Tall Tales & True Stories
Gumm Family History
Excerpt from "Leaves From the Gum Tree"
The Descendants of Festus Gumm
Excerpt from "Leaves From the Gum Tree"
By Muriel Martens HoffmanNote: Italics = handwritten notes in text
Jesse N. Gum was the third son of Jacob and Rhoda Bell Gum. He was born Feb. 28, 1803 in Green Co., Ky. He accompanied his parents to Sangamon and then to Knox County, Ill. He was married to Margaret Louise McDonald on May 19, 1830 in Peoria Co., Ill., by Humphrey Finch. they were listed on the 1830 Knox County census with her age given as between 15 and 20. Louisa McDonald, daughter of John and Mary LaRue McDonald.
The names of Jesse and his oldest brother, John B., appear as privates in Captain James Ferguson's company on Henderson River at Gum's Fort during the Black Hawk War, a list dated June 18, 1831. Mention of the Gum home being used as a fort was made in a portion of the John B. Gum biography in the 1886 Knox County history.
Jesse N. and Louise Gum had a large family. The Knox County 1850 census lists the family in Twp. 11, R. 1 East, Knox Twp.; Jesse Gum 45; Louise 39 b. Ky.; Festus 19; Diadema 17; John 14; Mary 11; Isaac and Jacob (twins) 10; Zephaniah 6; and Dian 3.
Diadema married Daniel Spaulding on Jan. 2, 1851; Festus married Mary Willetts on Nov. 27, 1851; John b. married Mary Ellen Rowland on Nov. 26, 1855; Mary Gum married George W. Shutt on Nov. 7, 1856, all in Knox County.
They were living in their own homes on the 1860 census. Isaac and Zephaniah were at home with their parents. We did not find the name of young Jacob nor the little girl called Dyanthea on a family list. Perhaps she died young. Isaac Gum married Margaret Sheppard Dec. 19, 1860, in Knox County, Illinois.
The Jesse Gum family moved to Bigelow, Kansas, where Jesse and Louise spent the rest of their lives. Jesse N. Gum received a land grant there, which a great granddaughter, Julia gumm Harland still has in her possession. Jesse died July 9, 1872, at Bigelow. Louise lived for many years after his death. Julia also has a picture of Louise McDonald Gum with her family. We lack the date of Louise's death.
All 5 sons, Festus, John, Isaac, Jacob and Zephaniah Gum moved to Kansas with their parents. They settled in Marshall County. Festus, jake and Ike left Marshall County, but John B. and Zephaniah remained there. Daniel and Diadema Gum Spaulding were on the 1885 Pottawatomie Co., Kansas, State census.
Daniel Spaulding, 56, born Indiana and was a carpenter in Rock Creek Twp., Pottawatomie, Kansas, in 1885. listed in the family were Diadema 52, born Ill.; Luther 18, born Ill. and John 14, born Ill. Nearby was listed Luther Spaulding 27, born Ill., Ida 25, born Iowa and Magie, age 1. In Pottawatomie Twp. was Jesse Spaulding 24, born Kansas, a farmhand; Nelly 22, [Frena's note: Nellie was Penelope Melton Spaulding] born Ill; and Arthur, age 1, living in the household of a widow, Sarah E. Melton age 51, born Ill., who had come to Kansas from Missouri. She had 2 daughters at home; Cora 17, born in Ill., and Emma, age 15, born in Missouri.
"This is a black & white copy of a water color done in 1935 of the old school house that Demme bought in 1885. It was painted by a 'Hattie Buffington,' it was the first elementary school in Westmoreland, Kansas. All I could find out was that was the school that Demme bought and that she and Daniel lived there from 1885 until leaving Kansas between 1900 and 1910. I also found out why I could only find the well and foundation near the spring. It was said that the Old Spaulding pace was torn down in the early 1930's and the stone used for gravel." (Picture and description courtesy of John D. Pruitt)
In 1895, Union Twp., Pottawatomie Co., Kansas, is listed J.M. Spaulding 35, born kansas; Nellie 33; Arthur 10; Birdie 8; Roy 7; Ruth 5; Durward (Frena's note: this should be "Deward") 3; and Cleo 1, all children born in Kansas.
Jesse Spaulding was married twice and had 19 children.
