My Genealogy Hound

John B. Gilles. From the biography of every man there may be gleaned some lessons of genuine worth; for here we discover the secret of success or failure. In the history of John B. Gilles, one of Mississippi County’s active and progressive planters is found much to commend. He was born in Dyer County, Tenn., in 1854, being the youngest of twelve children born to William Allen and Sallie (Boone) Gilles, who were also Tennesseans, the former a farmer and blacksmith by occupation, and a mail route agent. He died in 1855, followed by his wife in 1860. John B. Gilles spent his youth on a farm, and at the time of his mother’s death removed to Woodruff County, Ark., where he remained five years, then went back to Tennessee. In 1873 he returned to Arkansas and located in Mississippi County, in Chickasawba Township, where he engaged in farming on the old Cook plantation. In 1879 his marriage with Miss Josephine Thompson was consummated, and he soon after purchased 160 acres of wild land four miles southeast of Blythesville, which he began immediately to improve, and now has twenty-three acres under cultivation; has erected good buildings, and has a good orchard of choice varieties of fruits. Mrs. Gilles is a native of Mississippi County, and is a daughter of James Olliver Thompson, a very early resident of that county. She and Mr. Gilles are the parents of three children: Carrie R., Samuel Jones and one unnamed.