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THE JONATHAN GADDIS FAMILY HISTORY by Emma Gaddis Hargadine

Jonathan and Amy Gaddis and their family lived in Ohio in 1846 when their son, Willis Drisbow was born. Through family records noted that there were other children in the family. We have the names of three other sons: (1) Lew Gaddis, who had a lumber yard in Decatur, Illinois. We have no name for his wife, but two of his children were Charles and Nellie. (2) Levi Gaddis, who had a confectionery, in Nebraska; (3) Allen Gaddis of whom we have no record; and (4) a daughter, Louisia.

The family moved to Illinois when Willis Drisbow was a small child (probably early 1850's), and Willis grew to manhood there. Records show that Willis lived at Lane Station in DeWitt County, Illinois, when he and Emma Graham were married in March, 1877. Emma was born in Lancaster, Ohio, but lived at Lane Station, Illinois, at the time of marriage. Two children were born to Willis and Emma Gaddis: a daughter, Nellie Odessa; and a son, Wade Graham.

In the Spring of 1885, the Willis Gaddis family homesteaded in Pratt County, Kansas, near early Naron, which is now known as Byers, Kansas. For a short time, Willis, Emma and their two children went to Colorado and filed on a tree claim near where Holly, Colorado, now stands. This proved to be a bad move, and they returned to Kansas and bought a farm in Pratt County, Kansas.

The 1895 Census showed:

W. D. Gaddis 49 years
Emma Gaddis 44 years
Nellie Gaddis 16 years
Wade Gaddis 11 years

They owned 160 acres of land with 70% under cultivation, 25 acres under fence, 6 acres of Cottonwood, 25 acres of winter wheat, 30 acres of corn, 7 acres of barley and 20 acres of Kafer. They had two dogs, 6 horses, 3 milk cows and 5 swine.

They lived 22 years in and around Pratt County, Kansas. At the time Wade G. and Elletta Swafford were married in 1903, they lived in Hopewell, Kansas. In 1907, Willis and Emma moved to Stevens County, Kansas. They bought a farm and farmed until the Fall of 1918, when they moved to Liberal, Kansas.

Nellie was married in 1900 to David Franklin Woolen. In 1909, they moved to a farm 10 miles west of Liberal, Kansas.



Wade Graham Gaddis and Elletta Mae Swafford were married at the home of the bride's parents, Lindon and Anna Swafford of rural Pratt County. Their first home was with Wade's parents in Hopewell, Kansas. While they were in Hopewell, Beatrice was born. In 1905

Wade applied for patent to homestead in western Kansas. Their land was SE Sec.l3 Tws. 34S Range 34W 6P Meridian in Stevens County, Kansas. They made their final settlement in 1910. Their address was Ematon, Kansas. While there, Pearl, Eva, Alice and Emma were born.

Also included in book "Descendants of Alexander Geddes/Gaddis"
by Marie Branson King.

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