USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 41
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He married, June 9, 1881, Nora Alice Mar- tin, born at North Bay, Oneida county, New York, February 28, 1860. She was educated in the public schools and resided with her par- ents until her marriage. She was a daughter of John Caleb Martin, and a granddaughter of Thomas Martin, who was born September 5, 1780, and died January 22, 1865. He was born in England, where he lived and married his first two wives. In 1829 he emigrated to the United States, settling at McConnellsville, New York. He married (first ) Mary West, June 28, 1804, born February 6, 1778, died January 8, 1827; children: Mary, born Au- gust 3, 1805, died in Philadelphia; Thomas, born December 29, 1807, died in England ; Jabez, born July 8, 18-, died in England ; Ann, born March 15, 1811, died in Philadelphia ;
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Joseph, born October 10, 1812, died February 19, 1813; William, born August 4, 1816, died in Sherburne, New York; John Caleb, of whom further. Thomas Martin married (second) February 7, 1828, Frances West, born August 17, 1789, died March 5, 1847 ; children : Fannie A., born December 12, 1828, died in Wiscon- sin ; Frances A., born April 7, 1832, died May 10, 1832; Stephen, born September 6, 1834, now living in Oneida, New York, married Etta Yeager, deceased, and has three living chil- dren : Chester, Orissa and Adelbert. Thomas Martin married (third) April 9, 1842, Sarah Crippen, born March 13, 1788.
John Caleb, seventh child of Thomas Martin, was born in the town of Stoke Brewing, Northampshire, England, September 30, 1822. He was brought by his parents to the United States in 1829, the family settling at McCon- nellsville, New York. Later he moved to North Bay, New York, where he was engaged in the milling business until his death, Decem- ber 31, 1891. He married, September 25, 1842, Margaret Bristol, born in McConnellsville, September 20, 1823, died May 16, 1875. Chil- dren : 1. Laforest J., born April 13, 1844, died December 13, 1862; he enlisted in the Six- teenth Regiment New York Volunteers, and was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg. 2. Cordelia M., born December 21, 1846 ; married J. D. Bodine, now a retired employee of the Tide Water Oil Company ; children : Laforest John, lives in Illinois ; Lewis, deceased ; Harry M., enlisted in Sixteenth Pennsylvania Regi- ment, served in the Spanish-American war, died while in the army at Ponce, Porto Rico; Angie Beatrice, resides with her parents in Simpson, McKean county, Pennsylvania. 3. David Thomas, born October 11, 1849; mar- ried Cora Brainerd, of Fredonia, New York ; both living: children: Odella, lives in Fre- donia; Laforest, lives in Seattle. 4. Mary Emily, born February 19, 1852 ; married ( first ) William Godfrey, who died at North Bay, New York, leaving a son John, who resides at Rew, Mckean county, Pennsylvania ; she mar- ried (second) John Walters, retired, living at Rew : no issue. 5. Olive Huldah, born May 3, 1854, died December 2, 1889; married Andrew Kittell ; their only child, Zela, is deceased. 6. Henry B., born January 8, 1857, died Novem- ber, 1909; married Flora Kittell; children: Dora, of Buffalo, New York; Flora, of Tona- wanda, New York; Olive, of Tonawanda; Herbert, of Duke Center, Pennsylvania ;
Henry, resides in Buffalo; Joseph, also re- sides with his mother. 7. Nora Alice, born February 28, 1860; married Lewis L. Maltby, of previous mention. 8. Harriet Ann, born March 18, 1862, died 1883; married M. L. Acox, a hotelkeeper of Pittsfield, Pennsyl- vania; children: James, lives in Ohio; Clar- ence, deceased. 9. Angie J., born November 22, 1864, died October, 1906; married (first ) Alfred Roberts, (second) James Griffin ; chil- dren : Thomas, Charles and Harry, all resi- dents of North Bay. 10. John William, born November 11, 1866, died September 17, 1867. Children of Lewis Lathrop Maltby: I. Olive Harriet, born at Eden Centre, New York, Sep- tember, 1882; married, March 5, 1902, Wesley J. Benjamin, of Bradford, born February 20, [879; children : Myron L., born February 14, 1903; Aletha, September 26, 1906. 2. Fred- erick Valors, born at Wyandale, New York, March 22, 1884; married, June 9, 1909, Nelle Brown. 3. Bessie Lathrop, born in Wyandale, New York, April 22, 1887; married Norman Rathfon, born November 19, 1884; children : Griffith Lewis, born February 12, 1906; Ruth Louise, September 21, 1907 ; Norman L., Sep- tember 12, 1909; Donald Lathrop, December 8, 1910. 4. Clara Belle, born in Wyandale, New York, December 25, 1889, died January, 1890. 5. Sarah Alice, born in Bradford, Pennsyl- vania, December 28, 1892, died September 25, 1893. 6. Louise Irene, born November 9, 1894, in Bradford; a student in Bradford high school. 7. Margaret Beatrice, born November 28, 1897, in Bradford; a student in the high school, passing her entrance examinations with the highest general average ever given a stu- dent in similar examinations.
