The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-24
FORTUNE
TO DURHAM man
WIFE HE ADVERTISED FOR FALLS
HEIR TO THIRD PART OF
LARGE ESTATE.
ROMANCE IS REVEALED
COTTON MILL OPERATIVE RETI-
CENT AND REFUSES TO Talk
ABOUT HIS STROKE OF
LUCK.

DURHAM y. C.. August 23.-J,
! W. Gillian, formerly a mill operative
OF the Erwin Cotton Mills of Vest
Durham. and later circulation mana
Ger for one of the local papers in the
western section OF the city has been
notified that he is heir to one t';ird
interest in the estate of his second
wife, which amounts TO about $780,
900. The old man will leave in few
days for the northern home ~ his
second wife. from whose estate II
heritage comes, TO complete the ar
rangements for getting the money.
The story OF the Inheritance is
stranger than fiction, and as interest
! ing and romantic as any ever penned
by the most imaginative novelist. Mr..
Gillian came to know the lady who
left him the fortune while he was still
a farmer in Chatham county, and the
United States mails played the part
OF Dan Cupid" In their courtship.
II was about thirteen years ago fhat
the farmer answered the advertise
ment of the widow. who was then
living in one OF the small towns on
Lake Erie in New York State. His
answer to the matrimonial want
brought on a correspondence between
the two. and their friendship ana
love ripened a la Uncle Sans mail
carriers
Some months after this advertise
nent Mr.. Gillian sent the lady money
with which to come to Pittsboro. The
I lady came. and 1t was there in the
county seat of Chatham tho final
plans were made in the marriage OF
the Chatham farmer and the lady
from the shores OF Lake Era and
with the aid Of the register of deeds
and the proper church officials the
two lives were made as one.
The second chapter Of this interest
ing story begins with the visit of Mrs.
Gillian 10 her son and daughter, whom
she left in New York, She made this
trip back to her native State about
eight months after her marriass TO
Mr.. Gillian. While there she fell III
and died before her Carolina husband
could reach her bedside She was
buried In her native town, AMI her
will showed that she had AN estate Of
$4,000. which she divided equally be-
tween Mr.. Gillian and her two chill
dren. That was about a dozen years
ago. ana since that time some legal
technically has prevented tho former
Chatham man from getting mis- part
OF the inheritance.
About eight years ago Mr.. .INiam
came to Durham, where he could work
in the cotton mills. and give the
+ motheriess children OF his first wife
the advantages OF an education. For
five years he toiled In the mill TIL one
! day he got one of his hands caught
| In one of the machines of the mill,
and the old man was inactive -or some
! time When his hand cured up il
was lame. and il was then hs took
the paper job For three Yeas he
peddled the morning paper in this
city in the western section OF tho city.
earning from six to eight collars Il
week.
However the old mans needs we're
simple and ne saved up part or
his money. Several months ago he
gave the circulation man notice that
, lie was going to quit since ne lad
saved up enough to keep him going
the remainder OF his life. He went
out OF town for visit to relatives
| In Henderson and In Chatham COUNTY,.
About a month ago he returned TO
the city with third wife.
Very few OF Mr.. GilIam's oeqnnin-
tances in Durham knew OF this In
heritance for he is very reticent. He
tends 10 his own business and re-
sents any attempt to pry into his AT
fairs. Hence no one here knew that
he was heir to what looks like
fortune to the average man.