Gillespie, Matthew

Male 1807 - 1861  (54 years)


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  • Name Gillespie, Matthew 
    Born 1807  City of New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • He was the eldest of two sons born to David and Sarah Gillespie. The family emigrated from County Monaghan, Ireland shortly before Matthew's birth.
    Gender Male 
    Occupation lawyer and politician  [2

    •      The following biographical sketch appeared in the History of Madison County, Illinois; Illustrated; With Biographical Sketches Of Many Prominent Men And Pioneers, published in Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1882.

           Judge Matthew Gillespie, was born in the city of New York on the 26th of November, 1807, and was the eldest son of David and Sarah Gillespie, there being but two children, Matthew and Joseph. The latter is yet a resident of Edwardsville, and one among its oldest and most honored citizens. They were of Scotch-Irish parentage, the family having emigrated from Monaghan, Ireland, to New York but a short time prior to Matthew's birth. In 1819, the family moved to Illinois when Matthew was but twelve years of age, and with his parents settled in Madison county, where he continued to reside to the time of his decease; and where the privations and struggles incident to pioneer life tended to develop those strong and leading traits of character, which marked his after life. At that early day, the facilities for obtaining an education were very limited; he therefore, received no more than a common school education, and even this was mainly due to the instructions of his mother. It was to her, more than all others, that he was indebted for that early training which made him so useful a man in after life. With his love for books, he became familiar with modern history, and acquired much more than an ordinary knowledge of law and theology.
           In February, 1827, when he was twenty years of age, he, with his brother Joseph, proceeded to the Galena lead mines; from which he returned in the fall of the same year, when he married Miss Nancy Gordon, a sister of the Rev. Joseph Gordon, late of Vandalia. Of this union there was but one child who lived to maturity - the late Judge David Gillespie of Edwardsville. His wife dying, he again married March 10th, 1839, Mrs. Martha Hynes, nee McGrew, a lady of Scotch parentage. Only three children of this marriage grew to man and womanhood; Isabella J, wife of Moses B. Sherman; Nellie, wife of W. R. Brink, both residents of Edwardsville, and Joseph J. living in San Francisco.
           Judge Gillespie was a man of sanguine temperament and positive qualities. He readily arrived at decided opinions on all subjects presented to his consideration, and ever maintained what he deemed to be right with much ability and zeal. His friendships were strong and enduring, and he was ever found a warm champion for those he loved. He was a good judge of human nature, and was rarely, if ever mistaken in the character of men. His hospitality and charities were fully commensurate with his means. His social qualities were of the best order; genial, lively, quick at repartee; he threw around him a degree of animation that made it impossible to feel dejected in his company.
           Mr. Gillespie was an able and efficient public officer; his qualifications were of the first order, and his faithfulness worthy the example of all who are entrusted with public cares. In 1832, he was the elected Coroner of this county; from 1836 to 1838 he was engaged in the Land Office; in 1839, was elected Judge of Probate, which office he honorably filled for four years. Was enrolling and engrossing clerk in the State Senate in 1839 and '40; was elected Treasurer and Assessor in 1844, for four years; was appointed by Gen. Taylor, Register of the Land Office in 1849 for four years; was subsequently elected Police Magistrate of Edwardsville, which office he continued to fill to the time of decease. In all his official positions he performed his duties with honor to himself and satisfaction to his constituency. He was strongly imbued with Whig proclivities, and was a great admirer of Henry Clay. After that party became disorganized he affiliated with the Republican party. He was an old and intimate acquaintance of President Lincoln, and gave him the most ardent support for the office of the Chief Magistracy of the United States. The house of Mr. Gillespie, when Mr. Lincoln was stopping at Edwardsville, was one of the latter's favorite places of "breaking bread," and where the family and friends enjoyed the rare treat of listening to the fun-loving anecdotes so peculiar to Mr. Lincoln.
           As a friend to youth, Mr. Gillespie had no superior. He was a zealous advocate of temperance, and by his precepts and example, he labored hard to further the welfare and success of the young men of his time. But of all his excellent memories, his moral, religious, and domestic character is the most pleasant. Early in life he made a profession of religion, and attached himself to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which body he continued a consistent and leading member during its organization in this vicinity. In 1836, he united with the Methodist Church, of which he continued a communicant to the time of his decease. His earnest liberality, zeal, and sound judgment made him a valuable member of the church and of society, and at the time of his death he was one of the trustees of McKendree College. As a neighbor, he was obliging and generous to the last degree, and as a husband and father, he was all that affection could desire.
           He passed to the unknown beyond, on the evening of the 24th of March, 1861. His last words were, "I am gone," and he instantly breathed his last. He was nearly 54 years of age, and had spent a large portion of his life in active, public service, and it can be truthfully said, that the world is better for his living. At this writing, his widow is yet living, and is a resident of Edwardsville. She is now in her sixty-eighth year of age, and is strong physically and mentally for one of her years.*

      *For much of the above we are indebted to an article published in 1861 by Mr. E. M. West, who was a warm friend of Judge Gillespie.
    Moved To 1819  Madison County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Died 24 Mar 1861  Madison County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Person ID I8102  Fiegenbaum
    Last Modified 23 Nov 2017 