(fn: Information from Julia Gumm Harland, daughter of Fred B. Gumm. Sarah E. Melton was Sarah Evaline Gum, a daughter of Jesse Gum of Petersburg. She was a cousin of Diadema Gum Spaulding.)
(fn: Mrs. William L. Spaulding, Visalia, California, part of the Jesse Spaulding family)
Festus Gumm's biography (see below) stated that when he lived in Illinois he hauled wheat 175 miles to Chicago, and sold it for fifty cents a bushel (Frena's note: $8.61 in today's currency); hauled pork the same distance and sold it for $125 a hundred (Frena's note: $2,151.37 in today's currency). There was no money at that time and they had to take their pay out of the store or wherever they sold their produce. Once in a while they would get money enough to pay their taxes. They raised all their own wool and made all their own clothing. (1883 History of Jasper Co., Mo. pp. 999-1000) Festus was a name used also in a nearby McDonald family in Knox Co., Ill.
Jesse N. Gum, b. Feb. 28, 1805, Green County, Kentucky; d. July 9, 1872, Bigelow Kansas; bur. Antioch Cemetery, Bigelow, Kansas
m. Louisa Margaret McDonald (May 19, 1830, Peoria Co., Ill.)
b. about 1811, area now Hart Co., Ky.; d. after 1880, in Kansas
8 children:
1. Festus Gum, b. Mar. 25, 1851, Knox Co., Ill; living in Polk Co., Mo. in 1900
m. Mary Willetts (Mar. 27, 1851, Knox Co., Ill) b. July 1835; living 1900
1 - Adeline (Annie) Gum, b. abt. 1852, Knox Co., Ill.
2 - William Gum, b. abt. 1854, Knox Co., Ill.
3 - Eliza Gum, b. abt. 1857 Knox Co., Ill.
m. James Edgar d. Nov. 15, 1877
1 - James A. Edgar
4 - Milton Gum, b. abt. 1859
5 - Newton Gum (Newton Gum married Anna Doughty, daughter of Elijah Nelson Doughty -- Elijah's civil war experiences and diary are here .)
6 - Charles Gum
7 - Julia Gum
8 - Estella Gum, b. Aug. 1876, Kansas
9 - Edna Gum b. Sept. 1881 Missouri
This family moved to Marshall Co., Kansas from Knox Co., Illinois. After five years moved to Jasper Co., Missouri. 9 children in the family. Festus had 221 acres, 170 under cultivation. (1883 History of Jasper Co., Mo.) 1900 census: Looney Twp., Polk Co. Mo. Festus Gum 69; Mary E.W. 64; Estella 23 b. Kansas; Edna 18 b. Missouri.
2. Diadema Gum, b. abt. 1833
m. Daniel Spaulding (Jan. 2, 1851, Knox Co., Ill.) Daniel had married
first Maria Coon in 1845 in Knox Co., Ill.
1 - Sarah Spaulding
2 - Jesse (Frena's note: middle name Merritt) Spaulding, b. abt. 1860
Kansas; 1895 in Pottawatomie County, Kansas
m. Penelope (Penny) (Frena's note: "Nellie") Melton b. 1863
1 - Arthur, b. 1884
3 - Alice Spaulding
4 - Pete Spaulding
(these four names were reported by Julia Harland of Kansas)
5 - Luther Spaulding, 27 years, lived at Pottawatomie, Kansas in 1895.
m. Ida ---------
1. John Spaulding b. 1871
(Frena's note: children of the following siblings were too voluminous to include in this written history -- see my family tree files for more entries)
3. John B. Gum b. Aug. 25, 1836, Knox Co., Ill.; d. May 23, 1895 Bigelow, Kansas
m. Mary Ellen Rowland (Nov. 26, 1855, Knox Co., Ill.) b. Feb. 18, 1839;
d. Dec. 19, 1922.
4. Mary Gumm b. Abt. 1839
m. George W. Shutt (Nov. 7, 1856, Knox Co., Ill.)