BEATTY The Beattys came to the north of Ireland from Scotland, and after several generations there a descendant, William Beatty, born 1783, came to the United States. He was a good black- smith, but seems to have been an equally good teamster and driver. He spent most of his life in this country in Armstrong county, Penn- sylvania, and was one of the old stage coach drivers running from Philadelphia to Pitts- burgh. He was a strong Democrat, and a Presbyterian. He died in Armstrong county, in 1867. He married Isabella Colwell, born in Ireland, in 1789. died in Armstrong county, 1873. Children, all born in Armstrong county : I. James, deceased. a cabinetmaker and mer-
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chant ; married Catherine Richards ; children : William, Mary, Michael, Miles, John, Samuel, Daniel, Ruth and Catherine. 2. William, died in Manorville, Pennsylvania, a blacksmith ; married Jane Patterson ; children : Hamilton, Hannah, John K., deceased; Isabella, Mary,
William. 3. Absalom, of whom further.
4.
Isabella, married Jacob Brewer, a farmer, both deceased : children : Matilda. William, Samuel and Daniel. 5. Robert, died in Manorville, a blacksmith ; married a Miss Grim, also de- ceased ; children : Mary, Jane, James, Milton and Robert. 6. Margaret, died in Pittsburgh ; married Samuel Patterson ; children : Miller, James, Mary, Anna, Mary Ellen, James and Henry. 7. Jane, died in Pittsburgh ; married William Bollman : children : James, Agnes, Robert, Emma, Mattie and Samuel. 8. Sam- uel, died in Tarentum, Pennsylvania ; a farmer ; married Mary Mott ; children : David, Noah, Mary, Sarah, William (twin of Sarah), Ab- salom, Samuel, Howard, Martha, Nancy and Margaret.
(II) Absalom, son of William and Isabella (Colwell) Beatty, was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, in 1819. He attended the public school for a few years, but at an early age left school to become a bread winner. He learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed several years, but later became a farmer of Manor township, continuing until his death, October 2, 1882. He was a man of influence in the Democratic party, and held several township offices. He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church, and from 1854 until his death in 1882 held the high office of elder. His wife was also a faithful active member. He married Sarah Patterson, born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1812, died in Leeper, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, Octo- ber, 1895, daughter of William Patterson, born in Derry, Ireland, where he followed the trade of weaver until shortly after his marriage, when he came with his bride to the United States, settling in Wilmington. In 1812 he moved to Manor township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, bought a farm and there ended his days. He married Sarah Henry, born in Derry, Ireland, died in Manor township. Chil- dren : 1. Sarah, of previous mention ; married Absalom Beatty. 2. William, born 1814, in Wilmington, Delaware, died in Indiana county, Pennsylvania ; a carpenter; twice married; a son William now lives in Indiana county. 3. Samuel, born 1816, in Nobleston, Allegheny
county, died in Pittsburgh ; a wagonmaker ; married Margaret Beatty, a sister of Absalom. 4. Jane, born 1818, died at Manorville, Penn- sylvania ; married William Beatty, brother of Absalom. 5. Robert, born 1820, died in Alle- gheny, Pennsylvania; blacksmith; married Martha Mahaffey; children: James, Lewis, Margaret, Anna, Catherine and Emma. 6. Mary, born 1822, died in Kittanning, Pennsyl- vania; married Noah Wolf, a farmer; chil- dren : Sarah Jane, married William Huston ; Finley, an attorney of Kittanning; Perry, de- ceased; Wesley, a physician of Allegheny, Pennsylvania ; Dorcas, unmarried, resides with her brother Dr. Wesley Wolf.
