GATTON, Zachariah W. - While nearly twenty years have passed since the death of Zachariah W. Gatton, there are many who still remember this old-time Illinois River pilot, agriculturist and banker, who contributed greatly to the advancement and development of Cass County during his long and useful career. He was born in Allen County, Ky., November 13, 1812, but was only fourteen years of age when brought to Cass County, and here the rest of his life was passed in participation in the events which marked the development of one of Illinois' most prosperous and flourishing counties.

Thomas Gatton, the father of Zachariah W. Gatton, was born in the state of Maryland, in 1774, and was five years of age when taken by his parents to Kentucky. There he engaged in merchandising when he had attained mature years, but in 1826 disposed of his Kentucky interests and came to Illinois, settling in the north part of Morgan County, which afterward became Cass County. he opened the first store in that locality, it being situated east of the present site of Little Indian station, and on September 18, of the same year he entered the west � , northwest 1/4, section 35, township 17, range 10, and subsequently eight acres in section 33, township 18, north, range 10, on which the old I. M. Stribling homestead now stands.

Zachariah W. Gatton received his early education in the subscription schools, this being supplemented by several years of attendance at the public schools, and his boyhood was passed on the home farm and in his father's store. When a grown youth he qualified as a pilot on the Illinois River and during the several years in which he followed that vocation, made his home in Beardstown. however he soon returned to the pursuits of agriculture, and being very industrious and persevering succeeded in the accumulation of a large and valuable property adjoining the city of Virginia on the east. In his later years he branched out into other fields of activity, becoming particulary well known as a banker. he was one of the founders of the Farmers national Bank of Virginia, the first National bank in Cass County, of which he was for a number of years president. A man of the strictest integrity in all the affairs of life, he bore an honorable reputation among his associates and in his death, which occurred July 29, 1896, his community lost one of its best and most helpful citizens. Mr. Gatton was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. he was politically an old line Whig until the organization of the Republican party and then joined that organization and remained its staunch supporter until his death.

On March 25, 1847, in Cass County, Ill., by Rev. George Rutledge, of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Gatton was married to Miss Sarah C. Miller, who was born at Madison, Ohio, May 18, 1822, a daughter of Arthur St. Clair Miller, who was born at Middletown, Conn., in 1790, and moved to Kentucky in 1827. Mrs. Gatton is still living at her home in Virginia , having reached the somewhat unusual age of ninety-three years. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gatton, all at Virginia: twins, who died in infancy; Charles B., born April 14, 1850; and Emma, Kate, and William R.