Robert B. Gay

ROBERT B. GAY, who owns and conducts a fine farm in Mount Pleasant township, Labette county, Kansas, is a resident of the city of Altamont, where he has lived since 1883. He has been very successful in a business way, and is one of the foremost citizens of the town.

Mr. Gay was born in Clark county, Kentucky, December 11, 1834, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Bratton) Gay. John Gay was born in Virginia, and was a boy when he moved to Clark county, Kentucky, with his father, James Gay. There he was reared and schooled and followed farming for several years. He married Rebecca Bratton, and in 1837 they removed to Boone county, Missouri, where he died. They reared the following children: Ann D. (Youger), deceased; Sarah J. (Vaghn), of Monroe county, Missouri; Robert B.; Lucinda (Newman), Margaret (Christman), David and William, deceased; and Nancy (Shock), of Boone county, Missouri. John Gay was a Democrat, in politics. Religiously, he was a member of the Church of Christ, and was an active church worker.

Robert B. Gay received his mental training in the schools of Boone county, Missouri, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1883. In that year he moved to Altamont, Labette county, Kansas, and has since made his residence in that city. He purchased a farm near Altamont, in Mount Pleasant township, which he has been occupied in cultivating. The farm is well improved, equipped with good substantial buildings, and has been very productive. In politics, Mr. Gay is a prominent Democrat and an active worker for party success. He has served in the city council and was mayor of the city in 1890.

December 25, 1861, Mr. Gay was joined in matrimony with Miss L. F. Christman, who died in 1869, leaving two children: John R., of St. Louis, Missouri; and English A., of Centralia, Missouri. In 1883, the subject of this sketch was wedded to his second wife, Mrs. E. F. (Coons) Morning. Religiously, he favors the Church of Christ.