Northumberland County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Gill, Howard Winfield 1876 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 15, 2008, 10:13 pm

Author: Leonard Wilson  (1916)

HOWARD WINFIELD GILL

THE founder of a successful business whether it be industrial, mercantile or
agricultural, takes a commendable pride in the enterprise which his years of
energy, application and integrity have built. When he can retire from active
business life and be relieved by a younger member of the family, competent to
carry on the work, he doubtless realizes a satisfaction in his later years that
could not be known to one who is compelled to contemplate the passing of his
business to other hands. When the son does succeed the father, it is but natural
that he should be inspired by family, as well as personal pride, to maintain the
high reputation won, to enlarge and develop the business, and to keep pace with
the demands of the times and the changing conditions. For three generations the
name of Gill has been prominently identified with the business and social life
of Northumberland County, Virginia, and the family estate "The Aspens" at
Alvalon, has long been an honored homestead.

    Howard Winfield Gill, son of Thomas Henry Gill and his wife Sarah Catherine
Hurley, was born at "The Aspens" June 17, 1876, and is engaged in manufacturing,
developing still further a successful enterprise established by his father.

    Mr. Gill was educated at the public schools, and grew to manhood on the
broad acres of the Gill properties, studying conditions conducive to successful
agriculture. In addition to his other business interests, he has built up an
extensive trade as an implement dealer.

    Politically Mr. Gill is an Independent, and is opposed to supporting
candidates for public office solely on partisan principles. He has ably served
the citizens of Northumberland County as a member of the Board of County
Supervisors. He is a member and steward of Cornith Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Gill is unmarried. The surname Gill is of ancient origin in England, where
it is found in the Parish records in County Devon as early as the year 1230, and
Devon appears to have been the original family seat. It was here that the family
Coat of Arms was confirmed by the Heralds' visitation in the sixteenth century.
The arms are registered in the Heralds College, London, and are thus described:

    "Lozengy argent and vert a lion rampant of the first.

    "Crest: a boar passant resting its forepaw on a crescent.

    "Motto: In te, Doinine, Spes Nostra."

    Members of the Gill family were among the early settlers of Virginia, and
the name frequently appears in Colonial records. It is also found in the
Virginia Revolutionary rolls among those who fought for the independence of our
country.

    Through the Virginia Land Patents we learn that Dr. Stephen Gill was
practicing medicine in Charles River County (now York), Virginia, as early as
1639. He was a justice of York in 1652 and a member of the House of Burgesses in
the same year. His will, probated August 2, 1653, leaves his estate, quite a
large one, to his wife Ann and children.

    In 1704 John Gill received a grant of 235 acres of land in Henrico County.

    Members of the family removed to the western portion of the colony, as
evidenced by the Land Bounty Certificates, which record that Edward Gill, Sr.,
was a soldier in the Colonial Militia from the First Virginia Regiment, and
received a tract of land in Botetourt County; and in 1712 James Gill was
appointed Captain of Company 6, Augusta County Militia. The name of Jones Gill
of Amherst County is found among the Revolutionary pensioners.

    Thus from the pioneer days of old Virginia down to the present time the
various generations of the Gill family have been prominently identified with our
military, civil and social life.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MAKERS OF AMERICA
BIOGRAPHIES OF LEADING MEN OF THOUGHT AND ACTION

THE MEN WHO CONSTITUTE THE BONE AND SINEW OF AMERICAN PROSPERITY AND LIFE

VOLUME II

By
LEONARD WILSON,
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ASSISTED BY PROMINENT HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WRITERS
Illustrated with many full page engravings
B. F. JOHNSON, INC.
CITY OF WASHINGTON, U. S. A.
1916

Copyright, 1916
by
B. F. Johnson, Inc.


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