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History of Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan
pub. D. W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia - 1880


         [p. 478]
         
         WILLIAM YOUNG GILKEY
         
         Of the early settlers of Prairieville there were none who
       did more towards clearing up, improving, and advancing its
       original interests than the pioneer named above. He was born
       in Chester township, Windsor Co., Vt., June 10, 1805. When
       nineteen years old, his health having failed, he went to 
       Boston, hoping that the sea air might be beneficial. He re-
       mained in Boston eight years, and entirely recovered his
       health. During that time he worked at whatever he could get
       to do, part of the time being a night-watchman. In 1832, MR.
       GILKEY started for Michigan with a horse and cutter, making
       the trip with that conveyance. Prior to his arrival his bro-
       ther FOSTER had settled on Gull Prairie, Kalamazoo Co., where
       YOUNG joined him, and they at once entered into partnership,
       remaining so until the death of YOUNG, which occurred Jan. 13,
       1868. The brothers became owners of large tracts of land in
       Kalamazoo, Allegan, and Barry Counties, and became widely
       known as enterprising, successful business men. In 1845, MR.
       GILKEY went on to a farm in Gun Plain township, where he re-
       mained three years, then went into Prairieville, Barry Co.,
       where the brothers owned thirteen hundred acres of wild land.
       This became, under his management and industry, a large and
       well-improved farm, with large and commodious buildings, a
       sketch of which appears on another page. As a farmer MR. GIL-
       KEY was progressive; in all business matters honorable and
       just; and was considered to be among the most successful
       agriculturists of the county. He acquired a large fortune,
       the inevitable result of a long life of industry, frugality,
       and honorable dealing. In politics MR. GILKEY was a republi-
       can, in religion a Baptist, of which church he was for many
       years a member, and for the support of which  he was a lib-
       eral subscriber. MRS. LYDIA W. GILKEY (now WOODHAMS) was
       born in Boston, Mass., Jan. 11, 1820, and was married to
       MR. GILKEY, Dec. 17, 1845. Her parents, DEACON CURTIS BRIGHAM
       and wife, emigrated to Richland, Kalamazoo Co., in December,
       1833, from whence he moved into Gun Plain township, where he
       was among the first settlers. He was a licensed preacher in
       the Baptist Church before leaving Massachusetts, and soon
       opened meetings in his new home. In May, 1835, he organized
       the first Sabbath school in Allegan County, having in March
       previous organized a meeting in the log school-house, where
       he delivered the first sermon preached in Gun Plain township.
       MR. BRIGHAM and FATHER DAUBNEY for many years took charge of
       the funerals far and near.
       
         There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. GILKEY the following
       children: CURTIS O., Sept. 3, 1847; WILLIAM R., June 5, 1850;
       MARTHA J., Feb. 28, 1852; WILLARD E., March 24, 1854; MARY O.,
       April 5, 1856; and JOHN W., Feb. 1, 1859.
       
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