On section 28, Miller township, LaSalle county, Illinois, is found the pleasant home and farm of Gaylord States, one of the up-to-date farmers of the county.
Mr. States is a native of the Buckeye state, having been born in Fairfield county, Ohio, February 26, 1855. His grandfather and father, Abraham and Emanuel States, respectively, were Pennsylvanians, the latter born May 6, 1823. At an early date the States family moved to Ohio, where they lived until 1858, and it was in that state that Emanuel States was first married. His wife, whose maiden name was Elenora Lysinger, was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1828, a daughter of Joseph Lysinger, who was of German descent. This union was blessed in the birth of twelve children, of whom the following are still living: Amanda, wife of C. E. Spencer; George and William, twins, of Greene county, Iowa; Rebecca C. Harris, of Dallas county. Iowa; Gaylord J.; John N., of Grundy county, Illinois; Charles D., of Greene county, Iowa; Frank E., on the homestead; and Cora, wife of James Parr, of Greene county, Iowa. Those deceased are Angeline, Theodore and one who died in infancy. The mother of this family died April 9, 1876. She was for many years, and up to the time of her death, a devoted member of the Baptist church. For his second wife the father married Mrs. Eliza Coats, of Lewis county, New York, who died August 8, 1897.
Mr. States passed away March 9, 1899. Politically he was in early life a Whig, and later identified himself with the Republican party, of which he was a supporter the rest of his life. He was a great admirer of General Fremont, and voted for him for president.
In 1861, when Gaylord J. States, the direct subject of this sketch, was six years old, his parents moved from Ohio to Illinois and settled on a farm in LaSalle county, where they lived one year, then removing to Grundy county, Illinois, remaining there until 1865, when they located on the old home farm, section 33, Miller township; here he was reared and educated, his educational advantages being limited to the public schools. He has always given his attention to agricultural pursuits, and has been fairly prosperous in his operations. His present farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of choice land, well improved, and under a high state of cultivation, he has owned and occupied since 1880.
August 12, 1879, Mr. States married Miss Emma F. Long, daughter of Lewis Long, of Miller township, LaSalle county. She was born and educated in this county. Mr. and Mrs. States are the parents of two daughters, Maude E. and Lena, aged respectively eighteen and fifteen years.
Like his father, Mr. States is a stanch Republican. He has served four, terms on the school board, is interested in all that contributes to the general welfare of his community, and is regarded as one of its substantial citizens. Naturally of a genial, social nature, he is a favorite with his large circle of friends, and his accomplishments as a musician, in playing both the piano and violin, add in no small measure to his popularity. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 261-262.
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