Obituary, Julian (Jules) Gillet, The Peabody Gazette-Herald, Thursday, March 20, 1930 Jules Gillet was born in Calais, France on the twelfth day of April, 1845. He died at his home in Peabody March 17, 1930. When eleven years of age he came to America with his parents, Louis and Valentine Gillet and landed at New Orleans, LA, where the family lived for two years, when they moved to the city of Dwight, Illinois. He was a Union soldier in the Civil War, having enlisted in the 108th Illinois Regiment of Volunteer Infantry on the fourteenth day of August, 1862, and was honorably discharged in July 1865. As a soldier he participated in many important battles, Chickasaw Bayou, December 29, 1962, Arkansas Post, January 11, 1863, Fort Gibson, May 1, 1863, Champion Hill, May 16, 1863, Siege of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, Guntown, June 10, 1864, Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 21, 1864, and Siege of Spanish Fort, April 8, 1865. He was united in marriage to Miss Rose Anna Mathiot, Dwight, Illinois, March 26, 1869. On February 28, 1875, they moved from Illinois to Peabody, Kansas where they homesteaded the west eighty acres of the farm now owned by Roy Gillet southeast of Peabody. A few years later they moved to Summit Township where they lived on a farm eight miles southeast of Peabody. From there they moved to Peabody six years ago. To Jules and Rose Gillet, eight children were born, seven of whom survive him, one daughter Clara Bell (Belle), having passed away in March 1879. He leaves to mourn his death, his widow, the companion of many years, Mrs. Rose Gillet, and seven children: Lawrence Gillet, Greeley, Colorado; Henry Gillet, Grover, Colo.,; Charles Gillet, Mrs. Millie Kellum, Jule Gillet, Jr. and Roy Gillet of Peabody, Kansas, and Mrs. Jessie Kellum of Lebo, Kansas, twenty-eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren and a host of friends, loved and honored by all. Services were held in the Christian Church, Tuesday afternoon at 3:00, R. P. McPherson, Pastor officiating. Burial in Prairie Lawn Cemetery. The out of town folks here for the Jule Gillet Sr. funeral were: Lawrence Gillet, Greeley, Colorado; Henry Gillet, Grover, Colorado; Mr. And Mrs. Ed Doyle, Dwight, Illinois; Clarence Fink and family, Burns; Louie Gillet and family, Florence. The following is an excerpt of a tribute to Julian Gillet, Sr.. It was written for the Peabody Gazette-Herald, March 20, 1930, by his old friend and attorney, John Madden from Wichita. On March 26, 1869 he married Miss Rose Anna Mathiot, of Dwight, Illinois and this fine young citizen soldier and his young wife began the journey of life together. The memory of Calais on the English Channel, for which in times past France and England had fought, was dimmed by three years of war in a new land. He wanted peace and a home. He found both, on a soldier’s homestead near Peabody in 1875. Later he bought the farm in Summit Township on which the first oil well in Marion County was brought in. The struggle of years was rewarded, and such money came. He divided his oil runs among his children, retaining his portion. He was then enabled to find rest and comfort for himself and his faithful wife, and moved to town some six years ago. It was pleasant for both to realize that the pioneer spirit that impelled them to move from Illinois to Kansas was the urge that brought comfort and independence to two quiet souls who loved and trusted to the end………… During his long life in Kansas he proved himself a real neighbor and friend. Modest, gently and retiring, he avoided controversy, but behind the quiet face of the man was a fighting soul capable of great resistance. He loved his friends and found no fault in them. He was charitable toward those who erred. He was loyal and deeply attached to the country of his adoption. He was a fine citizen, he was devoted to his family and entered into all the plans of his children, his religion was to fear God and do good in all things, and he was a model husband and father. From the bridge of his 85 years he could look back over the road he traveled, and see in every turn the flowers of life. Hand in hand with the sweetheart of his youth he made the journey, and passed through the portals of death to immortality. He awaits her coming with a love that breaks the chains of silence, and will meet her in the dawn of a new day, in that home where there is no second death. --------------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. --------------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: D J Camden