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John Gideon, called " Jack" was the youngest child of James Isham Gideon, the immigrant and Martha "Patty" Mills. He was born 4 June 1810 in Hawkins Co. Tennessee and died in 1870. He was married 15 January 1830 in Hawkins Co., Tennessee to Mary "Polly" Evans, daughter of Jacob Evans. (Their name was also spelled "Ivens"). Polly was born 1810 Jefferson County, Tennessee and died in Christian Co., Missouri 1872. Both are buried in a cemetery near their farm. [ Seaton Cemetery, Bear Creek, Christian County, Missouri.]

In 1843 John moved his family to Lincoln, Kentucky and worked at his trade as a clock maker. There was much unrest over the slavery question in Kentucky and land was hard to get. So in 1849 John made a trip on foot to Taney Co. Missouri to visit his brother William , who had settled there in 1830. Believing in the future of this beautiful county, he took up a claim, cleared the land and built a log house. In 1853 he brought his family to this new home, planted crops and worked at his trade. He was a Union man during the Civil War, and because of the guerrillas and bushwhackers around him, he sold his farm and moved to Greene County, Missouri for greater safety.

After the close of the war he returned to Christian County and located on Bear Creek, where he died in 1870. He continued to improve and add to his farm and was considered one of the successful men in the county. Physically he was large and muscular, over six feet tall, weighing 318 lbs., but very quick and active. Possessed of great strength, he never met his equal in a wrestling match. They were members of the Baptist Church and the parents of 13 children which included two sets of twins.

His nickname was Bear Creek Jack, and it was said you hear could him laugh for a mile.

John Gideon and Polly Evans are the webmaster's gggg-grandparents.

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Children:

Preston Gideon b. 1830

William Gideon b. 1832 m. Letha Russell

James D. "Harvey Jim" Gideon b. 1833 m. 1. Minerva (Mary Ann) Carpenter and 2. Mary Ann Berry

Andrew Jackson Gideon b. January 25, 1836 m. 1. Emily (Vicy?) G. Hicks and 2. Mary Rearrick

George Washington Gideon b. January 25, 1836 m. Martha Jane Logan

Mary Ann Gideon b. Bet. 1838 - 1840 m. Jacob Horn

Adeline Gideon b. 1840 m. Elza Smith

Frances (Fannie) Gideon b. 1843 m. William Jasper Keithley

Martha Jane Gideon b. September 1845 m. 1.William David Tittsworth and 2.Thomas Melton

John Gideon b. 1848

Eliza Gideon b. 1848 m. 1. Smith 2. Landers 3. Elkins

Nancy Jane Gideon b. August 10, 1850 m. Samuel Phelps Stanphill

Daniel Gideon b. 1853

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