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 ETER GOBERT, one of the extensive landowners of East Oakland Township, is finely located on sections 19 and 31, where he has a valuable farm of 240 acres, a handsome and commodious dwelling, and all the appurtenances of a first-class country estate. He also has a tract of equal size in Douglas County. It is a notable fact, that a large proportion of the early settlers of Central Illinois came from across the sea to seek a home in the New World, at a time when their native land seemed to offer them but little inducement as citizens, and but little reward for their labors as agriculturists, or in the industrial department of business and trade. Of these, our subject is a striking example. His early home was in the department of Murthe and Province of Lorraine, France, where his birth took place at the home of his father, Oct. 17, 1821. He is the only child of John C. and Ann (Gazin) Gobert, who were natives of the same Province as their son, and believed to be of pure German ancestry. John C. Gobert was born June 26, 1799, at the time when France was a Republic, and emigrated to the United States with his family in 1832. His decease occurred at his home in East Oakland Township, Oct. 29, 1864, on Saturday, and he was buried the following day in the cemetery near his home. He was born and reared in the Catholic Church, but for the last thirty years of his life seldom attended religious services. His early life was spent in the vineyards of his native France, but after coming to this country, he turned his attention to farming, and accumulated a fair competency. As a man, he was generous and free-hearted, and made many friends. The marriage of the parents took place Oct. 10, 1820, at 10 o’clock A. M., being thus recorded on the parish register of the village of Dombasle. Twelve years later he and his wife set sail for America and landed in New York City, whence they at once proceeded directly to Buffalo, which remained their home for five years following. The elder Gobert, in the meantime, maintained his family working by the day, and by this means laid the foundation for his future home. On the 4th of May, 1837, he started for the West, reaching Chicago on the 10th of June, remaining until November. Thence he came to this county, and entering forty acres of land in East Oakland Township, erected a log cabin for the shelter of his family, which they occupied for five years, while the father proceeded with the cultivation and improvement of his land. At the expiration of this time he put up a hewed-log house which in those days was considered very fine indeed. There, with their only child, our subject, they continued to live until the death of the mother, in February, 1861. She was a lady of many estimable qualities, and the junior of her husband by about three years. The subject of our sketch remained a member of the parental household for about a year after reaching his majority, and began the establishment of a home of his own by his marriage with Miss Melinda R. Ashmore, which took place at the home of the bride’s parents in this township on the 8th of June, 1843. This lady was a native of Kentucky, born March 22, 1824, and after becoming the mother of nine children, five of whom are now living, she departed this life at the home of her husband in East Oakland Township, Feb. 21, 1861. Their family included Samuel, Charles, Louis. Lafayette and Virginia, living, and Elizabeth A., Mary J., Albert and John C., deceased. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Oct. 17, 1861, was formerly Miss Matilda A. Roberts, a native of Ohio, born June 26, 1836. The children of this union are Alice, born Aug. 1, 1862; Thomas, June 11, 1864; Napoleon, born Jan. 18, 1866, died Aug. 25, 1885; Frank, born Sept. 23, 1870; Willis P., born March 18, 1877, died Aug. 19, 1878. The parents of our subject reared their son in the Catholic faith. He has, however, not connected himself with any Church organization, being a free-thinker and esteeming the Golden Rule the sum and substance of true religion. He has been prominent in the affairs of the township and there are few enterprises set on foot for the good of the community in which his townsmen have not solicited the aid of his discreet and temperate judgment. In 1861 he served as Township Collector, and was Commissioner of Highways six years, also School Director for a number of terms. Politically, he casts his vote with the Democratic party, and is greatly pleased with the present administration. |
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