Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-04-04
Death OF General g X. Gu.

on the evening of March 2s, 1883, at his
home at Blooming Grove. Dane county.
In his demise deep pang of sorrow is felt
by our community, Gen. Gill having
been so long and prominently connected
with Waterfowl as one of its residents.
For some years past deceased had been
in declining health, the result of disease
contracted in the army. During his last
few visits here it was painfully apparent
to his friends that his constitution was
shattered beyond hope of recovery and
to them, therefore, the intelligence of his
death was no surprise. Gen. Gill began
the study of law at 81 and was admitted
to the bar at Batavia, New York, in Sep
TENDER, 1854. In the same month he
married Miss Martha A. Lancton and
with his bride Immediately started for
the west. He came directly to this city
and opened law Office. When he ar
rived here he was ga str niger in strange
land, with but few worldly possessions,
but was endowed with pluck, energy and
ability which, when rightly applied,
prove far better for the moulding of
man than riches. Gen Gill set about at
once to procure lucrative practice. In
this he was quite successful but the at
tention he gave his profession did not
prevent him from taking an active part
in public affairs In 1856 Gen. Gill was
the democratic candidate for district at
tOrney of Jefferson county, and notwith
standing his party was in the ascendancy
he was defeated, Daniel Hall, the re-
publican candidate, being successful
against him. The following year Gen.
Gill was elected Police Justice but re
signed in few months as the position
interfered with his law practice. In the
face of strong opposition he was nomi.
mated by the democrats for the Assembly
in 1858, but unable to stem the tide
against him, he was beaten by the late
Gen. L A. Cole, the republican nominee.
Gen. Gill was not of conciliating turn
Of mind, but possessed of plain, blunt,
outspoken manner, giving his friends and
enemies alike an opportunity of knowing
just where he stood. These characteris-
tics engendercd factional opposition to-
wards him in many instances, and in =
measure explain the defeats he met with.
His reverses did not, however, discourage
him in the least. In the spring of 1853
he was elected Superintendent of schools
( and reelected in 1859. During his last
term he antagonized portion of the COM
mon council against him on account Of
the manner in which they claimed he
had discharged the duties of the Office,
charges of official misconduct, such as
neglect to submit reports, not visiting the
schools or informing the Board of Edu-
cation of their condition, were preferred
against him, iwhereupon the council pro-
ceeded to remove him from Office.
Gen. Gill, it may be assumed, was not
composed of the mettle 10 quietly submit
to what he deemed an Interference of his
rights, and he appealed to the Supreme
Court for redress where he was yindicated
and reinstated in Office. The resolution,
courage and promptness he possessed
shone forth in this controversy and won
| for him host of admirers and friends.
even from among those who differed from
him on the principles involved in the
contest. In the fall of 1859 the demo
Gratis placed in nomination Patrick Ro-
gan, an old wheel horse, for the Senate.
This nomination not suiting Gen. Gill
and the faction of the democracy he re-
presented, he entered the arena as an in
dependent candidate for Senator
made vigorous canvass and was tri-
umphantly elected Gen. Gill was less
than 80 years of age when he took his
seat in the Senate, but Notwithstanding,
the youngest member of the body, was at
once acknowledged as among the foremost
in debate. In 1860 Gen. Gill was an
ardent supporter of Douglass for Presi-
dent, but as the campaign progressed
seeing no other alternative than to choose
between Breckenridge and Slavery on
the one side, and Lincoln and Free
dem on the other, he gave his adhesion to
the latter and ever after remained firm
and uncompromising Republican. Dur
ing the session in January, 1861, he made
himself famous by introducing {: resolu-
ton for Committee to inquire into the
expediency of Immediately putting the
state on war footing" This was the
first war tocsin sounded in the tree states
and he warmly advocated the measure.
He became chairman of the committee
and played prominent part with all the