Children of Absalom and Sarah Beatty, all born in Manor township, Armstrong county : I. William James, born 1838, died young. 2. Mary, born 1840; resides in Dayton, Penn- sylvania ; unmarried. 3. Isabella, died young. 4. Robert E., born 1844, died in Dayton, Penn- sylvania, 1910; a veteran of the civil war ; mar- ried Anna Stewart, who survives him, residing on the farm at Dayton ; children : Perry, Ella, Minnie, Percy, McCurdy, Maude, George, Thomas, Ellis, Marlin, and Sarah, died young. 5. Joseph, died young. 6. James, died young. 7-8. Died at birth. 9. Lizzie, born February 14, 1848; married Squire Calvin Wilson, and re- sides at Callensburg, Clarion county ; "Squire" Wilson has been justice of the peace for forty years ; is postmaster, and a veteran of the civil war; no issue. 10. Smith Graves, of whom further.
(III) Dr. Smith Graves Beatty, youngest child of Absalom and Sarah ( Patterson ) Beat- tv. was born in Manor township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1854. He obtained his education in the public schools, finishing at Freeport Preparatory School. In 1870 he thought the public school at Pine Creek Furnace, and in 1871 became a clerk in a Manorville store. He also clerked in Youngs- town, Ohio, and Parker's Landing, Pennsyl- vania, continuing in that line of work until 1877. He then sold pianos on the road for Washburn & Shaffer for a short time, then in 1878 became clerk in a drug store at Millville, now Hawthorne, Pennsylvania, continning until 1880. During the years spent in the drug business he had been reading and studying medical works, and in 1880 entered the Col- iege of Physician and Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1882. He at once began practice in
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Clarion county, Pennsylvania, continuing until December 1, 1907, very successfully. He then located in Kane, Pennsylvania, where he is now well established in practice, and prosper- ous. He was physician to the board of health of Clarion county several years, is now med- ical examiner for several old-line insurance companies, and is regarded as a particularly skillful, honorable physician and surgeon. He is a member of the State Medical Society and of the County Medical Society of Clarion and Mckean counties. He is a member of Kane Lodge, No 329, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a member of the Presby- terian church, which he has served as trustee.
He married, December 20, 1882, at Scotch Hill, Clarion county, Sarah Thompson, born there September, 1857, obtaining her education in the public school. She is a daughter of William Thompson, born near Clarion, Penn- sylvania, in May, 1816. He resided at Thomp- son's Eddy, on the river, in Clarion county, until 1865. then moved to Scotch Hill, where he died February 8, 1895, a lumberman and farmer. He married Levina Confer, born near Fryburg, Clarion county, February 22, 1826, died in Kane. August 23, 1908. Children, all born at Scotch Hill: 1. Clarence, 1849, died young. 2. Mary, born March 22, 1850; mar- ried Manus Henry, whom she survives, resid- ing at her farm near Scotch Hill; children: Ella, Ethel and Edna. 3. Milton, born 1851, died young. 4. Perry, born March, 1853; a farmer ; married Mabel Reynolds, who sur- vives him, residing in Corsica; children : Blanche, Walter and Charles. 5. Theophilus, born February, 1855; married Flora Carley, and resides on his farm at Scotch Hill ; chil- dren : John, William, Alberta, Joseph, Olive, and an infant. 6. Sarah, of previous mention ; wife of Dr. Smith Graves Beatty. 7. Benton, born 1859, died near Scotch Hill, 1874. 8. Anna, born 1862; married Martin Spence. a carpenter, and resides at Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania ; children : Reynolds, Lee, Alice, Manda, deceased; Sarah, deceased ; Samuel Harold, and Rose, deceased. 9. Rosa Belle, born June, 1864; married George W. Kerr Jr., and resides in Forest county, Penn- sylvania ; children: Sadie, Willa, Theodore, Flora, Ella, Elder, Grace and William. 10. Melissa, born 1866, died young. 11. Samuel, born July. 1872; married Letitia Carl, and lives on his farm at Scotch Hill; children:
Claire, Geraldine, Clifford, Frank and an in- fant.
