Bio: Alexander Hamilton Gill, Bienville Parish La
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890
Submitted by: Gaytha Thompson



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Alexander Hamilton Gill, a representative citizen of Bienville Parish, La.,
owes his nativity to Cave Spring, Ga., his birth occurring on June 25, 1849,
and was the youngest of six children born to Josiah Henry and Sarah (Simmons)
Gill, both natives of South Carolina.  The father was born July 24, 1798, and
was a gentleman gifted with fine conversational powers and who was the life of
any company.  He was educated in a practical manner and was a successful
merchant by occupation.  He died October. 10,  1878, in full communion with
the Presbyterian Church.  His remains are interred in Homer, Claiborne Parish,
La.  He was a prominent personage in his community and when the illustrious
Marquis De La Fayette visited America in 1828 he entered South Carolina with
marked attention and honor, Mr. Gill being orderly sergeant of the company of
cavalry which escorted the distinguished French-man from the Georgia line to
the State capital. Mr. Gill was a man most highly honored by his people, and
was in fact held in high favor by all acquainted with him.  His wife died at
the age of forty-five years.  Alexander H. Gill received his education in the
common schools of Cave Spring. Ga., and is a gentleman whom we may truly
designate as a self-made man.  He commenced life for himself at the age of
eighteen years as a salesman, at first, and as he had no capital to start with
he has made all his property hy his own exertions.  He commenced selling goods
at a low salary with J. H. & G. G. Gill, and during his last year's work with
this company he was head salesman and book-keeper.  The annual sales amounted
to from $60,000 to $65,000. 

Mr. Gill was married February 6, 1873, to Miss Alary Emma Canfield, a native
of Mount Lebanon, Bienville Parish, La., born December 2, 1848, and the
daughter of Martin Canfield, who was a native of South Carolina, and who is
still living at the advanced age of eighty-four years.  Her mother's maiden
name was Miss Mary Ann Gibbs, also a native of South Carolina.  The latter
died at the age of fifty years.  Mrs. Gill was educated in Mount Lebanon
College.  She and her husband are members of the Missionary Baptist Church,
and have aimed to support all principles of Christianity presented for their
worthy consideration.  They have nobly done their share toward developing the
benevolent features of their church, as they have felt able. 

Mr. Gill pursued the occupation of a farmer in Bienville Parish for four
years, and then entered the mercantile arena in the fall of 1876, at Mount
Lebanon, La.  He was engaged in merchandising until 1883, had established a
good trade, and although he started with a stock of goods valued at $450,
during the year 1880 he sold $10,000 worth of goods, showing decidedly what
strides he took from the time of commencing in business until he retired.  Mr.
Gill is the owner of considerable real estate arid property in different parts
of Louisiana and Alabama.  Since disposing of his mercantile business he has
been engaged in tilling the soil, and is also deeply interested in the real
estate business.  He is one of the stanch and able men of the parish, and is
well known by all for his business integrity and sterling worth. His present
residence,  at Gibsland, La., is a large, commodious and typical Southern
home, one of the most imposing in the town.  Mr. Gill is a stanch Democrat,
but has never been an active politician.