The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-07-05


who died at Harrisburg soon after. All |
those named now sleep in the same
graveyard far away f,om the scenes Of
forest life in Ridgway.
Public schools had always his warm.
est support, and the Ridgway school
was greatly indebted to him for his indi.
vidual exertions in its support.
This brief sketch of Enos Gillis will
serve his friends aud relations who now
survive as memento Of his parental,
social kindness and moral worth,
Mcssrs. Wilmarth and Dickinson in
1882 partly on business and to visit the
ellis made an excursion into Pennsyl-
vania, via Smethport, Bunker Hill to
Ridgway-thoy had provided them
selves with q good stout two horse wag.
on and were accompanied by Mrs. W.
with child in her arms. They did
not reach Bunker Hill till late hour.
The fore part Of the evening was exces.
sively dark, and the road for the last
five miles was superlotioeIy bad. Mr..
Scull, who was acquainted with the
road, P. NJ. Dickinson walked at the
Horses heads carrying &" fox fire J"
which in the darkness that " could be
felt," shone quite iuminously On
emerging from the deep forest and
reaching the ascent of Bunker Hill
about midnight, the full moon had just
arose in her beautiful majesty, all fa-
tiguc and apprehension banished at
once as they drove up to the house Of
Samuel Gillis Esq, who then resided on
the premises, whose wife was sister of
Mr.. Wilmarth. A short and recogni.
ton soon brought all the male members
to the street, as much surprised as il
the party had dropped from the clouds,
chnnrfml mrnl and con yersation nro.
longed the night to near the day, Mr.
Gillis had just then taken contract to
make the turnpike from tho eleven
mile spring" to the " North Fork " and
he was then commencing shanty life.
Wilmarth and Dickinson on horse.
back reached his shanty next day ii
time for a dinner on pork and potatoes
Their appearance on the table was {
mystery to them where did they CONF
from AID how transported to this place
Tho answer was. The potatoes were
brought from the settlement (anothe
mystery and the pork had been packet
on thirty year old mule from Warrcl
by the mail boy to Montmorency thir
ty-fve miles thence fifteen miles to th
shanty? To those who colAe from
land of superabuudance, it appeared
like entrayogant living. Samuel Gill
saddled his horse and rode through t
Montmorcncy and Ridgway; Charlie
ellis, son Of Enos & a mere lad, was a
the shanty and came through also, an,
and here was first noticed, the perfec
ease horse that was accustomed to tn
paths would glide over the logs ant
stones, compared with those that hav
Just come from smoth clay roads. TIL,
cry of hold up" vas often heard a
: the experienced animals out distance
the others, The conversation durin,
? this ride will never be forgotten, Sam
: had very justly appreciated the richie
lying dormant and scattered over thi
vast territory. There was no mistak
, is his enthusiasm as to facts; he wa
] merely ahead Of the age. Wilmartl
was scoptical and had disputed severa
probabilities, till Sam was losing TEN
per- When to the question. "Wha
in Heavens name is to be done in, o
with this country" his impatience los
bounds. "Why l.. our vqllies contain
y the richest soil, the whole country i
covered with the finest white pine, wa
ter to convey it to market. Supera
: bundance of water power to manufactur
. and the hills are tull of the richest Iro
ore and coal-all that combines to max
a country rich and you a0W see 1t all,
as his eye dilated, his form seemed ex
) panded as he rose in his stirrups to poin
, out the existence Of these facts (thougI
: it was next too impossible TO discer
more than four rods, such was tn
density of the fOrest) Mr. W. mus
o have caught the inspiration as he in
| stantlU communicated tbo ,,,,o;..L . q -.