William Thompson, father of Mrs. Dr. Beat- ty, was the son of Samuel Thompson, born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a lumberman, who spent his adult life near Scotch Hill, Clarion county. He was born 1790, died 1870. His wife, a Miss Cathers, was born in Reynolds- ville, Pennsylvania, 1790, died in Fisher, Penn- sylvania, 1867. Their children, all born near Scotch Hill : 1. Rosanna, born 1810, died 1907; married Thomas Dougherty, born in Ireland ; children : Samuel; Josephine, married G. W. Fuller ; Dallas; James; Jennie, married a Reynolds, of Reynoldsville. 2. Joseph, born 1812, died in Condor, Iowa, 1900; a farmer ; married Nancy Fulton ; children : Sarah, Edith, Charles and others. 3. Alexander, died young. 4. William, of previous mention. 5. Cyrus, born 1825, died at Scotch Hill, 1912; married Mary Harvey. 6. Jane, born 1827, died at Fisher, Pennsylvania, 1910; married Adam Potter, a farmer now living at Fisher, aged ninety-one years ; no children. 7. Nancy, born 1829, died at Shippensville, Pennsylvania ; mar- ried William Lawhead, a farmer ; children : Nancy, Edith and others. 8. Catherine, born 1830; married Robert Hindman, a farmer, whom she survives, residing in Brookville, Pennsylvania ; children : Clara, Thompson and Blanche, all deceased. 9. Clara, died unmar- ried.
Children of Dr. Smith G. and Sarah ( Thomp- son) Beatty: I. De La Rue, born at Scotch Hill, October 18, 1883; mechanic; married Olive Rogers, of Tionesta, and resides in Kane ; children : Angela, Sarah, Charles, Lee, Rogers and Lloyd. 2. Orah T., born at Scotch Hill, July 16, 1885 ; a telegrapher ; married Mildred Millet, and resides at Lamont, Pennsylvania ; children : Donald, born 1905; Dwight, 1908. 3. Charles McIntosh, born in Clarion, Penn- sylvania, April 24, 1888; graduate of Dech- man Preparatory School, Baltimore; now a student at College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore. 4. Smith Graves (2), born in Leeper, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1895 ; student in Kane high school. 5. Pearl Kathleen, born in Leeper, October 14, 1897.
The Ryans herein recorded de- RYAN scend from Irish forbears of coun- ty Limerick, Ireland, where the family lived for many generations. The grand-
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ยท parents lived and died in Ireland, devoted members of the Roman Catholic church. Their children : 1. John, of whom further. 2. Mich- ael, died in Canada ; was a farmer, living near Dunville ; married Margaret Hayes, from near Niagara Falls, also deceased ; children : Thomas and James, the former living in Buffalo, a grocer, the latter living in Canada. 3.
married a Mr. Reagan. 4. James, died in Buf- falo, New York; married and had issue : John and James, living in Buffalo; Margaret, mar- ried Albert Hett, of Buffalo; Mary, living in Cleveland, Ohio; Nellie, living in Buffalo, un- married ; Annie, deceased.
(II) John Ryan was born in the parish of Caharass, county Limerick, Ireland, in 1807. He was well educated in the schools of Ire- land. He married, and in 1837 emigrated to Canada, settling first at Lundy's Lane, later at Robinson's Road, where he and his two brothers bought a large tract of land. He, however, only remained there two years, then moved to Arthur, and later to Guelph, Canada, where he purchased a smaller farm, which he cultivated until his death, about 1875. Both he and his wife were members of the Roman Catholic church. He married Mary McGuaine, born in county Clare, Ireland, in 1813, died in Guelph, Canada, 1889. Brothers and sisters of Mary McGuaine: 1. John, was a soldier in the Brit- ish army before coming to Canada, and at the time of his death was proprietor of the Prince Albert Hotel, Niagara Falls, Canada. 2. Owen, sailed for Trinidad, South America, and all trace lost. 3. Frank, died in Toronto, Canada ; married and had issue : Kate, married Thomas Nolan, a grocer, living in Toronto; Frank; James ; Lucy ; Dora, and probably others. Chil- dren of John and Mary Ryan, all born in Ire- land: I. Thomas Henry, of whom further. 2. Michael, born 1843, died July 3, 1863, in Balti- more, Maryland. 3. James, born 1847, died in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, July, 1910; a com- mission merchant; married Margaret Wald- man, of Guelph ; child, James H., born 1891, a market gardener, resides in Guelph with his mother.
(III) Thomas Henry, eldest son of John and Mary (McGuaine) Ryan, was born on the Browning estate nine miles from the city of Limerick, Ireland, August 26, 1841. He was six years old when his parents emigrated to Canada, settling at Lundy's Lane, thence at Robinson's Road, two and a half miles from Dunville. Here he attended the public school.
