JOHN W. and DAVID P. GILL. - These gentlemen are numbered among the representative citizens and progressive farmers of Springfield township, where in partnership they now operate the old family homestead on section 30. This place is pleasantly located on the Beardstown road within two miles of the city of Springfield and is one of the most highly cultivated and best improved farms of that locality.

John W. Gill was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, October 19, 1851, while the birth of his brother, David P., occurred in Belmont county, Ohio, on the 17th of July, 1862. Their father, John W. Gill, was also a native of Ohio, born in the city of Mount Pleasant in 1809, and was a son of Joseph Gill, a native of Maryland. The Gill family is of English origin and was established in Maryland in early colonial days. On reaching manhood Joseph Gill married Nancy Hanna, who was born in Virginia. In early life he was a slaveholder in the south, but finally liberated his slaves and removed to Ohio, locating in Jefferson county, where he opened up a farm. In connection with his farming operations he also engaged in mercantile pursuits, conducting a store and mill in Mount Pleasant, and shipping flour quite extensively.

In his native state John W. Gill, Sr., grew to manhood and there married Miss Rhoda Smith, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, and is still living at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Her father, David Smith, was a native of New Hampshire and a pioneer of Ohio. Mr. Smith's father and his wife's father were both soldiers of the Revolutionary War. In early manhood John W. Gill, Sr., was engaged in manufacturing and mercantile business in the east, but in 1864 he came to Illinois, bringing with him his family, and settled just west of Springfield, where the family still reside. Here he purchased a tract of about three hundred acres of land and turned his attention to farming, first clearing and breaking his land, which was mostly wild and unimproved when it came into his possession. In his farming operations he met with excellent success and became quite well-to-do. After a useful and well spent life he passed away in 1873, honored and respected by all who knew him. His widow and six children are still living. Besides the two sons already mentioned, Joseph, the third of the family is now living in Indian Territory, and Charles W. makes his home in Galveston, Texas. Mary is the wife of A. Caldwell, of Ennis, Texas; and Jane W. is the widow of James L. Tolbert, of Springfield, Illinois.

The sons, John W. and David P. Gill, were reared upon the home farm and early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. After the father's death they took charge of the farm and business, which they have since carried on with gratifying results. In connection with general farming they are engaged in raising a good grade of stock and find that branch of their business quite profitable. In politics they are pronounced Republican, always supporting the men and measures of that party, and although they do not care for political honors, they take an active interest in public affairs and give their influence to those measures calculated to advance the moral, social and material welfare of the community in which they live. They are men of the highest respectability and their sterling worth commends them to the confidence and esteem of all with whom they are brought in contact.