Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 3. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 945. JAMES W. GAUNT who resides on his farm four miles northeast of Yamhill, was born in Missouri on October 5, 1851, his parents being Haines and Emily (West) Gaunt, both residents of Missouri at the time of their marriage. Haines Gaunt lived in his native state, Kentucky, until he was eighteen years of age. At that age he removed to Missouri with his parents and remained there until the time of his marriage, in 1847. He started across the plains in 1853 and after a three weeks' stay in Oregon City came to Yamhill county, settling near McMinnville. Here he lived for a number of years but did not settle permanently in Oregon until several years later. In the meantime he went to California and after staying there for a brief period returned to Oregon, going first to Pike, Yamhill county, and then to the eastern part of the state, where he died near Heppner. Haines Gaunt's father and the grandfather of the subject of this sketch served in the Mexican war and until the time of his death received a pension for this service. James Gaunt's mother, the daughter of William West, was born in 1830 and spent her entire life in Missouri until she came west with her husband. To them fifteen children were born: Mrs. Julia Madison, of Heppner, Oregon; James W.; Mrs. Willie Keffer, deceased; Mrs. Susan Morris, of Washington; Reuben J., residing near Heppner, Oregon; David, who makes his home in Heppner; Mrs. Nancy Campbell, of California; Mrs. Emma Hale, of Heppner, Oregon; Mrs. Sarah Slagle and Mrs. Mary Hale, both of whom are deceased; John, a resident of Heppner; Tabitha and Henry, both deceased; and two who died in infancy. At the early age of eighteen years James Gaunt started his independent career by engaging in farm work. Agricultural pursuits have engaged his attention almost entirely, except for the few years during his early life, when he was employed in a sawmill. After this he again returned to active farming. In 1876 occurred Mr. Gaunt's marriage to Carrie Tidd, the daughter of Warwick H. T. and Mary (Woodland) Tidd. Mrs. Gaunt's father, born in Hobart town, Tasmania, in 1830, came to this country in 1844 and landed in Portland, Oregon. He went to Oregon City and lived there for a few years before he settled on a donation claim, about 1845. Mrs. Tidd was a native of London, England, and came to America with her parents going first to Ohio, and in 1852 came to Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Tidd were the parents of two children: Martha, deceased; and Mrs. Gaunt. Except for one year the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Gaunt has been spent in Yamhill county and their activities have centered about the interests of this county. They became the parents of six children: Lillian P., deceased; Mrs. Ruth Tallman, a resident of St. Johns, Oregon; Clifford, deceased; Cleva V., at home; Myrth, now Mrs. Hoffman of Yamhill; and Reatha, living at home. Mr. Gaunt is typical of that class, so numerous in America, which we call selfmade men. Beginning life with no resources excepting his determination, strength and ability to work hard and intelligently, he has become the owner of a farm which does him credit. The effective methods he employed have turned his two hundred and thirty-four acres into property which is fully cultivated except for some valuable timber tracts. He has shown, that perseverance, judicious methods and faithful attention result in success in any line of undertaking. He is a member of the democratic party but has never asked for the reward of office for any services he may have rendered to the organization. He is an adherent of the Christian church, to which he gives the same loyal and substantial aid of which he has proved himself capable. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.