's brother Joseph, 53, with his family, and on next page James Gay, 62, with his family.

4. Census in 1880 in Prairie Township, White, IN. ¹⁰ The 1880 census recorded John Gay, farmer, 67, living with wife Elizabeth, 57; Annsolena, 32; Charles A., farm worker, 24; Sarah, 22; Kissia, 21, Milton, farm worker, 20, and John B., farm worker, 18. John was born in Ohio, his father in Maryland and mother in Pennsylvania. Elizabeth was born in Indiana, her parents in North Carolina. Their children were all born in Indiana.

5. Book: Biographical History of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski Counties, Indiana, 1899. ³
William H. Gay, the son of an honored pioneer, and himself a representative farmer of Prairie township, White county, was born in this county, April 11, 1843, and has always made his home here. In every way he has endeavored to perform his full duty to his family, his neighbors and to the state and country under whose protection it has been his happy lot to dwell, and without exception his acquaintances speak of him in the highest terms.

John Gay, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of England, who came to this country at an early day. His son William, grandfather of our subject, married Mary A. Hays, of Ohio, and their children were James, William, John, Joseph, Mrs. Nancy Page, Mrs. Elizabeth Fewell, Mrs. Mary Shigley and Mrs. Isabel Yeager. Elizabeth is the only survivor, and she has now reached her eightieth year. The father entered land and improved a farm, later assisting his sons to make a start in independent careers.

John, father of William H. Gay, was born in Ohio, and removed to this state with his parents. Upon arriving at man's estate, he entered some government land in this county, and on that property his widow is still making her home. He was a prosperous agriculturalist and left a goodly fortune at the time of his death, in May, 1888. In politics he was a Republican, and at one time he served as township trustee. For his wife he chose Elizabeth, daughter of John Beeker, then of Indiana, but formerly of North Carolina. He first lived in Washington county, and later in Tippecanoe county, this state, and was one of the true, sturdy pioneers to whose labors the state is greatly indebted. Politically, he was a Democrat, and religiously, he was connected with the United Brethren church. His children were Daniel, Leonard, Samuel, William, Barbara, Susanna, Elizabeth, Mary, Anna and Christina.

To the union of John and Elizabeth Gay the following named children were born: William H.; Ansolena; Elmina, widow of John A. Hoilman; Alvin, of Porter county; Mrs. Eliza Klepinger; Charles A., Sarah A., Milton, Keziah, and John B., deceased. The eldest daughter and the four younger children are all living at the old homestead with their mother, who is now seventy-six years of age.

John married Elizabeth Beeker, daughter of John Beeker and Christina Young, on 16 Jan 1842 in Tippecanoe Township, Tippecanoe, IN.¹ (Elizabeth Beeker was born on 14 Apr 1822 in , Washington, IN,^{11 12} died on 18 Apr 1915 in Brookston, White, IN ^{11 12} and was buried on 20 Apr 1915 in Battle Ground: Pretty Prairie Cemetery, Tippecanoe, IN ^{11 12}.)