Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

Freeman GAY, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Joliet; the subject of this sketch was born in Kennebec 
(now Franklin) Co, Me., Aug. 9, 1817. He married Miss Augusta S. GAY; she was born at the
same place Aug. 3, 1820; they have four children, viz., Leslie F., Elsie R., Ernest L. and 
Clementine M. He lived in Maine until he was 18; then went to Boston and learned the mason's 
trade; remained ten years; then, came West, and settled on Hickory Creek, Will Co, IL; this 
was in 1845; he then went near Wilmington, then back to Hickory Creek; then to Five-Mile Grove, 
and, in 1850, he went to California and remained four years, when he came to his present place 
and has lived here since; he started in poor circumstances, and now owns 390 acres, which he has 
earned by his own labor.