5. Isaac (Ike) Gumm b. Oct. 27, 1840 (twin of Jake); d. Apr. 30, 1917, bur. Henderson Cem., Ill. m. Margaret Shepherd (Dec. 20, 1860 b. May 3, 1840; d. July 11, 1930
6 - Jacob (Jake) Gum b. Oct. 27, 1840 (twin of Isaac) was in Marshall Co., Ks. in 1880; m. Sarah Wilson (Wilburn) b. abt. 1843 Maryland
7 - Zephaniah Gum, b. 1843 Ill.; d. Sept. 8, 1920, Bigelow, Kansas
m. Millicent Clowe (Sept. 10, 1862, Knox Co., Ill.) b. July 8, 1841
Montreal, Canada, d. Feb. 2, 1914, Bigelow Kansas, buried
Antioch Cemetery.
8 - Dyantha Gum b. abt. 1847 Knox Co., Illinois, 3 on 1850 census, (Dian? Dianna?) No further information about her.
Only known pictures of Festus Gumm with his sister, Diadema Gumm Spalding. Photo courtesy of Laura Spalding
BIOGRAPHY OF FESTUS M. GUMM 1883 Jasper County, MO History - Pages 999-1000 Contributed by a reader of the Jasper County, Missouri Query Board at the United States Gen Web Site.
Festus M. Gumm was born March 25, 1831, in Galesburg, Knox county, Ill., and is the son of Jesse Gumm, a native of Kentucky, who came to Illinois in 1830. He was in the Black Hawk War, and the battle of Tippecanoe. Young Festus's mother was also a native of Kentucky. The subject of this sketch was a pioneer of Illinois, and has seen the time when he hauled wheat 175 miles to Chicago, and sold it for fifty cents a bushel; hauled pork the same distance and sold it for $1.25 a hundred. There was no money at that time and they had to take their pay out of the store or wherever they sold their produce. Once in a while they would get money enough to pay their taxes. They raised all their own wool and made all their own clothing. Mr. Gumm remained at home until twenty-one years of age; was then married to Miss Mary E. Willis, a native of Indiana; then moved to Knox county; from there to Marshall county, Kan., and remained there five years, engaged in farming. He then started to go to Arkansas, but did not like the looks of the country, got discouraged, turned back and came to Jasper county, Mo., and finally settled on his present farm of 221 acres, 170 acres under cultivation; the rest is fenced and is good pasturage. He has eight acres in all kinds of fruit; has fair buildings and is a substantial farmer. He has nine children living, whose names are: Eliza -married to James Edgar, a native of Illinois, and lived in Marshall county, Kan., and had one child, James A.; Mr. Edgar died Nov. 15, 1877 and Mrs. Edgar returned to her parents and has lived with them ever since--William, Milton, Newton, Charles, Annie l., Julia, Estella and Edna. Mr. Gumm is a staunch old Democrat and has been all his life. He is a very sociable gentleman and very hospitable to strangers and has a nice family.
News Flash -- 22 March 2003
The descendants of Festus Gumm have been located! The following information was received this week from Rita Louk who has been researching her grandchildren’s ancestry -- they are descendants of Newton J. GUMM whom we believe to be the son of Festus M. Gumm: First Generation1. Newton J. GUMM was born about 1860/1861 and was christened
in , Knox, Illinois. He died 3 Jan 1916 in Forgan, Beaver, Oklahoma and was
buried 6 Jan 1916 in Forgan, Beaver, Oklahoma.
Newton married Anna Belle
DOUGHTY, daughter of Nelson Elijah DOUGHTY and
Sarah Jane BLACKER, on 22 Feb 1884 in Carthage, Jasper, Missouri. Anna was born
11 Oct 1866 in Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas. She died Apr 1963 in Eureka,
Greenwood, Kansas and was buried Apr 1963 in Forgan, Beaver,
Oklahoma.
They had the following children:
+ 2 M i. Paul A. (Elton Gumm) SAILOR W.W.I. was born 25 Dec 1893 and died 27 Jul 1977.
3 F ii. Anna GUMM.
4 M iii. Clinton GUMM.
5 F iv. Lottie GUMM.
Lottie married (Unknown)
ZUMWALT.
6 F v. Lena (Smith) GUMM.
Lena married (Unknown)
SMITH.
7 M vi. Homer GUMM.
Second Generation
2. Paul A. (Elton Gumm) SAILOR W.W.I. (Newton J.) was born 25 Dec 1893 in Forgan, Beaver, Oklahoma. He died 27 Jul 1977 in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas and was buried Jul 1977 in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas.
