Untitled Document

James Gaster

James Gaster, Postmaster at Galva, this county, was born Dec. 29, 1834, in Fulton Co., Pa. , and is the son of Jacob and Nancy Gaster, born in the same county and State, the county then being called Bedford . The grandfather of Mr. Gaster of this sketch was a native of Germany , a son of Jacob Gaster and a farmer by occupation. He lived and died on the old homestead in Pennsylvania , his birth having occurred in 1800. He was married to Nancy Miller, daughter of John Miler. She died in the fall of 1861, after having borne her husband 11 children, namely, John, Sarah A., Philip M., Jacob, James, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Peter, Daniel, William and a child who died in infancy.

James Gaster was educated in the district schools of his native county, and followed the vocation of farming on the parental homestead until he attained the age of 19 years. He was then apprenticed to learn the house-carpenter’s trade, which he followed until he had attained his 22d year. On arriving at that age, he came to Galva, this county, where he was engaged in milling for many years in the Galva Mills.

Mr. Gaster enlisted in the war for the Union , Aug. 12, 1862 , and served until June 20, 1865 , when he received his discharge. He enlisted in Co., G, 112 th Ill. Vol. Inf., Capt. James McCarthy, and was with Major-General A. E. Burnside in the campaigns of Kentucky and Tennessee , in 1862-3, Major-General Sherman in the Georgia campaign, in 1864, Major-General G. H. Thomas, in the Tennessee campaign, in 1864, Major-General Schofield in the campaign of North Carolina, in 1865, and was with the company when the last shot was fired at Goldsboro, N. C., April 5, 1865. He has participated in 22 general engagements and 75 skirmishes, principal among which were Monticello , Ky. , Campbell’s Station, Knoxville, Bean Station, Dandridge, Kelly’s Ford, Muddy Creek, Tenn., Resaca, New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Utaw Creek, Atlanta, Rough and Ready, and Jonesboro, G., Columbia, Frankville, Nashville, Tenn., Fort Anderson, Town Creek, Wilmington and Goldsboro, N.C. He was a brave soldier, and was never known to shirk when duty called him.

After the war was over Mr. Gaster returned to Galva, and once more entered upon the peaceful pursuits of life. He again engaged in milling, which he followed for some time, and in the winter of 1872 went into the grocery business, which he followed for about a year. In 1883, Feb. 27, he was appointed Postmaster at Galva by President Chester A. Arthur, which position he has held until the present time.

Mr. Gaster formed a matrimonial alliance Aug. 10, 1865 , in Tiskilwa, Bureau Co., Ill. , with Miss Amy A. Greeley, daughter of Moses P. Greeley, an old settler of Peoria County and also of Bureau County . Her father came to Bureau County in 1853, and died at Tiskilwa, Dec. 27, 1862 .

The progenitors of the Greeley family were three brothers, who came from England . Horace Greeley claimed to be a descendant from one of the brothers, and the family to which the parents of Mrs. Gaster belonged descended from another of the three brothers. Mrs. Gaster was born May 25, 1841 , in Buda, Bureau County , this State. Of her union with Mr. Gaster four children have been born, --Chloe M., Cora J., William and Nellie O.

Mr. and Mrs. Gaster are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Republican, and socially a member of the G. A. R., of which organization he is Senior Vice Commander.

1885 Portrait & Biographical Album of Henry County, Illinois page 526

Transcribed by Jan Roggy

Illinois Ancestors