Gen. Gist, father of John C. Gist, one of the best known and most substantial farmers and a highly respected citizen of this county and who passed away about two years ago at his home in High Prairie township, as I have before stated, was one of the original founders of Leavenworth, and the first President of the Town Company, and so remained till a short time before his death, which sad event occurred at Weston, Mo., on Tuesday, the 21st day of November, 1854, at one o’clock p. m.  He was buried the next day with Masonic honors, he being at the time a member of the Royal Arch Chapter at Weston.  The fraternity in Weston and adjacent towns turned out in large numbers, as did the citizens generally to do honor to his memory.  It was one of the largest and most imposing funerals ever seen in the West.  He was born in Baltimore county, Md., in the year 1795, being 59 years of age, so said the record.  The General and the writer were intimately acquainted,and as office rooms were scarce in Weston in those days, we occupied the same office together, with old Captain Scruggs, who was a constable at the time, for a number of years prior to our locating and laying out Leavenworth.  He had never moved to Leavenworth, although he had intended to do so in the spring of 1855.

Gen. Gist was a man of more than ordinary abilities.  He had held several offices of public trust, honor and confidence, the varied duties of which he filled with marked ability.  He was highly respected by all, a man of good sound judgment, a most excellent and worthy citizen and a truly exemplary Christian gentleman.

from page 51 of History of Leavenworth by H. Miles Moore, 1906
(parts of the book were written by Moore as newspaper articles many years prior).