Ernest Benjamin Gillis Family History

Rev. William McNab Gillis[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Male 1845 - 1928  (83 years)


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  • Name William McNab Gillis  [6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
    Prefix Rev. 
    Born 20 May 1845  Inverness, Megantic County, Quebec, Canada (Gillis Corners) Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14
    Christened 12 Mar 1849  Methodist Church, Leeds, Inverness, Quebec Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Alt. Birth 29 Apr 1849 
    Arrival 1869  [14
    Arrival 1869  [10
    FindaGrave Memorial ID 132610711 
    Name William McNabb 
    Residence 1880  Wardsboro, Windham, Vermont, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [11
    Residence 1900  Pine Island Village, Goodhue, Minnesota Find all individuals with events at this location  [13
    Residence 1910  Walnut Grove, Redwood, Minnesota Find all individuals with events at this location  [14
    Residence 1920  Windom, Cottonwood, Minnesota Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    _UID 22D0882A61384206A8DAD36F8D1066E63209 
    Died 1 Jul 1928  Windom, Cottonwood, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 7, 12
    • Y
    Person ID I34  Ernest Benjamin Gillis
    Last Modified 17 Dec 2023 

    Father William Gillis,   b. 20 Aug 1803, Glaslough, Monaghan, Ulster, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Dec 1889, Inverness, Megantic County, Quebec, Canada (Gillis Corners) Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 86 years) 
    Mother Nancy Robinson,   b. 5 Aug 1815, Armagh, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Jul 1887, Inverness, Megantic County, Quebec (Boutelle Cemetary) Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years) 
    Married 4 Mar 1833  Ch. Of England, Leeds, Megantic, Quebec, Can Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 7, 16, 17
    • It was a very stormy day and the wedding party walked up to their knees in snow from the bride's father's home, Samuel Robinson, on the Dublin Range,
      to the same place that another couple were also be married that day. There were no roads there in those days so they had to walk. After the wedding, the party walked back to Samuel Robinson's home.

      They were married at the home of Alexander Learmoth, a Church of England minister, on Grays Road, near the present town of Inverness, Megantic County, Quebec.

      Note: Repertory of Births, Marriages, and Burials, "The Anglo-Protestants of Megantic County", 1826-1991, from the LDS Family Library, lists William Gillis and Nancy Robinson's marriage date as March 4, 1833; in Church of England, by Leeds, witnesses: Alexander Learmoth and William Stele. [6, 7, 15]
    Gillis Siblings
    Gillis Clan
    Rochester, MN
    Front L-R: Rev. Wm. Gillis, Tom Gillis, Rev. Ben Gillis
    Back L-R: Rebecca "Rae" (Gillis) Garvin, Catherine (Gillis) Brown
    Gillis Family
    Gillis Family
    L-R: Rebecca "Rae" Gillis (?); Ezra Healy Brown, Catherine McNabb (Gillis) Brown; Mary (Parmalee) Gillis w/o Ben Gillis; Rev. Tom Gillis; Rev. Ben Gillis
    Family ID F12  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Mary Elizabeth Codville,   b. 11 Sep 1849, Quebec, , Qu?bec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Apr 1940, Windom, Cottonwood, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 90 years) 
    Married 24 Apr 1877  Quebec, , Qu?bec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 18
    • The couple married April 24, 1877 at 3pm in the afternoon in the home of her brother, in Quebec City. The service was performed by the Rev. H. E. Blaud.

      Their honeymoon consisted of a trip to Rutland, Vermont, where William was ordained as a minister and received his first appointment to the Methodist-Episcopal Church at Landgrove, Vermont. [6, 7]
    Children 
     1. Winnifred Martha Gillis,   b. 5 Mar 1878, Landgrove Town Center, Bennington, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Jul 1963, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 85 years)
     2. May Gertrude Gillis,   b. 20 Sep 1879, Landgrove Town Center, Bennington, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Feb 1980, Windom, Cottonwood, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 100 years)
     3. William Hilary Gillis,   b. 27 Jan 1881, Wardsboro, Windham, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Apr 1973, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 92 years)
     4. Edith Mabel Gillis,   b. 2 Jul 1882, Wardsboro, Windham, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Aug 1964, Windom, Cottonwood, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years)
     5. Ernest Benjamin Gillis,   b. 11 Jul 1888, South Royalton, Windsor, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Mar 1976, Redmond, King, Washington, United States Of America Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years)
    Last Modified 26 May 2014 
    Family ID F10  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Ernest's father, the Reverend William McNab Gillis, was born on 20 May 1845, the eighth of fifteen children (some records say May 7, 1843, some say 1846) in Inverness, Megantic County, Quebec, Canada (at Gillis Corners), the son of John William and Nancy (Robinson) Gillis. He was baptized June 26, 1843 Methodist Church, (Ireland). William's middle name, McNab, is likely in remembrance of the maiden name of his great-grandmother, Olive McNab, who married his great-grandfather Robert Gillis in Ireland in the 1700s.

