My Genealogy Hound

DAVID H. GILL, who passed away in 1887, in the township of North Middleton, Cumberland Co., Pa., was one of the township’s most active and highly respected men.

(I) James Gill, his grandfather, was born in Ireland, and came to America early in the eighteenth century, locating in Lancaster county, Pa. He married a Miss Banton, of Ireland, and brought two sons with him, John and James. He did not remain long in Lancaster, but removed to Silver Spring township, Cumberland county, where he followed farming. His two sons Thomas and Robert, who were born in Ireland, did not accompany the family to America, coming later under the care of the captain of the boat on which they sailed.

(II) Robert Gill, father of David H., and son of James Gill, was born in Ireland, and when fourteen years of age came to the New World, as before mentioned, locating in Lancaster county, where he learned the trade of weaving. Later he joined his father in Cumberland county, and worked at his trade. He married Nancy Fisher, a daughter of James and Mary (Wilson) Fisher, of Silver Spring township. Buying a farm in Monroe township, the young man and his bride settled upon it, and there lived for sixteen years. The next removal was to South Middleton township, but after three years of farming there he went to Frankford township, remained three years, also farming, and then came to Carlisle and lived retired with his son David. His widow lives at Carlisle. The children born to this worthy couple were as follows: James died in Illinois; Mary married Jacob Gitter, and died near Newville; David H. is mentioned below; Catherine married John Lutz and is now living with her daughter in Carlisle; Jane married Dawson Quigley and is living at Carlisle; John married Becky Dorr and died in North Middleton township; Elizabeth married George Boyer, and died at Harrisburg; Maggie married Cyrus Nickey, and lives at Carlisle. The father of this family died with his daughter Catherine, near Shippensburg.

(III) David H. Gill was born in Silver Spring township in 1828, and received an excellent common-school education. In 1856 he married Miss Jane Bistline, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Miller) Bistline, of Cumberland county, and for a year after marriage they were settled at Kingston, then removing to Carlisle, where Mr. Gill conducted a hotel for seventeen years. He became a well known man in that locality, and one universally liked. A proof of his popularity was shown when he was elected sheriff of Cumberland county, which responsible office he held for three years. In 1878 he purchased a fine farm in South Middleton township, consisting of 100 acres, and later bought 100 acres in North Middleton township, where he followed farming, stock raising and dealing in stock. So successful did he become at stock raising that he became well known throughout the country as a stock breeder.

Mrs. Gill and their one daughter, Mrs. Laura Sanders, live in Carlisle, where they have a beautiful home. They are highly respected in the city, and prominent in many charitable enterprises. Laura married William Sanders, and had two children; George, who died Aug. 29, 1903, aged nineteen years, eight months and four days; and Jennie, who is at home with her mother and grandmother.