Fine Old Soldier Dead
Member of Lincoln’s Bodyguard Dies at Kanauga
Submitted by Eve Hughes
The Gallipolis Tribune, Friday, October 8, 1915
P.F. Gillette of Kanauga, in his 80th year, died of pneumonia Friday. He was an ex-recorder of Lawrence county, Ohio, and was one of Abraham Lincoln’s bodyguards during the war, and assisted in the capture of his assassin. He served during the war in the 26th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
Mr. Gillette died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L. J. Guthrie, and will be buried Sunday at Gravel Hill after services at the residence at 2 p.m. by the Rev. Mr. Lightner. He leaves also a son Charles at Newark, and a brother and sister. Wetherholt has charge of this fine old gentleman’s remains.
(same paper)
Memoir, Paschal F. Gillette The subject of this memoir, Paschal F. Gillette, son of Lawrence and Aurilia McClure Gillette, was born Dec. 22, 1835, in Rome, Lawrence Co., Ohio, and entered into rest at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Leverett J. Guthrie, Kanauga Sta., Gallia Co., O., Oct. 1, 1915. He was united in marriage to Maria Radford McGonagle, on Dec. 22, 1862. Of this union two children were born, Chas. A. of Newark, O. and Georgia Anna, both living.
The mother passed on to the better land on March 4, 1907. After the death of his beloved companion, he made his home with his daughter, moving from Ironton, Ohio, to Kanauga Sta. in 1910. His last illness was of short duration and the loving tender services of his dear ones were truly a labor of love and the end was peace.
He heard the call of his country and was one of the first to respond, enlisting in the 2nd O.V.C., Oct. 1861, and served until Sept. 11th, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Washington, D.C. He saw service in 14 states and territories and was in 33 engagements, and proved himself to be a soldier indeed, always enduring as a good, true, and brave defender of his country.
He was a member of the personal guard of President Lincoln and was in Washington at the time of the assassination. He was commissioned Com. Sergeant in the Q.M. Dept. at Washington. He was wounded at Monticello, Ky., in 1863. After his discharge, he returned to his native heath, Lawrence County, Ohio, where he lived a useful and honorable life respected by all who knew him. His countrymen elected him Recorder of Lawrence County, Ohio, for two terms.
The last five years of his life were spent amid the quietude of rural life where he loved the flowers, fruits, and foliage all around him, and after having served his generation according to the will of God, he, like one of old, was gathered to his fathers. In every relation of life, as son, father, husband, soldier, citizen, and churchman, he was one of God’s noblemen.
The loved ones who remain have been left a rich heritage by the departed father. He was especially devoted to his two grandsons, Raymond and Franklin Guthrie, and may they ever emulate his virtues and be true to God and country as their grandfather. Funeral services were held at the home of Mrs. L. J. Guthrie. Interment at Cheshire, Rev. Lightner officiating.
“Soldier rest! thy warfare o’er,
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking;
Dream of battlefields no more,
Days of danger, nights of waking.
Soldier, rest! thy warfare o’er
Dream of fighting fields no more;
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking
Morn of toil nor night of waking”
Mr. Gillette was a member of the M.E. church from childhood, and also a member of Persian Conclave No. 4, Heptasophs, or Seven Wise Men, of Ironton, Ohio. Five brothers of this order, Messrs. Arthurs, Kurts, Schweickart, Haggerty, and Huddle, were present and acted as pallbearers at the residence. He leaves one brother, Revillo Gillette of Proctorville, Ohio, and a half-brother and sister–F. Radford of Kansas City and Mrs. John Rucker of Huntington W.Va.
Taken from the Records of Gravel Hill Cemetery, Cheshire, Ohio:
P.F. Gillette b. 1835 d. 1915 and Maria Gillette b. 1835 d. 1907
0 Comments