New-York tribune., 1868-01-04
OBITUARY.
DEATH oF PROFESSOR GILLESPIE.

DEATH OF PROFESSOR GILLESPIE.
In the death of Professor WILLIAM MITCHELL
GILLESPIE ILL. D. winch took place on New Year oa!' ~
the residence Of his father in this city the scenthc worm
has lost active and enthusiastio member 'he "
education teacher Of accomplishments ana success
and the social circle genial and cultivated eompanioH
whose cheerful presence wont, at tins hondsy son
especialy to grace many friendly reunion with ~.
smiling earnesness. Professor Gillespie was NATIVE vi
New-York where he was born In lsle, ana having Ie-
ceived the bonors OF Columbia College In lo4 dcVoieu
several years to study and travel in foreign countries
Upon his return America, In si5, he published sli
tied volume Of travels, entitled "Home as seen
bv n New.Yorkor IN l9S-H" a portion OF
which had previously appeared IN tho '"i"'
OF letters to TIE TRIBUNE For some tme he was he
oueut contributor tie columns OF TINS JourLai luis
lur articles on variety OF current topcs, mostly OF
literary nature and marked by his characteristic versa
ty ccpousness Of illustration, and ease ana energy o
expresson In lsl5 also lie appointed professor OF
civil engineering IN Union College, which once he heiu
upt the time Of his death During this year, ne pun
lished q practical manual foE road makhg' ehtl'icu
Roads ard Railroads" which soon attained the rank OF
standard authority on the subject, ana has SINCE pscu
tbrouc oh many editions Professor Gillespie was warm
admirer of the philosophy OF NJ Aueuste Comte ana III
1851 published abstract OF portion OF MS "rhsS
entitled the Philosophy OF Mathemates'' WHICH was
too remote from tie prevailing ideas on that brnnch o
science to meet with eminent previous vol
acter and had the fate, perhaps not singular OF poS
largely pagarzed and Incorporated into tie treate
OF mathematical teacher ia another cry, VINO pun
lishcd 1t as his own production, but subsequently,
recanted his claims to its authorship Professor Gillespie
was man Of great vvacity Of temperament, social IN s
disposition and habits fond OF intercourse with intelligent
and cultivated men, with brilliant conversational powers
though his rapdity Of thought sometimes impaired his
ease of utterance little addicted TO Ingenious paradox,
and with ptess contempt Tor everything like can't
prctcnse and hypocrisy. His Ideas Oh the highest qnes-
tons Of thought emphatcay bis own In the Tor
nation Of his orirons lie acknowledged no superior,
enced external authority, followed no precedent
accepted traditions, and took no counsel OF custom or
cEample AbOUt year ago he went abroad. Atthat
time he appeared to have taken sght Col. winch was
attended with cough. His trip was undertaken WIN
purpose Of attending the Paris Exposition He came from
Schenectady the day before Christmas, accompanied by
his wife, aud went to the house OF ms parents No Izg
West Thirteenth-st. He had attended college regularly
every day though so weak attcrly that he could hardly
drag himself along; and hsde wien he reIdinea run
Europe, about the l5,A OF september last' nc
who In repeated his observations aloud TO tue class
upon the state Of MS health assured him that there was
organic difficulty, but simply temporary affection oi
his cough proceeded from the stomach ana that MS us
were sonnl aud they told him. nh,reioIe' no ITO
| throat at the same time CHARGING him neither ne
TO lecture study hard; but he did both.
When he left Schenectady for this city he expected to re-
nrn In a week On EcHYear's day ne dressed huself
and sad ne would 20 PACK 10 Coii.sG On ~ D n
Sunday last, said he had consumption and oonelua.u
go his work. and his convictions Of the duty he must
perform at College, were 80 potent, t9eehGT
that lie banished tho idea Of inability, de-
| clared 10 tho doctor that be knew be was oIy
pOrariy Ill., and that he was dccrnind 70 GO back 10
college notwithstanding his physician told MN u ne NJ
tempted to lie would IAN down Ly The way Darins
tho summer " was his custom 70 lecture on
and In the afternoon ~ the day oi his demise he asked ms
wife to save paper for reference which con,aiheG an u
Church A few minutes before he expired lac walked to
ing open the windows-t Is close" She took him IN her
arms laid him Oh the bed, and be cohtinucd to gasp
shorter shorter with each repeated breath uniil he
ceased to breathe altogether Ia ilfte minutes ph 'le
Mr. James Gillespie and wife, aro quite aged He ~as
their only child. and though they were much sti!cAen
pPiyiieee accorded them that lie cauio home
husband and father. lie leaves a widow and
an only child. William Mitchell Gilslie. LAD three years
old. who "a at home III schenectady During al ~ ilncss
IL Prot Glespies custom 10 speak eheeriuy o tho
state Of his health and he always replied 10 inquire.
upon the subject that lie was very weli 70 sohciios
was he TO avoid giving his mother pain upon his ailmcu
that he be gcd Of his phy scian DR. Jane, Anderson not
TO report ~ her his opinion oil his cnucal stare
SAMUEL WORKS.
Mr. Samuel Works, wcll-known citizen of
Lockport " " Is dead. lie born IN Vermont, and
over half century ago moved to Rochester, where he
establshtd himself as a tanner and curficr In 1881 he
sent 10 tho state Senate, where lie Ia' %n active
worker eight years.
ISAAC ABBATT
The Secretary OF the Mutual Life Insurance
Company Mr.. Isaac Abbatt died on NewYear's Day Of
affection of the heart surernduee9 by eout Nj hhbatt
was Is years connected with the Company a.t af the
time Of its Organization was It's only boOkkccpcr.
wM. VI. FERRY, A WESTERN PIONEER
The Detroit Post announces the death Of
william NJ Ferry, the oIost settler OF that paFt of west
ern Michigan lying upon the eastern shore OF Lake Meh
gan north OF the Kalamazoo River and ono OF the most
widely respected and influential citizens of the western
half " the state. lie died at Grand Haven hich Dec
80 aged y years Mr.. Ferry born ~ Granny, Mass
sept T. 1876. After completing bis education ne became
Clergyman Of the Presbyterian Church, and very soon
removed TO the West and settled .Macknaw as ms
sOmary the Indians, over 40 years ago About 1871 he
removed Grand Haven with his family ~ little yes
sell we think the drst that entered that harhor ior
afv other purpose than 10 trade with The syagcs Here
he founded "a settlement which Is now thriving Town.
surrounded by cluster OF thriving yltge@ lie was ono
the perceive the future value q me immense
pine forests Of Michigan and soon commenced the manu-
acure OF lumber rapidly extending his operations along
the lnkeshorc until his family 70 largely engaged
m the business thar the several mills cut nud hpped
about 100000 feet OF lumber during the past ycar