Gum's Fort - Knox County, IL

[frenabee]

Looking for information concerning Gum's Fort in Knox County, Illinois -- the homestead of John B. Gum which was reportedly used as a fort during the Black Hawk War.  John B. and his brother Jesse are listed as privates in Captain James Ferguson's company on the Henderson River at Gum's Fort during the Black Hawk War, from roster dated June 18, 1831.   (Jesse was the father of my 2x great-grandmother.)  Thanks!  Frena Hokans

[[e-mail]]

In Whitney's books,it uses Knox Co. history books as reference and it states that he established a home four miles northwest of Galesburg near the south edge of Henderson Grove(section 23). The home was used as the the first Co. courthouse and Post office. Gum was elected a justice of the peace and County treasuer. there are copies of letters wriitten from the settlers at FT Gum to the commanding officer at FT Armstrong requesting arms to protect themselves.

[frenabee]

Thank you so much for the information!!  What are "Whitney's books?"  I'd like to read them!  Thanks!  Frena

[[e-mail]]

These are a four volume set of books titled"The Blackhawk War   1831-1832". The information was compiled and edited by Ellen M. Whitney for the Illinois State Historical Library. They are starting to become scare itemsbut you could call down to the State Historical Library and see if they have any still availible.

[dave62326]

Here is a list of the soldiers who enlisted at Gum's Fort.

Name , Rank, Company , Enlistment point

ATKINSON, JESSE PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
BELL, PETER PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
BELL, ROBERT 2LT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
BELL, WILLIAM H PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
BROWN, BENJAMIN PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
BROWN, HARMON PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
COY, BENJAMIN PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
COY, MATHEW PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
COY, URBIN PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
DAVIS, SOLOMON PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
DENHAM, SOLOMON PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
EDGAR, SAMUEL PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
FERGUSON, HUGH SGT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
FERGUSON, JAMES CPT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
FINCH, HUMPHRY PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
FINCH, JAMES G PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
FINCH, NATHANIEL R PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
FINCH, THOMAS PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
FINCH, THOMAS M PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
FUQUA, OBADIAH PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
GLASS, CALVIN PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
GOFF, JAMES SGT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
GUM, JOHN B PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
GUMM, JESSE PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
HANSFORD, CHARLES SGT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
HILTON, HARDIN CPL J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
HILTON, WILLIAM PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
HUFF, JOSEPH PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
JENNING, BERRYMAN PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
JENNING, THOMAS C PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
JONES, SAMUEL PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
LEWIS, JEREMIAH PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
LEWIS, WILLIAM PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
MC FARLING, JAMES PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
MC FARTING, JEREMIAH PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
MC MURTRRY, WILLIAM 1LT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
MC MURTRY, JAMES PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
MC MURTRY, JOHN PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
MILES, JOHN PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
MONTGOMERY, JOHN PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
MORRISON, DAVID PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
NORTON, JOHN PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
PARMER, HIRAM PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
REYNOLDS, JAMES PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
ROBERTSON, ELHANAN PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
ROUNTREE, JOHN D PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
ROUNTREE, TURNER R CPL J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
ROW, JOSEPH PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
SWARTS, A D PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
TANER, DANIEL CPL J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
WILLIAMS, ALEXANDER PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT
WILLIAMS, JOHN PVT J FERGUSON GUMS FORT

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[Greg Carter]

In the "articles" section of the Old Lead Region Historical Society Website there is an article on Gum's Fort I wrote some time ago that may be of some interest.

G. Carter

www.geocities.com/old_lead

[Greg Carter]

Alarming Arms problem..

Gentlemen We the undersigned setters of this place Represent to your Honers that from the situation of our settlement as it respects arms and amunition that were in a crictical situation and unless you can assist us with both there is no Doubt but the settlement with break up for there is not more than one fifth of the Inhabitants Have arms

Therefore if you can assist us consistantly you will confer a favor on us more than you can suppose we would say one hundred and fifty Guns would arm us tolerable well if those arms could be sent to the lower yellow banks and and Directed to Capt. James Fergusen we will get them without Doubt and we will ever pray

William McMurtry
Joseph Rowe
Alexander Frakes
James McMurtry, Senr.
Solomon Denbow
Edmund Adcock
Peter Peckenpaugh
F. V. Barber
Jonathan Rice
Edward Martin
Nicholas Rice
John Adams
Robert Greenwell
Johnathan C. Rue
Riggs Penington
Henry Bell
Wesley Penington
Nicholas Voiles
Stephen Penington
Cranden Smith
Simion Penington
John Norton
William Coudra
Jacob Gum
James McMurtry Senr.
John Gum
James Ferguson
James Gum
F. R. Freeman
Jessee Gum
John Robertson
Peter Bell
Elhanen Robertson
Charles Hans[ford]
Elbert Robertson
John McAdams
Daniel Robertson
Alexander Robertson
Corban Penington
John McGehe
Thomas Maxwell
Wilson Brown
George Brown
John Miles
John McMurtry
Alexander Williams
John Peckenpaugh
Jacob Peckenpaugh
Henry Peckenpaugh
Alfred Brown
Benjamin Brown
Joshua Brown
Urban Coy
Urban Reynolds
Daniel Tanner


WHITNEY, ELLEN
The Black Hawk War, Vol II, Part I
Springfield: Illinois Historical Library, 1973
P. 269-270