Samuel Gann of Winchester Va Family

From Wm R Gann, 7406 Englewood Ln, Raytown, MO 64133-6913 (816) 353-7172.

1880 Fed census, Center, Buchanan Co., MO, 4-74-8-40: Samuel A. 60 b TN, Martha A. 47, Frances A. 19, Julia M. 18, Robert L. 11, Josifren 8, Anthony 6, Florence H. 6/12, all b MO.

From History of Buchanan and Clinton Counties, Mo., 1893, Page 144. Samuel A. Gann, a retired agriculturist and real estate owner of St. Joseph, is a veteran of the Mexican War, in which he did valiant service, and is one of the very oldest settlers of the Platte Purchase. Our subject was born in eastern Tennessee, in Washington County, twelve miles from Jonesboro, January 12, 1819. His father, Isaac, was also born in that locality, where his father, Nathan, a native of Scotland, was an early settler and a large plantation owner. The latter was captain in the Revolutionary War and died in Tennessee. Our subject's father, who took part in the war of 1812, was a farmer by occupation and in 1832 removed with his family from Tennessee to Missouri. In the spring of 1833 he made the distance on horseback of over one thousand miles, locating in the southern part of LaFayette County on a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres. After raising one crop there he settled on a larger farm in Johnson County, and in 1838 bought a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Buchanan County, where his death occurred some eight years later, he then having reached his sixty-second year. Politically he was a Democrat, and in his native state was united in marriage with Ann Clark, whose father was a silversmith and a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Gann did not long survive her husband, passing away some seven weeks after his death. In a family of thirteen children, twelve grew to mature years and only three are living, our subject being the ninth in order of birth. He was reared on the old Tennessee homestead until his fourth year, when his father located in Newport, Tenn. He had no school advantages, and in 1833 made the journey to Missouri on horseback. Five years later he became a resident of Buchanan County, where wild game and Indians were still numerous. He had frequent visits from the Sioux, Fox and Kickapoo Indians, and learned to speak some of their languages. In 1839 he went on a prospecting tour to Texas, going through Arkansas on horseback. He was made overseer on a large plantation near Jefferson, where he was for eight months. In 1846 Mr. Gann, after his return home, volunteered and enlisted in the Mexican War, under Capt.Jesse Moran, of Platte County. He was mustered in and drilled at Leavenworth, and on August 9 started on a six weeks' march to Santa Fe, joining Price. He took part in many important battles of the campaign, often fighting with the bayonet hand to hand. In the battle of July 6, 1847, they lost about one-eighth of their men, as the United States troops fought under great disadvantages. Our subject was made Corporal, and was mustered out in the fall of 1847. Previous to the war Mr. Gann had owned an eighty-acre farm, which he sold before his return and then purchased one of about the same size in Crawford Township, where he built a log house and engaged in farming until 1849, when he started for California, with oxen and wagons, going by way of Fort Kearney and the North Platte. Later he traded his outfit for mules. When crossing the Humboldt Range he nearly starved to death, and on the South Platte was obliged to fight the Indians. On his arrival at his destination he obtained employment at teaming for $10 per day, which business he left after a while, engaging in trading stock. Going to the southern part of the state he bought and drove stock and engaged in freighting. In 1850 Mr. Gann opened a store on Deer Creek, at Nevada City, which, after running it nine days, he sold for more than he had invested, and had moreover sold $900 worth of goods. He then opened a store on Yuba river, where he continued successfully, and next invested in cattle, selling them to good advantage. He returned to Missouri in steamer by way of the Isthmus and New Orleans to St.Louis. In 1853 he went to Texas in a wagon, locating within twenty-one miles of Austin, where he purchased three hundred acres of land, and for the following three years engaged in raising cotton. In 1856 he returned to this county, buying land in Crawford Township, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was an extensive dealer in land during all these years, owning at one time eight hundred acres, three hundred of which was within five miles of the city and well improved. In 1888 he retired from business cares, and has since made his home at No. 2019 Edmond street. In Texas, on May 20, 1854, Mr. Gann and Miss Martha Brooks were married. The lady was born in Johnson County, Mo., where she was reared, and removed to Texas with her father, John Brooks, who was a farmer. Of the eleven children born to our worthy subject and wife, only six survived to reach mature years, and only three are now living. Breckenridge, Robert E. Lee and Frances (the wife of J. W. Mitchell) are all deceased. Victoria, the wife of Samuel Crumpley, lives in St. Joseph; Julia is the wife of John A. Flournoy, a lawyer of this city, who was born in Ray County, where he studied law under Col. John Coniphan, being admitted to the bar in 1890. Josephine, who lives at home, completes the family. In 1887 our subject was waylaid on the night of August 18 when he had gone some sixty yards from his door to get a bucket of water. When under the shadow of the trees he was accosted by two men armed with revolvers. Though he was shot twice through the lungs be belabored them with the bucket and succeeded in gaining the mastery. Mr. Gann formerly raised blooded horses, and for some time was engaged in packing and shipping pork. For nine years he was School Trustee and was at one time Supervisor of Roads. In politics he is a Democrat, having been a delegate to several conventions, and fraternaly is a Royal Arch Mason.

Samuel A. was a Corporal in Captain Morin Separate Battle, Missouri Mounted Volunteers.