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| JOHN G. GILL, junior member of the firm of Roben, Bennett & Gill, insurance, real estate and loan agents, at Big Rapids, was born in Cornwall, Eng., Jan. 8, 1838. His parents, Richard and Mary (Glanville) Gill, were natives of Cornwall, born respectively in 1800 and in 1802. They came to the United States in 1842, and went to Hannibal, Mo., and two years later to Illinois. They bought a small farm near Galena, where the father also became interested to a considerable extent in lead mines. Mr. Gill there obtained his elementary education, and at 14 years of age became a clerk in a dry-goods store, where he was employed one year. At 15 he went to Mdison, Wis., and commenced a course of study in the scientific department of the University, remaining three years. Returning to Illinois, he passed four successive winters in teaching. He acted as clerk on the Mississippi river steamers two summers, and finally entered a claim of Government land in Kansas, which he improved to some extent. In 1860 he went to Colorado and commenced staking claims near the "Gregory" mines. The spring following he went ot Delaware Flats, Breckenridge Co., and worked out a placer mine in the summer of 1861. He was in compnay with James McAllister, and continued his operations until the summer of 1862. At that date he formed a partnership with L. W. Woodruff, and went to Bannock City, Montana, where they were among the earliest comers. Here they took up a bar claim, which proved an advantageous project. They went thence to the site of Virginia City, and assisted in plating the city, of which they owned one seventh. They then went to Bevins' Gulch, where they again engaged in successful claim traffic, and in addition established a freight train to and from different points across the plains, consisting of 24 teams of six yoke of oxen each. They managed this latter enterprise two years. The winters of 1863-4-5 they spent in eastern cities, negotiating mining property. Mr. Gill next went to Des Arc, Prairie Co., Ark., and in compy with his brother R. G. Gill, engaged in the cotton trade. Two years later he went to Kansas, and bought another farm near the locality of his first agricultural investment, which, on leaving Kansas for Colorado, he had transferred to Mrs. Mary Elwell, his sister. He remained in Kansas until 1875, when he sold his famr and came to Big Rapids, and, associated with C. B. Lovejoy, founded a grocery frim styled Gill & Lovejoy. In 1877 the latter sold his interest to N. H. Beebe, and the new firm continued to tranact the most extensive business of the kind in the city, until May 1, 1883, doing an annual business of $60,000. In June 1883, he entered the house of Roben & Bennett as partner. Mr. Gill was married in Lynn Co., Kan., Jan. 25, 1868, to Laura E., daughter of Hon. Barzillai and Rosanna Campbell, who was born in Clinton, Ill., March 19, 1850. They have three children - Cora E., Lewis C. and John G. |