Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Gill, John G. January 8, 1838 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 January 27, 2009, 1:38 am

Author: 1883 Mecosta Co. Portrait & Bio Album

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.

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