Paul married Vernice L. WELCH, daughter of Lon (Leonidas) (Welsh) WELCH and Miriam Helena WATTS, on 24 Jul 1924 in El Dorado, Butler, Kansas. Vernice was born 13 Oct 1906 in , Bolivar, Missouri. She died 11 Dec 1972 in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas and was buried 14 Dec 1972 in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas.
They had the following children:
8 M i. Ray B. SAILOR was born about 1924 in El Dorado, Butler, Kansas. He died before 1987 in Keota, , Iowa.
Ray married Wanda (Sailor) WILLIAMS in Hamilton, Greenwood, Kansas.
9 F ii. Louise SAILOR "Sue" was born 17 Aug 1926 in El Dorado,
Butler, Kansas. She died 11 Jun 1987 in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas and was buried 13
Jun 1987 in Americus, Lyon, Kansas.
Sue married Earl BUFFINGTON, son of
Williard F. BUFFINGTON and Molly M. PURDOM, on 8 Jan 1945 in Emporia, Lyon,
Kansas. Earl was born 22 Nov 1915 in Dodd City, , Missouri. He died 20 May 1985
in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas and was buried May 1985 in Americus, Lyon,
Kansas.
10 F iii. Ruth Joyce SAILOR "Joyce" was born (withheld - living) in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas.
11 F iv. Julia Lois SAILOR "Lois" was born (withheld - living)
in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas.
Sources and Errata:
1. Newton J. GUMM
Information from Linda (last name
withheld)
Emporia Gazette - Obituary of Mrs Gumm. This line probably orginated in Oklahoma
Linda (last name withheld) has a copy of his obituary. It says he died in Forgan Oklahoma and died at his home 3 miles north of Forgan, Jan 3, 1916. Death was due to la grippe. Buried in Forgan Cemetery on Jan 6, 1916. Paper was the Forgan Eagle, dated Jan 10, 1916.
1S. Anna Belle DOUGHTY
Linda says that "Grandma Gumm" lived
in Virgina, Kansas and that on Sunday Linda and her father would go to pick up
Grandma and they would take her to Grandma Sailors' place. Grandma Sailor always
had a big Sunday dinner, and when Grandma Gumm came to the table she would also
bring her cane and her purse with her. She always had her purse and cane with
her.
Have copy of her obituary. She died in the Wheeler Nursing Home in Eureka, and graveside funeral services will be at Forgan, Okla. She lived in Virgil from 1920 until 1961 when she entered the Eureka Nursing Home. She was a member of the Christian Church.
Obituary "Mrs. Newton J. Gumm". Virgil (KS). Mrs. Newwton J. Gumm, a resident of Virgil for more than 30 years, died Wednesday noon in the Wheeler Nursing Home in Eureka. Graveside funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saaturday in the cemetery at Forgan, Okla. The casket will be open in the Sexton Funeral Home in Madison. Anna Belle Dougherty, the daughter of Nelson Elijah and Sarah Jane Blacker Doughty was born Oct 11th, 1866 in Lawrence, and she was married to Newton Gumm Feb 22nd, 1884 in Carthage, Mo. She lived in Virgil from 1920 from 11920 until 1961 when she entered the Eureka nursing home. She was a member of the Christian Church She was preceeded in death by her husband, who died Jan 3rd, 1916, and she is survived by two sons, five daughters, two brothers, two sisters, 22 grandchildren and several greatgrandchildren and great grandchildren."
2. Paul A. (Elton Gumm) SAILOR W.W.I.
He lived in Emporia,
and was involved in real estate. Sold farm and ranch land in Kansas, Missouri,
Oklahoma, and Texas for over 30 years.
Information from Linda (last name withheld). He was in the Army in World War I. He was in France. His real name was not Paul Sailor. It was Paul Gumm.
He is buried in Maplewood Cemetary in Emporia, KS. He assumed the name Paul Sailor. Have a copy of a post card written in France sent to his mother Mrs Anna Gumm in Garden City, Ks. and his name is Elton L (or J) Gumm. He was in Baking Co.
