The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-06-25
OUR MOTTO: aszpusr AND FEAR NOT"
THE new STATE
LAND COMMISSIONER.


Hon. Jas. L. Gillespie, who was ap-
pointed BY Gov. Noel yesterday after.
noon to all the unexpired term Of Hon.
q. n. Nall "A state land commissioner,
returned this morning to his home 10
Greenwood, after securing his commits
zion, making his bond and tiling II with
Secretary Of State Power, appointing
Col. J. N. Smylie ~ his deputy and
leaving him In charge 1t the ofice, Mr.
Smylie having been deputy In the ONCE
for the past several years.
The new commissioner, who 10 editor
Of the Greenwood Commonwealth. for
merly owned BY ex-8ov. Jas. X. Var
daman, will spend few days at home
arranging his affairs, and will move to
jackson In the near future. His plans
in that respect are not yet mature
however. he came here yesterday at
tho request Of the governor, without
knowing Why until he had reached the
executive otIice, when he was told he
could have the job II he wanted II. 70
did, and told the governor 90, not tax
ing the hour or two which the executive
gave him in which to think II over.
Other persons whose names had been
mentioned and whose friends had ad-
vocated their appointment were Col. j.
NJ. Smylie, Mr.. ". W. Simonton and
Deputy Insurance Commissioner W. J.
Miller, who Is also former state treas
urer. Mr.. simonton was for several
years deputy under his father who
died In Office and was succeeded by Mr..
Nall.
Mr.. Gillespie, the new commissioner
is forty three years old, having been
born in Pontotoc county on April 10
1886, his parents both being Mississippi
born Of Virginia ancestors. His father
John Gillespie, was a farmer, and was Q
member Of Company y, 4lst Mississippi
Regiment, under Gen. ". +. Tucker
serving ~ . private during the entire
four years Of tho civil war.
Young Gillespie has devoted his lite
10 newspaper work and politics, having
begun tho publication Of his arst paper
the Pontotoc Democrat, at the age oi
eighteen. After . year he leased the
Oxford Falcon, which he published foi
two years, having In the meantime been
married to Miss Minnie Lee Bridger, oi
sardis, daughter Of prominent citizen
OF Panola county, who is also an extern
sive contractor and q member Of Wal
thalI's brigade during the war. This
marriage took place before leav Ing Pom
totoc and it was bride and groom who
went to Oxford the same year.
From oxford the young editor went
to Tupelo, where he established the
Tupelo Ledger, and where he remained
four years, during which time he wa'
elected member Of the legislature u
represent Lee county, and was the
youngest member Of the lower house In
the session Of 1890.
Selling ont the Ledger, he went II
Memphis and fer about six months wal
member Of the reportorial stan OF th'
ppeal-Avalanche, one Of the oldest pa
pers Of that city. 1t was while on the
staif Of this paper when he made trir
to Greenwood and formed partnership
with ex-Gov. vardaman and became
business manager Of the Enterprise
Two years later, when vardaman be
came candidate for governor, he pur
chased the latter's interest.
Later he sold the Enterprise snd TO
. time retired from the business, bu
later bought The Commonwealth, whicl
Mai. vardamsn had established sftc
hIs defeat In the first race. He hs
been publishing Tho Ccn,monwealt'
successfully for the past four yssrs, an,
Gill continue IL qualification, under th
direct supervi.ion Of his youngest sor
James Gordon Gillespie, who has jus
finished . literary course In the Uni
v.rs;tv NJ Niasisaippi with the degre
Of Bachelor Of Science, having also On
ished the iuuior law course spd bee
san'''sS 49, " y. ~. a. ss,o,s ,s.,ins Il. O,