The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1868-12-02

h the arnicsbie settlement Of the die
pute.' ~ .r. ... #...-'01, - - :
I The site Of Columbia was finally
selected Tor the seat OF government
! chiefly oh acsonHt OF i.s central location
az we'll ~ Il being q, the head Of bo.,
navigation. which was an important
consideration in those times when rail
roads we're unknown in this country.
Commodore Gil lon was appointed one
OF the Commissioners for surveying the
town and lay ing il on. into Streets
The great taste and admirable foresight
displayed in the execution Of this com.
mssion has ever been source Of con
graduation. Columbia wa. universally
acknowledged to be one of the mos,
beautiful inland towns in the United
states ere it was subjected to the torch
OF General Sherman and his ho,de..
The family Bible Of Commodore
Gilions grandmother was sxtant as late
AS 1850. with the name Madame
Johanna LeGilIon written in il. dated
1000, and having the family coat Of
arms painted on the first Leaf.
Prior TO Commodore GilIon's arrival
in Char'estoh in 1766, he spent some
tbtee Or four years in London after hav-
ing eerved an apprenticeship in a count.
ing house in his native country. On
board the vessel in which Commodore
Gillon came from Englahd to Charles.
ton. Mrs. Mary Cripps, a widow, and
her son. John Spla,t C,ipps. were fellow
passengers. They were highly respect.
able, genteel people. natives Of Kent
County. In England, emigrating to a
new coniitft with a considerable e.,ate.
Commodore Gillon formed an attach
men, for Mrs. Cripps during the pass,
age. and they were married in a few
months after their arrival.
Commodore Gillon lived in a hand.
some establishment on East Bay. tie
also had handsome country seat
on Ashley River, in the vicinity Of The
city, next South Of Middleton Place.
called Ashley Hill,
Commodore Glllou became acti, civ
engaged in mercantile pursuits in
Charleston, and was ccn-ide-ed a rich
Dutch merchant. lie associated with
him in business one of hi. own country
men, Florinn Charles Nav, and his
step son, John Sriatt Ctipps. The
finn continued succe,sful IN business uh
Ill May, 1777. at which time Commo-
iore Gilion retired, leaving the business
TO the other two part&ers, who became
Independent merchants.
Ia 1887 Ctnmodore Gillon became
a widower, Mrs. GilIon having died at
their country seat on the Ashley River.
Alter this he sold the place and settled
on Conga'ee River, three or four miles
above Toines., and called the place
Gillon's Retreat. which he emlellished
with his usual taste. In 1850 lie mar
,i"d Miss Ann Purcell. daughter Of the
Rev. DIR. Henry Purcell, rector Of ST.
Michaels Church. He continued to
live at this delightful establishment in
his u.uai expensive style, and was con-
sidersj a verv rich man. lie had
family OF three children - oo. ..l two
daughters.
Commodore Gillon died 10 1894, at
his retreat on the Congaree River, in
tie fihy.third year Of bis age. Shortly
afier his death, his widow, finding The
estate considerably embarrassed. gave
mp the property, and removed to
Charleston. Subsequently sire removed
70 the town Of Gtchfeld. in Connec,i>
cut, where she might live more frugaly
in her reduced circumstances. She
died in ls44, leaving several descend
| an;s.
The above is bu: brief sketch of
the public life and .ervices Of Commo,
dore Gillon, a Revolutionary hero.-
The survivors Of the German Fusiiier
Company may we'll feel proud Of him
M one Of the founGers and the FIRST
Captain Of that ancient corps: I, was
to such heroic and determined spirits
that our country wss indebted for the
achievement OF its independence, ard
its subsequent rapid advancement
anoDg the nations of the earth.
Charieston Courier.