The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-05-31
CANDIDATE FOR
COUNTY TREASURER
Brief Sketch Of the Life and Official Career Of Deputy
Treasurer John f. McGillis

If John McGillis comes before the
people this fall he will get. at the least
estimate, seventy-five per cent OF the
votes cast , said very prominent Iron
county politician in the hearing of the
writer the other day This statement
and similar ones that are common on
the streets of the towns Of this county
give some idea of the popularity Of
this candidate with the people of the
county of Iron for Office of county
treasurer for which he is standing.
Mr. McCillis is a native of the upper
peninsula, having been born in Neg
aunee in 1866 of that sturdy Scotch
Irish stock that has given the United
States more illustrious men and women
than any other single nationality.
Mr. NJ. ellis spent his boyhood days
in Negaunee, receiving his education
in the public schools of tnat city He
made excellent use of the opportunities
presented him which. combined with
his natural talents. has equipped him
admirably for the vocation Of account
ant ana in his chosen profession he has
long been recognized as the peer of any
one in theis or any Of the surrounding
counties. This is not the idle boast Of
the moment but fact that has long
been recognized by our people who have
grown to know and admire this gentle
man druing his long life spent princip-
ally in our midst
Mr.. McGillls came TO the Menominee
range with his parents after breif
stay at Champion. and located first at
Florence wherethey stayed short time
and then removed TO Iron River at
which plcae they have since resided,
Mr. McGillis still making that place his
his home Mrs MGillis died last fall,
as many of our readers will remember
When the family moved to Florence,
young McGillis went out into the world
TO work his way and entered the EN-
ploy of McNair and Baird as cashier
and accountant IN their large general
merchandise store,
He soon won the esteem of his EN-
ployers who put every confidence in
the world in him and were loath to see
him leave them after term OF four
years service. So great was Mr. Nc
Gillis capacity for accountant work
that in addition to his regular duties
with McNair and Baird, he was press
ed into the service of the public as we'll
For two years he was township treas
urer in Florence and for two add
itional years he did the county Clerk 5
work SO that wen he left Florence he
had an admirable insight into township
and county work
Mr. McGillis had come in contact
with J II Parks, who was then ia
the general merchandise business and
il did mt take Mr Parks long 10 realize
that he had met Just the man that be
wanted % manage theaccounting end III
the business Of his firm. business
that in those days was Of enormous
proportions He at once hired Mr.
McGilHs and took him to Crystal
Falls where he was placed in the ac-
counting room aud remained there for
four Years or until the death Of his
sister husband at Iron River nee.
essitated his leaving the Parks people
TO manage the estate. he was en-
ployed in this work for about FIVE years
and in 1894 returned TO Crystal Falls
to take a position in the Iron County
Bank
He remained in the bank two years
doing all the work in that institution
and quit there to accept position
with Supt O. G Davidson as cashier
at the Traders mine at Iron Mountain
He remained with Mr. Davidson until
the election of NJ H. Moriarty 10 the
Office Of county treasurer Mr.. Nor
iarty lost no time in securing his