John L Gish was the son of Jacob Gish and Sarah Salome Keefer. He married 5 Sep 1863 Mt Patrick, Perry Co, Pa to Catherine Moyer. The moved to Dickinson Co in 1878. Children were Jacob, Daniel, Sarah, Anna, Barbara, Joseph, Martha, Mary Ann, Abram, John, Jesse, Katie, Alvin, Bessy

migrated from Liverpool Twp, Perry Co, Pa to Kansas in Obit
Evangelical Visiter
Jun 21 1926
"Gish, John L. was born in Dauphin Co, Pa on January 28 1839 and departed this live Jun 10 1926 aged 87 years 4 months and 13 days.
In the year of 1863, October 8, he was married to Catherine Moyer of Pennsylvania, who yet survives him. To this union were born fourteen children, of whom five have already prededed him in death, two sons and three daughters. There yet remain nine children to mourn his departure. Jacob I Gish, Abilene, Kansas; Mrs Anna M Haldeman, Upland, Cal; Mrs b. Ella Ginder, Tulare, Calif; J. Harvey Gish, Abilene, Kansas; Mrs Mary A Mause, Navarre, Kansas; A. G. Gish, Enterprise, Kans; J. M. Gish, Enterprise, Kansas; Mrs. Katie M Lahr, Abilene, Kans; and Alvin M Gish, Upland, Calif. There also remain thirty-five granchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.
In early life at about 25 years of age, he was happily converted to Christ as his Saviour, later uniting with the Brethren in Christ Church, wher he remained a faithful and consistent member until his death. His religious zeal was shown by his continual presence at all services as long as he was able to go. He will be missed by a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral services were conducted George Whisler and R I Witter. Belle Springs church. Burial in nearby cemetery."

migrated from Liverpool Twp, Perry Co, Pa to Kansas in 1878. Traveled with the Washington Jury, Eisenhower family, Pyke Families.
Brethern in Christ orRiver Brethern This church is now united with the Methodist church, During my gowing up years it was Church of God
Originally the religion wasan offshoot of the Mennonites and John and Catherine wore the mennonite dress and caps. I don't know of any of my mothers generation to stay with the church and my grandfather gave it up after my grandmother died in 1939.

It sounded to me like all the men did was go to church and the women and children did all the work.

1860 Census Susquehanna Township, Juanita Co, Pa , 31 July, Post Office is Maqhontongo Page 628
1537/1 Jacob Gish 54 m Farmer Pa
Sally 49 f
John 21 m Laborer **
Annie 19 F
Abraham 16
Benjamin 12
Barbara 9

In theHowe, Perry Co, Pa 1870 Census page Newport, Cowe Twp, Perry Co, Pa
25/31 John L Gish 33 M W Carpenter Pa
Catherine 23 Pa
Jacob 6 Pa
Daniel 4 Pa
Sarah 3 Pa

1880 Census
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
John L. GUISH Self M Male W 35 PA Farmer PA Pa (He was actually 39 here)
Catherine GUISH Wife M Female W 30 PA Keeping House PA PA
Jacob S. GUISH Son S Male W 15 PA Works On Farm PA PA
Daniel GUISH Son S Male W 13 PA Works On Farm PA PA
Sarah GUISH Dau S Female W 11 PA At Home PA PA
Anna GUISH Dau S Female W 10 PA At Home PA PA
Barbara E. GUISH Dau S Female W 8 PA At Home PA PA
Joseph H. GUISH Son S Male W 4 PA At Home PA PA
Mattie GUISH Dau S Female W 2 KS At Home PA PA
Census Place Empire, Ellsworth, Kansas
Family History Library Film 1254381
NA Film Number T9-0381
Page Number 453C

1900 Census
Logan Twp, Dickinson Co, Ks
3/4 Gish, John L Jan 1839 61 mar36 Pa Pa Pa
Catherine Mar 1848 52 36 Pa Pa Pa
Annie M dau Dec 1870 29 Pa Pa Pa
Mary dau Apr 1881 19 Ks Pa Pa
Abram son Feb 1883 17 Ks Pa Pa
John son Aug 1885 15 Ks Pa Pa
Katie dau Sep 1889 10 Ks Pa Pa
Alvin son Apr 1892 8 Ks Pa Pa

1910 Census
Abilene City, Dickinson Co, Ks
204/205
Gish, John L 71 m. 46 Pa Pa Pa
Catherine 63 46 PaPaPa
Katie 20 Ks Pa Pa

1920 Census roll T625=530, pag 19b, ed 32 image 84 Abilene Dickinson Co, Ks
Gish, John L 80 b. Pa
Catharine 71 Pa

1930 Navarre, Logan, Dickinson Ks
Mrs Catherine gish Mother 83 Pa wd 16
Maust Mary C Mrs head 49 Ks wd 22

Six families decided to move to Kansas in 1878. They traveled by train, the trip lasting nearly a week. Household goods were packed in boxcars and the livestock in stock cars. The rigors of the long tiresome journey were offset by the fascinating sights, most important of which was the steel railroad bridge newly opened for traffic over the Mississippi River at St. Louis Missouri. (Eads Bridge still in use today) The group were composed of the families of: Rev Jacob Eisenhower (grandfather of Pres Eisenhower), Samuel Pyke(CH John, Jacob, Annie, Katie), John Pyke (s/oSamuel), Jake Pyke(s/o Samuel), George W Jury(ch: Jake, John, Ben, Salome, Lizzie), John L Gish (ch:
Jacob, Daniel, Sally, Anna, Barbara, Joseph).
They arrived in Abilene, April 12 1878 and were accomodated by facilities which were previously prepared by Musser and Book. This facility, Emigrant House, was a large shed which housed the furniture and families until farms and homes could be found and built.
The second and larger colony came the next year and had Benjamin E Gish, Eli Hoffman, Noah Hershey, Ben Engle, Jerry Engle, Benjamin Brubaker,, J M Sheets, A M Engle, J K Forney
Other families came later. . They did not speak English very well.

Will
Exhibit A
I, John L Gish, of Abilene, Dickinson Co, Kansas being of sound mind and memory? and relinquishing the uncertainties of life. do hereby make, , and release this to be my last will and testament hereby revolking all my Wills and testaments by me made.
First I trust that my executor shall pay all my just debts, including the expense of my last and funeral.
Second: I give all my effect to my wife Catherine Gish. of Abilene, Kansas. all my property both real and personal of whatsoever nature that I may possess at my demise. To have and hold and enjoy the the rest of her lifetime and at demise the remains after this payment of my last illness and final expenses are paid shall be realized by my children and heirs shall all share and share alike. These blank blank children are as follows: Jacob I Gish, Abilene, Kansas; Naomi Stockwell (daughter of my deceased daughter Sally Stockwell) (this should read Sally Ginder not Sally Stockwell) of Tulare, Califormia; Anna Haldeman, Tulare, California; Abram G Gish, Enterprise, Ks; John M Gish, Enterprise, Kansas; Mary Maust, Navarre, Kansas; Ella Ginder, Tulare, California; Katie Lahr, Abilene, Kansas; Alvin M Gish, Upland, California.
Third: I nominate and appoint A E Zook of Abilene, Kansas as the executor of my last will and testament
IN Witness therof: blank blank blank this 22nd day of August A.D. 1925.

Witness his mark John (his mark) Gish
J A Graves
E D Kern

This instrument--can't read this, the photo copy is not good and need to look at film and get a better copy
J P Kern
A E Zook