Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - GILLIES, Donald

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Pioneer - GILLIES, Donald

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906

GILLIES, Donald (d.). This old pioneer was b. in Inverness, Scot., in 1775, d. Guelph Tp., 1863, age 88 years. He and his family were of the band of Scotch settlers which included the Stirtons, Kennedys, Rose, Peters, McDonalds, Reids, and other, who emigrated from the port of Cromarty, Scot., in the ship Planet, to Venezuela in 1825, to seek homes. There they remained only eighteen months, when they embarked for Philadelphia, and arrived in Guelph in April, 1827. They set. on the Elora road, and were among the first settlers in Guelph Tp. This district was thereafter called the "Scotch Block." At the time of their advent the Elora road had been slashed, and the stumps taken out of about two rods in the centre of the road, otherwise the country was a wilderness, and wolves and bears were both numerous and troublesome. The late Donald Gillies had m. Jane Henderson, and the following children were born to them in Scot., viz.: John, Donald, Jr., d. unm., 1832; Duncan, d. unm., 1890, age 78; Angus, and Mrs. Wm. McRae. Angus is still living. He m. Johana Nagel (d.). No issue.

John, b. Scot., 1804, d. Guelph Tp., 1886, age 82 years. He m. Margaret Kennedy, who d. 1893, age 76 years. He first bought the Thring farm, and later purchased 76 and 114 acres. These farms he cleared and lived here until the time of his death. He was a man of strict integrity and held in high esteem in the community. He was very successful and left at the time of his death 198 acres of highly improved land and other property. The family were all members of the Roman Catholic church. Issue: Donald, John, Jr.; Mrs. Tobias Purcell, Mrs. Jacob Goetz, Margaret, Catharine, Mary, Annie, and William, d. unm.

John, Jr., owns the old homestead where he resides. He is one of the most progressive farmers in the district. The farm contains an up-to-date stone residence and good barns, with every evidence of thrift. He raises the best of stock, including Clydesdale horses, Cotswold sheep and Yorkshire pigs.

From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906