      William McNabb Gillis spent his early life on his parent's farm. His parents were of sturdy Scots Irish stock, pioneers in the new country, and were sincere, devout Christians. These traits made a deep impression on William.

      William became a teacher in his home village school. He later went to an academy in Montpelier, Vermont, where with hard work and perseverance he was able to work his way through academy and then college. He graduated in 1876 from Wesleyan University in Middleton, Connecticut.

      William married Mary Elizabeth Codville on April 24, 1877 at 3pm in the afternoon in the home of
      Mary's brother, John James Codville, in Quebec City. The service was performed by the Reverend H. E. Blaud. Their honeymoon consisted of a trip to Rutland, Vermont at which time William was accepted into the Vermont Conference of the Methodist-Episcopal Church.

      Mary Elizabeth Codville was born on 11 September 1849 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, the daughter of Hilary Codville and Mary Ann Robinson. The details of how the couple met are unclear but Mary's mother, Mary Ann, had a brother who lived in Inverness and it is possible that William's mother, Nancy (Robinson) Gillis may also be related to Mary Ann. In addition, William's father worked for a Quebec merchant when he and Nancy first arrived in Canada, who may well have been Hilary Codville.

      William's first appointment was to the Methodist-Episcopal Church at Landgrove, Vermont and there the couple's first child, Winifred, was born in 1878. The next year, daughter May joined the family.The1879 Springfield District of the Vermont Annual Conference reported that William was assigned to Landgrove and Peru, VT. In 1880 he was listed as on probation (which means not yet ordained) and serving in Wardsboro, VT. It was in Wardsboro that the couple welcomed their first son, William Hilary in 1881 which also was the year that William was admitted to full connection ad Deacon (first stage of ordination) at the Vermont Annual conference. In July of 1882, daughter Edith was born in Wardsboro.

      Also that year (1882), William was assigned to Mechanicsville and Cuttingsville, VT to develop a church community and in 1883 it was reported that special revival services were held at the new Mechanicsville church under the direction of pastor Bro. Gillis, resulting in the conversion and addition to the church (on probation) twelve promising members. At the annual conference in 1883, William was designated as Elder.

      The 1885 report states: " Mechanicsville and Cuttingsville, VT By reading the early history of Methodism in preparing a centennial sermon, Bro. Gillis of Mechanicsville charge, received a feverish inspiration for soul-saving and in the Autumn, inviting his church to join him, he began meetings in a neighborhood where a revival of religion was greatly needed, and continued these meetings thirteen weeks. A glorious revival was the resumed; adding fifty or more probationers to the church, most of them adults, and heads of families." And the annual report of 1886: "The work on the Mechanicsville and Cuttingsville charge has been strengthened and enlarged by the earnest labors of the pastor, W.M. Gillis, the Cuttingsville appointment and vicinity in Shrewsbury, sharing more largely in a revival interest than during the previous year."

      William was assigned to West Fairlee, Post Mills, and Ely, VT in 1887, then transferred to a small church in South Royalton, Vermont where William and Mary welcomed their last child, Ernest Benjamin, in 1888. According to the book, "History of Royalton, Vermont," the Methodists had a building in South Royalton in 1851 which they shared at first with the Universalists. It was later completely rebuilt in 1890. As of 2002, the building was closed, but the church parsonage still stood where the Gillis family lived during William's assignment.
      T he 1890 Vermont Conference annual report states: "In June last the church at South Royalton, which had been entirely remodeled under the management of Pastor Gillis, was reopened with appropriate services. Rev. W.I Haven accepted an invitation to preach on the occasion."

      William served as pastor in South Royalton until early summer in 1891 when he transferred to the Minnesota Conference of the Church, where he held pastorates at Plainview (5 years), then Pine Island. During William's service at Pine Island, the Methodist church was rebuilt. The festivities in April of 1900 celebrated the efforts of William, the building committee, and the congregation.

