John C. Gillespie - Pioneer Citizen of Humboldt
John C. Gillespie
(written by John Blankenship)
John C. Gillespie is one of Humboldt’s first citizens. He was born in North Carolina on May 16, 1795, moved to Maury County, Tennessee at an early age. In 1822, he settled in what would become Gibson County, Tennessee. He made his home in the Enterprise community in southern Gibson County. Mr. Gillespie was a founder of the Southern Presbyterian Church in Gibson County and Western Tennessee. The place where the church was organized is located about 3 miles east of town, known as McLeary Campground and is located off the Humboldt-Gibson Wells Road. He was also a strong supporter of the Temperance Movement, the supporters of such were against the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. There are also stories told of Mr. Gillespie stopping passers by from traveling forward on their journey if they were drinking or carrying alcohol through the Enterprise Community. John C. Gillespie was a farmer for a good portion of his life. In about 1850 he set up a small store in the vicinity of what would become Humboldt, probably in the Enterprise area, and this is according to the 1850 census. This store was a General Store of sorts, carrying everything from eggs & sugar to tools & boots. Mr. Gillespie along with his son, James B. Gillespie, applied and received a Merchant Bond on September 16, 1851 for their new business. It would be called “John C. Gillespie & Son”. According to a local history written by G.S. Lannom, John C. Gillespie purchased a “fine double log house” and it was located in beautiful surroundings of fine forest trees at the south end of 17th Avenue. The history also states that he moved into town from the Enterprise community in 1857 to open a General Store. There is some question as to who operated the first store here, Ples Roe also built a log store building near the present site of Peoples Furniture. And according to a history written by Nelson A. Cresap, this was the first store built and it was much earlier than Gillespie’s store. The store Ples Roe built opened in 1852. In 1857 the Mobile & Ohio Railroad had made its way into Gibson County, this small store would begin to become a hub for the workers who were building the railroad. When the railroad reached the area that would become Humboldt, a depot was setup and Mr. Gillespie was named the first depot agent. According to a history written about 1926 by Nelson A. Cresap, the first depot stood about where the Flour Mill is. This location would have been a short distance south of the intersection of Central and McKnight. This depot would be abandoned when the Memphis & Ohio (L&N) Railroad was finished through town in 1859. The new depot was moved to the site of the “Crossing” of the two rails. Mr. Gillespie was a very busy man it seems. He was also appointed as the first Postmaster of the newly formed town. This occurred on October 25, 1858. He served in this position until Jan. 28, 1859 when Soloman L. Jackson would take over as Postmaster. Jackson only served a short time, then again on February 23, 1859, John C. Gillespie would return. This time he served until Dr. William H. Stilwell was appointed Postmaster on June 8, 1865. As we know, Mr. Gillespie was involved in almost all the early affairs of the town, so it comes as little surprise that he served as the town’s mayor from 1873 to 1875. In the Friday edition of the Humboldt Journal, dated April 25, 1873, we find a business directory of the town. Municipal Offers are listed as John C. Gillespie as Mayor and previous mayor, W.A. Allison as City Recorder. J.W. Pickler was listed as the city marshal and J.M. McKnight and deputy sheriff. John C. Gillespie was a founding member of the Presbyterian Church in Humboldt. He was a strong Christian man and highly respected among the brethren, friends, family and the community. He served as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church for many years, even until his death. Mr. Gillespie was married to Jane and they had at least 9 children. His wife, Jane passed away on October 17, 1866, eighteen days after her 60th birthday. Two of their sons continued to own and operate businesses in the city of Humboldt. James B. Gillespie, who was the original partner in his fathers General Store, continued to operate a business here for many years. Mr. Gillespie’s other son, Luther Knox Gillespie, was mayor from 1886 – 1890 and owned a Marble Works in Humboldt. The man who is credited to be one of Humboldt’s Founding Fathers, went to meet his Lord on Tuesday, July 3, 1877. He was laid to rest by his wife in the McLeary Campground Cemetery, just a few miles outside of Humboldt.
