Gill, Shiloah

The following data is extracted from Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois.

Shiloah Gill, an old Mexican soldier, and one of the pioneer settlers in Bowdre Township, was born at Gill's Mills, Bath County, Kentucky, September 11, 1827, and is a son of Samuel C. Gill, who was a son of Capt. Thomas Gill, a Revolutionary soldier and a son of the Irish waif (see history of the Gill family in America, by Thomas F. Gill).

Samuel C. Gill was horn in the state of South Carolina November 22, 1783, and was reared on a farm. He was wedded to Sarah Malone, a daughter of Jonathan and Mary Malone, the latter of whom lived to be nearly one hundred years old. The family came from Tennessee and settled in Montgomery County, Kentucky, later removing to Boone County, Indiana, where she died. Samuel Gill and wife were very poor, their stock of goods consisting of one bay pony, one dollar in money and a feather bed. They packed all on the back of the pony and settled in Bath County, Kentucky. He built a mill, one of the first built in that section. He after-ward entered large bodies of land in Putnam Montgomery, Boone and Henry counties, Indiana, and also entered several tracts in what is now Douglas County. It looks as if this old gentleman foresaw everything and selected the creme de la creme of the land. He became very prosperous. For twenty-five years he served as justice of the peace, and by virtue of that office he was also one of the justices of the Bath County court. I-Us first wife died in 1847 and in 1849 he married Elizabeth Reed. In about 1845 Samuel C. Gill sold the old mill, but stipulated in the deed that the place should ever be known as Gill's Mill.

Shiloah Gill grew to manhood on the farm and while attending school volunteered for the Mexican war and was soon ordered to the front. He was in the ranks of Capt. James Ewing and served through the whole war, handling a musket in many of the principal battles of that conflict. He was in the ranks when Gen. Scott marched triumphantly into the city of Mexico, and after the treaty of peace of Hidalgo, Guadaloupe, he returned home with his regiment by way of the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans.

On October 2, 1849, Mr. Gill married Sarah Ann, a daughter of William Anderson, of Bath County, Kentucky, where they remained until 1854, when they emigrated to Douglas County and settled on three hundred and twenty acres, where he now lives, and which was deeded to him by his father; he has since added two hundred and sixty acres more. His wife died about 1872. His second wife was Eliza Kensil. Her death occurred in 1874, and he was again married, September 1, 1875, this time to Mrs. Sarah (Dodge) Coots, who was born within six miles of Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio. The hospitality of Mr. Gill and his wife is well known and highly appreciated.

Source: Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois

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