William Gillaspie
William Gillaspie, farmer, was born June 27,
1842, in Knox County, Tenn., and is the second of eight children born to Marcus
and Eliza Jane (Simpson) Gillaspie. Marcus Gillaspie was born in Knox County, in
1809, and died in 1861. His wife was born May 16, 1818, in Ireland. She came
with her parents to America when about nine years of age and settled first in
Philadelphia. In 1830 they moved to Claiborne County, Tenn., and from there to
Knox County, in 1833, where Miss Simpson married Marcus Gillaspie. She is still
living and makes her home with her son, William. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gillaspie
were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, from the time they were first
married. Our subject received a fair education in the schools of Hamilton
County, and assisted his father on the farm until the breaking out of the war,
when he enlisted in Capt. White's company, Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, and served
three months. His father died, and he was released and returned home. In the
fall of 1862 he volunteered again, this time joining Capt. Roger's company, the
Fourth Georgia Cavalry. He was sergeant of his company until the winter of 1865,
and the company was escort for Gen. Walker during the battles of Chickamauga and
Missionary Ridge. After the war Mr. Gillaspie returned to agricultural pursuits,
which he has since continued. In January, 1887, he was elected road commissioner
of his district. He was married in 1885 to Miss Maggie Castle, a native of
Hamilton County, born in 1861, and the daughter of Samue1 and Mary (Dody)
Castle. Mrs. Gillaspie is a member of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Gillaspie of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He commenced life a poor man and is now in very
comfortable circumstances. He owns 190 acres of excellent land located on the
Bird's Mill road, four and a half miles east of Chattanooga. Mr. Jacob Gillaspie,
grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier in the struggle for
independence. He resided in North Carolina previous to the Revolution, but after
that event moved to Knox County, Tenn., settling first in a fort near where
Campbell's Station now is. He was of Irish descent.
Goodspeed's
"History of East Tennessee" 1887