His father then moved around, living in dif- ferent places, finally settling at Guelph in the province of Ontario in 1858. Thomas H. re- ceived little more schooling, but early became a worker on his father's farm. Later he went to St. Mary's, Canada, and began driving a team for a contractor, who was constructing a sec- tion of the Grand Trunk railroad. He remain- ed with him until 1859, when he came to the United States, settling at Brandy Camp, Elk county, Pennsylvania, where he drove a team until April 19, 1861, when he enlisted in Com- pany G of the Pennsylvania "Bucktail" Regi- ment, serving three years. He saw hard serv- ice, was wounded at Antietam, September 16, 1862, and again at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. He was honorably discharged and mustered out July 11, 1864.
After his war experience he returned to Brandy Camp, where until the autumn of 1864 he was in charge of the farm of Mrs. B. P. Little. He then during the winter of 1864-65 was employed skidding logs for Chauncey Brockway. In the spring of 1865 he was raft- ing on the river and worked in the saw mills until August of that year. He then entered the oil fields, working in Titusville and through the Venango field, finally in September, 1865, settling in Kane, which has ever since been his home. For a time he was in the employ of General Kane, and in 1868 entered the service of the Pennsylvania railroad, continuing with them eighteen and a half years. From 1893 until 1903 he was superintendent in charge of the Mckean county poor farm, a period of about nine years that he was away from Kane. In the meantime he had secured oil leases and after leaving the superintendency devoted him- self to oil production, in which he was very successful. He is an independent Republican ; was township treasurer for several years and for two years councilman of Kane. He is an attendant of the Episcopal church. He is an ex-member of the Union League Club of Phila- delphia, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He stands high in the Masonic order; is past worshipful master of Kane Lodge, No. 566, Free and Accepted Masons, having been made a Mason at Smethport in Mckean Lodge, No. 388, in 1868, forty-four years ago. He is a companion of Kane Chap- ter, No. 279, Royal Arch Masons ; a knight of Trinity Commandery, No. 58, of Bradford, Knights Templar, and in the Scottish Rite he longs to Presque Isle Lodge of Perfection at
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Erie, Pennsylvania, and to Coudersport Con- sistory, holding the thirty-second degree. He is highly regarded among his brethren and held in the greatest esteem by his business asso- ciates and social acquaintances.
He married, June 3, 1866, Harriet Marsh, born in Rockingham, Vermont, May 14, 1843, died in Kane, June 7, 1904 ( for Marsh family see Davis sketch in this work). Children, all born in Kane: 1. Catherine Marsh, born April 21, 1867; graduated from Lock Haven Nor- mal School, 1887, and from Bellevue Training School for Nurses, 1898; resides in Kane with her father ; member of the Episcopal church. 2. Benton Charles, born August 17, 1868; now a conductor on the P. S. & N. railroad ; mar- ried (first) June 14, 1893, Agnes Marr, born in Tamaqua, died in Renova, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1894; child, Agnes, born April I, 1894; married (second) October 11, 1899, Margaret McCarthy, of Smethport, and resides at St. Mary's, Pennsylvania ; children : Robert, born in Kane, September 14, 1900; Marian, born in Kane, January 6, 1902; Alice, born in Smethport, June 5, 1904; Timothy, born May 31, 1906. 3. Josephine, born May 16, 1871; married, August 21, 1895, Ralph P. Yerdon, traveling salesman for the Cary Safe Com- pany of Buffalo, New York, and resides in Kane. 4. Myra, born March 23, 1873; mar- ried John K. Morrison, a farmer of Emporium, Pennsylvania ; children, all born at Emporium : Kendall, April 9, 1896; Thomas Cyril, Novem- ber 29, 1897; Clyde, January 28, 1900; Max- well, August 26, 1902. 5. Edmund Locke, born February 18, 1875; an attorney at law, prac- ticing in Buffalo; married (first) Della Hicks, of Des Moines, Iowa; child, Thomas Henry, born in Kane, February 11, 1900; married ( second) Lillian May Patterson, of Connaught, Ohio; children : Dorothy, born in Kane, July 13, 1903; Catherine Marsh, born in Olean, New York, December 28, 1908. 6. Ruth, born March, 1877, died 1880. 7. Mary Louise, born January 17, 1879 ; married Roy Carleton Gif- ford, son of Warley Gifford, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. 8. Harriet, married R. C. Gleason, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this work. 9. Florence, born November 29, 1883, died March 31, 1901. IO. Jennie, born August 15, 1887; graduate from Kane high school, class of 1906, now living with her father at the family home in Kane. The mother of these children was a
devoted Christian woman, a member of the . Episcopal church.
