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Mathew Gullett Obituary
Mathew Gullett Sr. age 87 died Thursday May 15th (1922) after an illness of 4 weeks duration. Mathew Gullett Sr. known to the people of Paintsville and Johnson County as Uncle Mathie died at the home of his son Sherman Gullett on Mill Branch Thursday May 15th after an illness of 4 weeks duration. He was 87 years and has enjoyed the best of health never beening sick until one month ago when he sufferes a complete break down due to the infirmaties of age. His wife had preceeded him to the grave 18 years ago, and since that time he had made his home with his son. His death not only removed from the community a good citizen, but takes from the ranks of the rapidily diminishing old Union Soldiers and other comrades. He was a member of the 14th Ky Volunteer Infantry made up holy of Johnson and Magoffin County men and which won fame during the war as the fighting 14th.
The history of the Gullett family is unique. Early in the last century Ezekiel Gullett and his young wife migrated from North Carolina to the mountains of Eastern Ky. The family made their way through the Cumberland Mountains passing through Cumberland Gap where on the Big Sandy side of the Gap and older brother of Mathew Gullett was born. After a few days the family resumed the journey and finally settled on Middle Fork of the Licking River of Magoffin County. They and unbroken wilderness inhabited only by wild beasts of the forest. Here the older Gullett made a clearing and established a home and reared to maturity a familty of 14 children, 7 girls and 7 boys. When the war between the states began, and Albraham Lincoln made his call for volunteers 4 of the brothers responded to the call of the colors and cast their lot on the side of the union, while the 5th and older brother esposed the cause of Jefferson Davis and cast his lot with the Southern Confederacy. Two of the brothers on the Union side were captured by the Confederates and placed in the Libby Prison where they starved to death. Mathew Gullett and another brother fought through the war and as fate would have it captured their older brother in the Confederate Army and to save his life paroled him and sent him home.
Mathew Gullett was the last surviving member of this large family. He was with General William T. Sherman in his grueling Southern compaign and participated with capture of Atlanta, and was with the famous General on his historical dash from Alanta to the sea. In the closing scenes of the war, he was wounded at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain. But despite his wounds he kept doggedly with his regiment, the end of the war was closing his career as a soldier.
After peace had been declared battle scarred and weary of years of the bloodiest war in history he returned to his native home in Magoffin County where he settled down in peace. Later moving to Paintsville where he has since made his home despite the fact that he underwent hardships that would kill an oridnary man this day and time. He has never been seriously ill until one month ago when he was fatally stricken.
Like most of the older men in Eastern Ky, he was a member of the Old United Baptist Church and had been a member for the past 40 years. He joined the church at Salyersville under the ministry of Rev. Wallace Bailey, a noted devine of the mountains of his day. Later transferring his membership to the United Baptist Church of Paintsville where he lived his religion every day and during these long years he had retained the friendship and good will of all who knew him. Dying as he had lived without enemies.
The funeral took place Friday afternoon Rev. Abram Gibbs of the United Baptist Church, an old union soldier and comrade of the deceased, conducted a service. He was assisted by the Rev Alonzo Wright, Rev. Warren Preston and Rev Guy Preston. The remains was placed in the last resting place on the farm of his son. A place personally selected by him one year previous to his death.
Obituary contributed by:
James Gullett[email protected]
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