The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-03

Mr. McGil is a native Of New Albany,
Ind, where he was born May "a, 1888. His
parents moved in his infancy to Monroe
County, Ala, where they resided until $40,
when they moved TO jackson, Miss. The
youngest Of his two brothers, Daniel, was a
member of Capt. Bakers Company, Of
Natchez, and was killed in the battle of
Franklin. His other brother, Richard,
was also a faithful soldier, and has been
for many years the efficient Steward of the
Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum. OF his
seven sisters, four are living Mrs. Carroll,
and Mrs. Burke, of Natchez, Mrs. Nalty, Of
Brookhaven, and Mrs Fletcher, of Jackson
Mr. McGill has been a resident of Jack
son from early childhood. The family were
poor, and the father died in 1850, so that
the children were left to their own resources.
His opportunities for acquiring an educa-
tion were quite limited. He attended the
public schools, which were in a high state
of efficiency. Some of the inhabitants of
that time remember that John drove cart
with considerable skill and success. Cis-
terms and wells we're then scarce, and sever
al carts were regularly employed in hauling
water from Pearl River. In 1854 he en-
tered the True Witness printing Office, then
established by Rev. DIR. McInnis, and
| served a regular apprenticeship. He be-
| came an expert composition. His first ven
ture, after leaving the True Witness, was
co partnership with Win. p. Donnell in the
old Flag of the Union, which except the
experience gained, was time wasted. He
afterwards worked on Roy's Sun, Vicksburg,
and in the Miisissippian at Jackson, and in
1859 on the Memphis Avalanche and on his
return TO Jackson he was again employed
on the Mississippian.
When Capt. Robert A. Smith organized
the Mississippi Rifles, John McGill was
among the many gallant young men CT
Jackson who promptly stepped to the front.
He enlisted as a ''high private" in March,
1861, served year at Pensacola, and on
the expiration of the term of service of the
Tenth Mississippi Regiment was discharged
at Corinth. He re-enlisted "for the war;
in Capt J. f. Kerr's Battery of Light Ar
tillery, of which he became Orderly Ser
geant. He was married in June, 1864, to
Miss Mary L. Kerr, who died in April, 1866
After the war he returned to the printing
business, and was employed until 1868, as
foreman of the Mississippian, then pub
lished by Col. T. NJ. Yerger On the sus-
pension of the Mississippian, Mr.. McGin
returned to Memphis, and worked on the
Jackson and was associated with H. H. Hines
for year or more in the publication of the
jackson Methodist. In 1870 and on the cleo
ton of thelPilot as Public Printer, he took
charge of the book-room of that establish
ment and continued in that capacity until
his election to the Office of Mayor, Jan. 8,
1874.
Mr.. McGill was elected as Republican,
being the nominee of local convention of
that party. He has been six times bien-
nially elected, and each time, except the
first, without party nomination. His com
petitors have been: In 1874, G. H. Man
ship, Marion Smith; 1876, DR.. I. J. Mitchell;
1873, VIM. II. Taylor; 1880, VIM. B. Tay-
lor, w. NJ. Estelle; 1882, II. NJ. Taylor;
1884, Capt. J. W. Clingan. The last was
a spirited contest, in which nearly the full
voting strength of the city was brought out.
The City of jackson, under the admins
tration of Mayor McGill, exhibits a good
| financial record. In 1872, the year prior to
his first election, the Indebtedness of the
corporation was about $50,000-about one.
half of which was bonded in 1873, but
Notwithstanding SO great portion of the
debt was bonded, warrants issued Jan. /
1874, were worth only from forty to fifty
cents on the dollar. The rate of taxation
in 1873 was % mills; this has not only
been steadily reduced until, in 1883, the
total levy was only ten mills, but the entire
city debt has been wiped out and all it
bonds cancelled.
One of the first and most important act:
OF Mr. McGilrs administration was to Sc
cure the transfer of Pearl River bridge tC
Kinds County, and the assumption by the
latter of aheavy bonded debt incurred fol
its erection.