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Gillies, Major John, Gillies’ Hill,
Ontario, M.P.P. for North Bruce,
is a native of the Parish of Kilcalomnell, Argyleshire, Scotland. He is a
son of Hugh Gillies and Mary Blue, the latter being a descendant of one of
the old families of the West Highlands, who were
originally of the McDonald clan. Hugh Gillies
was a farmer, and came to. this country in 1855, settling in the township
of Elderslie, County of Bruce, where he remained engaged in farming until
his death in 1869. Mrs. Gillies died in Scotland. There was a family of
ten children, the subject of this sketch being the sixth eldest. Major
John Gillies received a parochial school education. At the age of sixteen
he left school, and having a desire to travel and to try his fortune in
the new world, he in company with his two brothers, Malcolm and Dugald
Gillies sailed for Awerica, and reached
Canada in August, 1852, and shortly afterwards settled upon a farm in the
township of Eiderslie, Bruce county, Ontario, and is now the possessor of
a splendid farm of 300 acres of land, on which he at present resides. Mr.
Gillies has taken some interest in militia affairs, and was appointed
senior major of the Canadian militia.
in 1856, he was elected township councillor of Elderslie, and continued
for many years in the council, being reeve for over fifteen years and
warden of the county for five years of that time. He has been provisional
director of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway, having taken mach
interest in railroad enterprises, In politics Mr. Gillies is a staunch
Liberal. He contested the North Riding of Bruce for the Commons against
Colonel Sproat, defeating him in 1872 by a majority of twenty-three votes,
and was elected by acclamation in 1874. In 1878, he again contested the
riding against Colonel Sproat, and gained the election by a majority of
156 votes. In 1882, after the
"gerrymander act," he was defeated by Alexander McNeil, being handicapped
in the constituency by nearly 400 votes. However, in 1883, Mr. Gillies
contested the same riding for the Ontario legislature against James Rowan,
and was elected by a majority of 120 votes. Mr. Gillies is one of the most
zealous and punctual members of the legislature, and devotes a great deal
of attention to public affairs, and especially to them that are of moment
to his own constituency. He does not often speak, but when he does, his
utterances are characterised by careful thought and a thorough knowledge
of the subject under discussion. In religion he is a staunch Presbyterian.
He is not married. |
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