    Family 1 Gordon, Nancy,   b. Feb 1809, County Monaghan, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Aug 1837, Madison County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 28 years) 
    Married 13 Dec 1827  Madison County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 6

    •      According to the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763–1900, an online database hosted by the Illinois State Archives, Matthew Gillespie and Nancy Gordon received a marriage license in Madison County, Illinois or were married on or about 13 December 1827.
    Children 
    +1. Gillespie, David,   b. 30 Sep 1828, Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Aug 1881, Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 52 years)
    Last Modified 6 Aug 2018 
    Family ID F2615  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 McGrew, Martha A.,   b. 17 Sep 1815, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Jun 1883, Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years) 
    Married 10 Mar 1839  [7, 8

    •      This was a second marriage for both Matthew Gillespie and Martha A. McGrew, whose first husband had been a Mr. Hynes or Hinds. The marriage license was issued in Fayette County, Illinois. Further details of the marriage are not known at this time.
    Children 
    +1. Gillespie, Isabella J.,   b. 13 Nov 1841, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Jan 1920  (Age 78 years)
     2. Gillespie, Joseph J.,   b. Abt 1843–1844,   d. Yes, date unknown
    +3. Gillespie, Elizabeth Eleanor,   b. Mar 1854,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 6 Aug 2018 
    Family ID F2616  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S203] History of Madison County, Illinois; Illustrated; With Biographical Sketches Of Many Prominent Men And Pioneers (Edwardsville, Illinois: W. R. Brink and Company, 1882), pages 362-363.
      Biographical sketch of Judge Matthew Gillespie. "Judge Matthew Gillespie, was born in the city of New York on the 26th of November, 1807, and was the eldest son of David and Sarah Gillespie, there being but two children, Matthew and Joseph.  ....  They were of Scotch-Irish parentage, the family having emigrated from Monaghan, Ireland, to New York but a short time prior to Matthew's birth."

    2. [S203] History of Madison County, Illinois; Illustrated; With Biographical Sketches Of Many Prominent Men And Pioneers (Edwardsville, Illinois: W. R. Brink and Company, 1882), pages 362-363.
      Biographical sketch of Judge Matthew Gillespie.

    3. [S203] History of Madison County, Illinois; Illustrated; With Biographical Sketches Of Many Prominent Men And Pioneers (Edwardsville, Illinois: W. R. Brink and Company, 1882), pages 362-363.
      Biographical sketch of Judge Matthew Gillespie. "In 1819, the family moved to Illinois when Matthew was but twelve years of age, and with his parents settled in Madison county, where he continued to reside to the time of his decease;...."

    4. [S203] History of Madison County, Illinois; Illustrated; With Biographical Sketches Of Many Prominent Men And Pioneers (Edwardsville, Illinois: W. R. Brink and Company, 1882), pages 362-363.
      Biographical sketch of Judge Matthew Gillespie. "He [Matthew Gillespie] passed to the unknown beyond, on the evening of the 24th of March, 1861." "In 1819, the family moved to Illinois when Matthew was but twelve years of age, and with his parents settled in Madison county, where he continued to reside to the time of his decease;...."

    5. [S203] History of Madison County, Illinois; Illustrated; With Biographical Sketches Of Many Prominent Men And Pioneers (Edwardsville, Illinois: W. R. Brink and Company, 1882), pages 362-363.
      Biographical sketch of Judge Matthew Gillespie. "In February, 1827, when he [Matthew Gillespie] was twenty years of age, he, with his brother Joseph, proceeded to the Galena lead mines; from which he returned in the fall of the same year, when he married Miss Nancy Gordon, a sister of the Rev. Joseph Gordon, late of Vandalia. Of this union there was but one child who lived to maturity - the late Judge David Gillespie of Edwardsville."

    6. [S110] Illinois State Archives, Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763–1900 [online database] (http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases/marriage.html - last confirmed in March 2012), Gillespie-Gordon marriage.
      Accessed in July 2013. Matthew Gillespie and Nancy Gordon were granted a marriage license or were married on 13 December 1827. Madison County, Illinois marriage license 00000621; volume 006, page 0016.

    7. [S203] History of Madison County, Illinois; Illustrated; With Biographical Sketches Of Many Prominent Men And Pioneers (Edwardsville, Illinois: W. R. Brink and Company, 1882), pages 362-363.
      Biographical sketch of Judge Matthew Gillespie. "His wife [Nancy (Gordon) Gillespie] dying, he [Matthew Gillespie] again married March 10th, 1839, Mrs. Martha Hynes, nee McGrew, a lady of Scotch parentage. Only three children of this marriage grew to man and womanhood; Isabella J, wife of Moses B. Sherman; Nellie, wife of W. R. Brink, both residents of Edwardsville, and Joseph J. living in San Francisco."

    8. [S110] Illinois State Archives, Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763–1900 [online database] (http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases/marriage.html - last confirmed in March 2012), Gillespie-Hinds marriage.
      Accessed in July 2013. Mathew [sic] Gillespie and Martha Hinds were granted a marriage license or were married on 10 March 1839. Fayette County, Illinois marriage license [number not provided]; volume 00A, page 0013.