(written by John Blankenship)
John C. Gillespie is one of Humboldt’s first citizens. He was born in North Carolina on May 16, 1795, moved to Maury County, Tennessee at an early age. In 1822, he settled in what would become Gibson County, Tennessee. He made his home in the Enterprise community in southern Gibson County. Mr. Gillespie was a founder of the Southern Presbyterian Church in Gibson County and Western Tennessee. The place where the church was organized is located about 3 miles east of town, known as McLeary Campground and is located off the Humboldt-Gibson Wells Road. He was also a strong supporter of the Temperance Movement, the supporters of such were against the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. There are also stories told of Mr. Gillespie stopping passers by from traveling forward on their journey if they were drinking or carrying alcohol through the Enterprise Community. John C. Gillespie was a farmer for a good portion of his life. In about 1850 he set up a small store in the vicinity of what would become Humboldt, probably in the Enterprise area, and this is according to the 1850 census. This store was a General Store of sorts, carrying everything from eggs & sugar to tools & boots. Mr. Gillespie along with his son, James B. Gillespie, applied and received a Merchant Bond on September 16, 1851 for their new business. It would be called “John C. Gillespie & Son”. According to a local history written by G.S. Lannom, John C. Gillespie purchased a “fine double log house” and it was located in beautiful surroundings of fine forest trees at the south end of 17th Avenue. The history also states that he moved into town from the Enterprise community in 1857 to open a General Store. There is some question as to who operated the first store here, Ples Roe also built a log store building near the present site of Peoples Furniture. And according to a history written by Nelson A. Cresap, this was the first store built and it was much earlier than Gillespie’s store. The store Ples Roe built opened in 1852. In 1857 the Mobile & Ohio Railroad had made its way into Gibson County, this small store would begin to become a hub for the workers who were building the railroad. When the railroad reached the area that would become Humboldt, a depot was setup and Mr. Gillespie was named the first depot agent. According to a history written about 1926 by Nelson A. Cresap, the first depot stood about where the Flour Mill is. This location would have been a short distance south of the intersection of Central and McKnight. This depot would be abandoned when the Memphis & Ohio (L&N) Railroad was finished through town in 1859. The new depot was moved to the site of the “Crossing” of the two rails. Mr. Gillespie was a very busy man it seems. He was also appointed as the first Postmaster of the newly formed town. This occurred on October 25, 1858. He served in this position until Jan. 28, 1859 when Soloman L. Jackson would take over as Postmaster. Jackson only served a short time, then again on February 23, 1859, John C. Gillespie would return. This time he served until Dr. William H. Stilwell was appointed Postmaster on June 8, 1865. As we know, Mr. Gillespie was involved in almost all the early affairs of the town, so it comes as little surprise that he served as the town’s mayor from 1873 to 1875. In the Friday edition of the Humboldt Journal, dated April 25, 1873, we find a business directory of the town. Municipal Offers are listed as John C. Gillespie as Mayor and previous mayor, W.A. Allison as City Recorder. J.W. Pickler was listed as the city marshal and J.M. McKnight and deputy sheriff. John C. Gillespie was a founding member of the Presbyterian Church in Humboldt. He was a strong Christian man and highly respected among the brethren, friends, family and the community. He served as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church for many years, even until his death. Mr. Gillespie was married to Jane and they had at least 9 children. His wife, Jane passed away on October 17, 1866, eighteen days after her 60th birthday. Two of their sons continued to own and operate businesses in the city of Humboldt. James B. Gillespie, who was the original partner in his fathers General Store, continued to operate a business here for many years. Mr. Gillespie’s other son, Luther Knox Gillespie, was mayor from 1886 – 1890 and owned a Marble Works in Humboldt. The man who is credited to be one of Humboldt’s Founding Fathers, went to meet his Lord on Tuesday, July 3, 1877. He was laid to rest by his wife in the McLeary Campground Cemetery, just a few miles outside of Humboldt.
