Untitled Document

AMOS GOULD

Amos Gould, retired merchant and grain dealer, real estate and loan agent at Cambridge , came to Henry County in 1856. He was born June 6, 182 3, in Piedmont, Grafton Co., N. H. His father, Amos Gould, was born April I, 1790, in Warner, N. H. He was a tanner and shoemaker by occupation, and married Nancy H. Bartlett, who was born Aug. 8, 1796 , in Canaan , N. H. They had ten children, of whom eight survive. They were born in the following order: John M., Amos, Lyfe Y., Nathaniel B., Mrs. Nancy J. Dean, Dan W., George D. and Mrs. Susie C. Burrows. The deaths of the parents occurred respectively January, 186 4, in Moline , Ill. , and November, 1884, at Cambridge , Ill. The family removed to Henry County in 1858.

Mr. Gould in early life acquired a thorough knowledge of the vocations of his father, and was instructed in the details of shoemaking by his uncle, A. P. Gould. He followed the latter business 20 successive years. In 1854 he engaged in the prosecution of mercantile transactions and interests, in which he continued to operate two years. March, 1856, he removed to Cambridge , where, associated with his brother, N. B. Gould, he conducted the affairs of the Cambridge House. He discharged the duties of " mine host " until November, 1860, when he was elected Circuit Clerk, in which incum bency he served eight years. He became interested in securing the advantages of a line of railroad through Cambridge , and devoted his entire attention for the three years succeeding his release from official duties to the purpose of obtaining the pas sage of the line of the Rock Island & Peoria Rail road, and had the satisfaction of witnessing the success of his efforts

. In 1871 he became associated with J. B. Hagin in traffic in grain, and subsequently with W. B. Fee. The approximate period of time which he passed in that enterprise was ten years.

Since 1881 he has engaged in the business relations already named.

The political views of Mr. Gould were shaped by the period in which he grew up and the circumstances by which he was surrounded, and he was, on arriving at the privileges of citizenship, an adherent of the Whig party, but with such deciding principles concerning slavery that, on the formation of the Republican party in 1856, he fell into its ranks, and has since been one of its most consistent adherents. In religious views he cherishes opinions of his own, but is tolerant of those of others. He is a member of Lodge No. 49, A. F. & A. M., at Cambridge.

Aug. 31, 1845, he was united in marriage in Thetford ,Vt. , to Harriet N. Burnap. She was born in that place April 10, 1826, and is the daughter of Luther and Susan (Huston) Burnap, both natives of Vermont . The children of Mr. and Mrs. Gould, two in number, are both deceased. The first born died in infancy; Mary L., the younger, was born April 28, 1849 . She married J. E. Ayres, and died July 3, 1874 , having given birth to two children,— Mary L. and Amos E. Ayres.

Illinois Ancestors