David Gish

David is the son of Mathias and Catherine Gisch. He married Freny Cass about 1766 in Lancaster Co, Pa. The only child that we know of for sure is a son David. David originally had a farm in Conewego, Dauphin Co and Donegal about 4 miles north of Abraham who was in Donegal. Then David Gish buys land in 1776 in Roanoke Va, it was Augusta Co, Va, and he erected a log home. David, son of Matthias is the only David old evough to do this in 1776 and he was 26-30 at this time. The house was still standing in 1924 and was made with wooden pegs and of historical interest at that time. The land passed unto his son David Jr who lived there his entire life. The maiden name of his wife was Polly Wright. Their son George Russell and their daughter Mary Elizabeth inherited the homestead and the son eventually bought his sisters land. George Russell made saltpeter for the confederacy during the Civil War (History of Virginia Vol VI) Before their move to Va, they were in Lebanon Twp and later bought a farm in Dauphin Co. About 4 mile north of Abraham. Jacob, Abraham, David, probable sons of David. History of Roanoke Co, Early History of Vinton pg 66 Gish's Mills, Gish's Mill, Gish's and Venton, are the successive names by which the place has been known. The Three quarters of a century ago, the first name was applied, for the reason that the waters of Glade Creek turned two mills owned by David Gish and his brother. Later, when one of the mills, either by misuse or destruction, gave way to the other, the plural name was dropped and Gish's Mill was substituted.

 After the completion of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio RR, and I W Vinyard had become the owner of David Gish's Mill, the place was made a flag stop and was called Gish's.  Before the civil war, Wm Gish operated a store near the flag stop, where a box car served as a depot.  Wm Gish was the father of Griffin Gish and the late George McHenry Gish.  When the war broke out the Gish brothers joined the confederacy and George M Gish, on the death of Capt Deyerle, was promoted to the rank of Capt of the "Roanoke Grays".  In Apr 1865 after Lee's surrender, Stoneman's Cavalry burned the makeshift depot.  The war over, Capt Gish and his brother Griffin returned to Vinton and became merchants. There were only a few families living there at that time.  I White Vinyard, John C Fox and the Gish Brothers.  The post office was in the home of John Fox  Capt Fox gave the land to start a town there.

Most of the first two generations and some of the thired generation of Gish's used the spelling Gisch. What graves have been found. Also they all have family farm cemetries. Buried on they farms they lived on.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 7 2018, 18:44:27 UTC