According to his obituary he died at the Newman County Hospital. He was a retired realtor who was in business in Emporia and Greenwood County for 40 years. Mr. Sailor had lived at 639 Chestnut Street and for the past three years at the Madison Manor in Madison. He was a United States Army veteran of World War I and a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Emporia Chamber of Commerce.
All his brothers had middle initials that stood for nothing.
He had a homestead in Colorado, no ideas where at, etc. He drove a freight wagon, slept out on the prairie. and it took two days to get to his destination, etc. He worked for Skelly's Oil and Gas in Virgil, KS. After that he went into real estate.
He loved horses, and did a lot of work with horses. Joyce remembers him working with two of them, one of them was named "Betty"
At the time of his birth Forgan, Oklahomas was part of the Cherokee Strip.
2S. Vernice L. WELCH
He is buried in Maplewood Cemetary, in
Emporia, KS. Information from Linda (last name withheld). Funeral services were
held at Robert Blue Barnett, with Dr. Juddy Henry Jones of the First United
Methodist Church officiating. Have a copy of her obituary.
3. Anna GUMM
Information from the obituary of Paul
Sailor
4. Clinton GUMM
Information from the obituary of Paul
Sailor. He lived in California. He died at the age of 52 probably in the
1940's.
5. Lottie GUMM
Information from the obituary of Paul Sailor.
She lived in Nevada
5S. (Unknown) ZUMWALT
Information from a corretion to the
obituary of Paul Sailor.
6. Lena (Smith) GUMM
Information from the obituary of Paul
Sailor
She might have lived in Texas
6S. (Unknown) SMITH
Information from the obituary of Paul
Sailor
7. Homer GUMM
Information of obituary of Paul Sailor. He
lived in El Paso, Teas
8. Ray B. SAILOR
Information from Linda (last name
withheld). He had four children
He lived in Keota, Iowa according to the obituary of Paul Sailor.
He died when about 54.
8S. Wanda (Sailor) WILLIAMS
She lived around the Hamilton,
Ks. area. Information from Linda (last name withheld)
9. Louise SAILOR
Information from Linda (last name withheld)
She was the first female real estate broker in Emporia, KS.
She always went by Sue.
She is buried in the Americus Cemetery in Americus.
Have a copy of her obituary (in the Emporia Gazette) which says she was the owner of Buffington Real Estate in Americus for 17 years and in Emporia from 1951 until 1970. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Americus. She was a graduate of Virgil High School and Peck's Beauty Academy in Emporia
9S. Earl BUFFINGTON
Infor. from Linda (last name withheld).
Had his own trucking business from about 1043 to around 1950 in Hamilton, Ks.
Earl, Sue, Linda & David moved to Emporia sometime in 1950, then he started
driving for Knaus trucking which was based out of Wichita. He would leave home
on Sunday afaternoon and usually got back hom the following Friday night. Once
"sleeper cabs" became availabe, his route was to Colorado and back. His partner
name was Bud Francher. Around 1960 he bought the Fina Gas Station at 6th &
Sherman and ran it until around late 1963. Then he took his real estate exam and
started selling real estate with Sue Buffington and Paul Sailor. He and mom
bought a house on 6th Ave (where McDonalds is now) and built a brick 2 room
office on the front of the house and sold real estate from there until they
decided to move to Americus with Dave, Steve and Larry.
Obituary from Emporia Gazette dated 20 May 1985. His obituary said that his services were held at the Americus Cemetery
Name ID Generation
ARMITAGE, Lyle Garrett 10S
3
BUFFINGTON, Earl 9S 3
DOUGHTY, Anna Belle 1S 1
GUMM, Anna 3
2
GUMM, Clinton 4 2
GUMM, Homer 7 2
GUMM, Lena (Smith) 6 2
GUMM,
Lottie 5 2
GUMM, Newton J. 1 1
SAILOR, Julia Lois (Snider) 11 3
SAILOR,
Louise 9 3
SAILOR, Paul A. (Elton Gumm) W.W.I. 2 2
SAILOR, Ray B. 8
3
SAILOR, Ruth Joyce (Armitage) 10 3
SMITH, (Unknown) 6S 2
SNYDER,
Charles (Snider) 11S 3
WELCH, Vernice L. 2S 2
WILLIAMS, Wanda (Sailor) 8S
3
ZUMWALT, (Unknown) 5S 2