The ancestors of the present fam- GILLIS ily were members of the Gillis clan, who moved from Scotland to the north of Ireland at the time of the perse- cutions.
(I) Robert Gillis, the first member of this family about whom we have definite informa- tion, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1740, three days after the landing of his par- ents, and died at Hebron, Washington county, New York, in 1836. His young manhood was spent as a sailor on coasting vessels running between Boston and New Orleans and other American ports. He married (first) Jerusha Clark, of New Hampshire, (second) Sarah Stewart. Of the five children by the first wife all lived to at least eighty years of age, and one, John, died at the age of ninety-three. Children of second wife: I. Enos, died at Ridgway, Elk county, Pennsylvania, aged sixty-seven ; a tan- ner. 2. Samuel, died at Wasseon, Ohio, aged eighty-four ; a tanner. 3. James Lyle, of whom further. 4. Thomas, born June 10, 1794, died at Warren, Warren county, Pennsylvania; a tailor ; married, had at least one child. 5. Eliz- abeth, died at the age of fifty-five; married Elisha Ingersoll. 6. Hugh, deceased.
(II) James Lyle, son of Robert and Sarah (Stewart) Gillis, was born at Hebron, October 2, 1792, died at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, July 8, 1881. He received a good education, attend- ing the common school three months in the year. Although his educational opportunities were meager compared to those offered in our time, he made the most of them. In 1808 his parents went to Argyle, New York, and here he served an apprenticeship of three years at the tanner's trade. In 1812, immediately after the declaration of war between Great Britain and the United States of America, he enlisted in the mounted dragoons, commanded by Cap- tain C. V. Boughton. This was an independent company, and served as the escort of General Hull. When the regiment went into winter quarters, James Lyle Gillis enlisted again, this time under the command of Colonel Stone. During the year he was at Fort George with General McClure; after the abandonment of this fort he was sick and was sent to Batavia, New York. In the meanwhile Buffalo, Lewis- ton, Youngstown, Black Rock, and Manches-
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ter were captured and burned, and in the win- ter of 1813-14 Captain Boughton's company was discharged. In the following spring Mr. Gillis again enlisted for one year, and he was in the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane. He was wounded at Lundy's Lane and his horse was shot from under him. On the sev- enth of August he was in charge of sixteen men sent on a foraging expedition ; they were surprised and four were killed; nine, includ- ing Mr. Gillis, were captured, and they were confined at Toronto, Kingston, Prescott and Montreal. Mr. Gillis with twenty-five others was put on board the transport "Stately," No- vember 14, 1814, which was about to sail for England, but he and five others escaped in a boat and landed near Quebec. After wander- ing in the woods three days they met a French- man, who agreed to conduct them to a place of safety, but they were again taken by the British and kept at Halifax until peace was made in the spring of 1815. For some time after the war Mr. Gillis lived at Victor, New York, and worked with his brothers, Enos and Samuel, at tanning. In 1822 he came to Jef- ferson, now in Elk county, Pennsylvania, and settled in the wilderness, seventy miles from the nearest postoffice, and with no neighbor nearer than sixteen miles. Here he cleared what is now the Montmorenci farm, and built a saw mill and grist mill three miles west of Montmorenci. He was the first to manufac- ture lumber on a large scale in this district. In the new community he became a leader. Being appointed associate judge of Jefferson and Franklin counties, he held this office for two terms. In 1840 he was first elected to the state legislature, in which he served three terms in the house and three terms in the senate. Then in 1856 he was elected to membership in the United States house of representatives. In the same year he was a delegate to the con- vention which nominated James Buchanan for president of the United States ; President Bu- chanan and James Lyle Gillis were intimate friends. The last office which he held was that of agent for the Pawnee Indians, to which he was appointed in 1859. Three years later he went to Iowa and there lived with his son, Charles B. Gillis, until the latter's death. James Lyle Gillis was thus a leading figure in the affairs of his time and in the pioneer activities of Elk county. He was a Democrat. He at- tended the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his second wife was a member.
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