The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-12-16


those on the same brand. In a day or
so they expect to finish this list. Then
by finding out how many Of the u. A."
brand their ought. according to the
mortgages, to be, they will know how
many ~. AS" they must find. II they
fail to find enough, then they will know
tina the ~. A." brand cattle have been
remortgaged. In this way the situa-
ton as to all the brands will have to be
arrived at. Not till then will the ex-
act extent Of the failure be known.
An attempt was made by the creditors
represented at Woodbine today to agree
on a receiver to take charge Of Gill
can be found and feed and care for
them for the creditors benefit. A man
named Gillett from Marion. Kan, who
said he was not a relative Of the MISS
ing king, was an applicant for the re-
ownership. He did not get 1t. The
creditors were unable to agree. Mean
while the ranch is running itself.
But Gillett was a magnificent bluff.
His career is an illustration of what
unlimited nerve and persistent blow
ing and advertising will do. Three
years and a half ago he had not a
dollar. Now he has failed for 81, 900, 900,
perhaps s., 900, 900. and one would think
this exploit would have been particu-
larly difficult for him, for he had an
unpleasant record among the gossips
of this section to overcome. But here
is the story:
Beginning at the very beginning. as
the old three-volume novels used to
say, before Grant Gillett was born, for
ty years ago, an Englishman, James A.
Gillett, emigrated to this country and
took up a farm, which is now the site
of Woodbine. He was an industrious,
thrifty man. and he got on. After a
time he married a young oma of the
countryside and they together built up
a happy home. They had three son
and a daughter. The sons were Grant
g., G. G., n James A., jr. The
daughters are now Mrs. Joseph Reed
and Mrs. w. H. Hollinger, a member of
the firm Of A. J. Gillespie & Co. of
Kansas City. The little town Of Wood
bine grew up on and about the farm,
a rich man.; he was worth perhaps s25,
0O61 or $50, 900.
About ten years ago Grant 8. Gil
lett, then 20 years old, went to Lost
Springs, Kan. a little station on the
Santa Fe, to buy grain. He met the
station agent, a dashing young wom-
an, and they fell in love. Before long
they married. After a time the future
cattle king got into some sort Of trou-
BILE. No n is ready to go into details
about 1t now, but all over Abilene peo-
pie know it was over a queer transac-
ton in wheat. Young Gillett, it is said,
shipped several cars of wheat to Kan
,sas City. His wife, as station agent,
sealed the cars and issued the bills Of
lading. These were sent to Kansas
City and a loan was negotiated upon
them. Then, when the cars arrived,
1t is said. only a sprinkling Of wheat,
ten OF twelve bushels or So, was found
in each. There was a back-fence scan
DIAL. Young Gillett left suddenly for
the south. His wife and he separated.
J. A. Gillett. the youths father, settled
the matter. 1t never got into the
courts. But soon after the old man
died.
A month or so after the elder Gill
let's death two English women arrived
in Abilene. One Of them was about so
years Of age. the other 30. They set up
to be the rightful widow and daughter
of ]. A. Gillett, and instituted proceed
ings to get the estate from the dead
mans Kansas family. This suit was
settled. but it is said to have taken an
other slice out Of the property, leaving
it not a very big inheritance for four.
Grant G. returned home, and in a very
short time went through the money
that he had inherited, and was looked
upon as rather a rockety young man.
When the money was zone, however,
the home farm al Woodbine. He was
steady and worked hard. He soon be-
came very popular with all the younger
element. though the elders were still a
bit inclined to shake their heads.
DIVORCED FROM HIS WIFE.
Four years ago Grant Gillett secured
a divorce from his first wife. through
c. e. Rugh Of this city. The allega-
ton was abandonment. Soon after Gill
lett married the woodbine school mis-
tress. Alma Baumbaugh, daughter of a
staid and quiet old farmer Of Moonlight
s. Baumbaugh-who, besides till
L.. ria -noana lu a nnanlro I'd nroachaH