      William and Mary celebrated their silver 25th wedding anniversary at Pine Island, MN. The Church there held a surprise reception for them. They knew nothing of the preparations until entering the church for what they had supposed was a weekly prayer meeting service. They found waiting for them not only a large audience of their own townspeople, but friends and relatives from a distance. The church was decorated with flowers, and short addresses were given by visiting ministers. Afterwards, friends gathered around to congratulate the couple and extend good wishes. Among many beautiful presents were a silver gold lined water set, fruit basket, cake basket, two sets of spoons, and 25 silver dollars. After the greeting, the company retired to the church parlors where light refreshments were served.

      William later served in Fairmont, MN, then Rushmore, MN, and was assigned to Walnut Grove (Redwood County, MN) in 1907. The English-speaking Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Walnut Grove in the summer of 1873. They built their first church in 1881-1882, dedicated in 1903. The Methodist Episcopal Church in Walnut Grove continues today as the Walnut Grove United Methodist Church. William served at Walnut Grove until 1915 when he retired from the ministry.

      After his retirement, William and Mary moved to Windom, Minnesota, to be near William's brother, Rev. B. C. Gillis, who was then pastor of the Windom Methodist-Episcopal Church. In that church, William served as superintendent of the Sunday School, and as an efficient friend and advisor for his brother. He was also active in all of the local and civic affairs of the community.

      William was loved and honored in every pastoral charge he served, and under his guidance four churches were built or remodeled. During the 38 years of his effective ministry, he never missed an appointment through sickness and not until he was over 81 years old was his natural strength abated.

      The couple celebrated their golden 50th wedding anniversary in a quiet way in their home on Sunday, April 24, 1927, leaving the large celebration over until Monday, to not hinder in any way the Sunday worship. That Sunday morning, it was William's privilege to baptize three of his own grandchildren, including Winnifred May (6 weeks old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Thompson), and Robert and Phyllis, children of his own son Ernest Benjamin, of Balaton, Minnesota. The church pastor, on behalf of the congregation, presented William and Mary with a bouquet of 50 red rose buds, thus in a small way showing the love and esteem in which the couple were held. On Monday at 1:00pm, at the Gillis home, an anniversary dinner was attended by all of their children. That evening, their daughter Edith (Mrs. J. O. Thompson) held a reception, attended by many friends. Most of the evening's entertainment was furnished by the talented family members, and included musical numbers with solos, duets, and a quartet composed of the four children with Edith at the piano. The Rev. Dr. Runkle, the district superintendent, gave several amusing readings. The guests presented a purse of gold to the honored guests as a token of their friendship; many letters and telegrams of congratulations were received.

      William attributed his success in the ministry and the happiness if life in large part to his helpmeet, Mary. She was a quiet person but the best of wives and mothers, her circle chiefly being her family and her church. She was devoted to her home and to her loved ones. One of her greatest joys in life was in contributing to missions.

      William was the type of man that his daily life preached the gospel more powerfully than it could have ever been preached from the pulpit. One of his favorite verses of Scripture was "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee", from the book of Psalms. Having served the Methodist Church as both beloved pastor and a friend of many people, he was always deeply respected in his local community.

      William died at home on Sunday, July 1, 1928. He had been confined to his bed for over 2 weeks, due to an attack of heart trouble and followed a spell of the grippe. He was 83.

      Mary passed away at age 90 on April 22, 1940. After William's death, and despite her advancing age, she kept up her own home, living there in summers and spending winters with her daughters also living in Windom. She died at her daughter Edith's home, after a 2-week illness.

      _______

      !BIRTH-CHRISTENING: Paul Vachon, THE ANGLO-PROTESTANTS OF MEGANTIC COUNTY,
      Repertory of Births, Marriages, and Burials; 1826-1991; Societe Genealogigue
      de la region de l'Amiante, Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada, 1992, Pub. No. 5;
      Births p101;US/CAN 971.4575 K2r,Fiche 6125775,LDS FHL Salt Lake City UT; NOTE:
      "(bapt) 12/03/1849 GILLIS, William Nab.
      (born) 29/04/1846 William (fa) & Nancy ROBINSON Inv.
      bapt.: Methodist Church (Ireland)"

      M210-2-000765 back of Twelfth leaf

      "William Nab son of William Gillis
      of the Township of Inverness Farmer
      and of Nancy Robinson his wife
      was born on the Twenty Ninth day of
      April in the year of our Lord one Thou
      sand Eight Hundred and Forty Six and
      was baptized on this Twelfth day of
      March in the year one thousand Eight
      Hundred and Forty three in the presence
      of the subscribing witnesses by me
      R A Handry
      Clerk
      William Gillis
      Samuel Robinson" [6, 7]

  • Sources 
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