Biography - Thomas Gore
THOMAS B. GORE, M. D., of Elvira, is prominently identified with both the professional and mercantile interests of Johnson County as a physician of high repute and as a merchant of marked enterprise and business capacity. He comes of the fine old pioneer stock of this section of Illinois, and is a true-born son of the soil. Vienna Township is his birthplace and March 1, 1847, the date of his birth. Walton Gore, his father, was a native of Georgia, and was a son of John Gore, who was also born in that State for aught known to the contrary. When Illinois was still in the hands of the pioneers he emigrated hither with his family and was one of the earliest settlers of Johnson County. He secured a tract of Government laud in Vienna Township, and fortified by industrious habits, a good knowledge of farming, and a courageous heart, calmly faced the privations and hardships that attend the struggle with Nature's forces in reclaiming a farm from the wilderness. The remainder of his life was spent here in the home that he built.
The father of our subject was young when his parents brought him to this State. He grew to a stalwart manhood amid primitive surroundings, became a proficient farmer under his father's guidance, and when he entered upon his independent career in that calling secured a tract of Government land in what is now Goreville Township, which he transformed into a good farm, erecting first a set of log buildings. When old age approached, death stayed his hand, and he fell into the sleep that knows no waking amid the scenes of his labors of many years. His wife, to whom he was much indebted for her ever-ready helpfulness and wise counsel, still resides on the home farm. She bore the maiden name of Mary Bain, and a sketch of her appears elsewhere in this work. She reared six children.
Dr. Gore received his early education at the district schools. The first that he attended was in a log building, furnished in a most primitive fashion, the seats being made of logs split and four pins put in for legs, while there were no backs to the seats and no desks in front of them. The room was heated by means of a rude fireplace. When not in school our subject assisted on the farm, and resided with his parents until he attained his majority. At that age he commenced the study of medicine, entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, and was graduated from that medical institution well-grounded in the fundamental principles of his profession. He first opened an office at Goreville, but after a few years' practice there he went to Beebe, Ark., where he pursued his calling some five years. Since then he has engaged in practice at Elvira, coming here to take advantage of an excellent opening for a good physician. He has secured his full share of patronage, as the people, who already knew him by reputation, early found him to be a wise and safe counselor when consulted in his professional capacity, and one who is sound and sensible in his methods of treatment.
The Doctor's energies are by no means limited to the practice of his profession, as since 1888 he has been Postmaster at Elvira, and since 1890 has indulged in his taste for business in a mercantile way, owning and managing a neatly appointed establishment for the sale of merchandise, and this also yields him a good income. He is a man of genial presence and generous nature, of an active, vigorous mind, and has fine business qualifications, and these traits have made him a valued citizen. Socially, he is prominent as a member of Goreville Lodge No. 528, I. O. O. F.
Our subject has been twice married. In 1867 he was wedded to Miss Virginia A. McGeehe, who was born in Virginia and was a daughter of Simeon and Susan (McMahon) McGeehe. She died in 1880, leaving four children: Norma, Addison, George and T. Jefferson. The Doctor's second marriage took place in 1887, and was with Miss Tennie Halliburton, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of L. S. Halliburton. To them have been born two children, Charles and Bertha.
Extracted 24 Jui 2016 by Norma Hass from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 260-261
