The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-08-29
WIFE AND FORTUNE IN AID.
Widow Came to North Carolina and
Married J. w. Gillian.

Durham, Aug. 22.-J. w. Gillian,
formerly a mill operative of the Er-
win Cotton Mills, of West Durham,
and later circulation manager for
one of the local papers in the west
ern section of the city has been no
titled that he is heir to one-third
interest in the estate of his second
wife, which amounts to about $780,
900. The old man will leave in a
few days for the northern home of
his second wife, from whose estate
the heritage comes, to complete the
arrangements for getting the money
The story of the inheritance is
stranger than fiction, and as inter-
esting 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 farmer in Chat
ham county, and the United States
mails played the part of Dan Cupid
in their courtship. 1t was about
thirteen years ago that the farmer
answered the advertisement 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 cor
respondence between the two, and
their friendship and love ripened a
Ia Uncle Sans mail carriers.
Some months after this ADVERTISE
ment Mr.. Gillian sent the lady
money with which to come to Pitts
boro. The lady came, and it was
there in the county seat of Chatham
the final plans we're made in the
marriage of the Chatham farmer
and the lady from the shores of
Lake Erie, 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 inter-
esting story begins with the visit OF
Mrs. Gillian to her son and daughter,
whom she left in New York. She
made this trip back to her native
State about eight months after her
marriage to Mr.. Gillian. While
there she fell ill and died before her
Carolina husband could reach her
bedside. She was buried in her ma
tive town, and her will showed that
she had an estate of $4,000, which
she divided equally between Mr..
Gillian and her two children. That
was about dozen years ago, and
since that time some legal technical
ity has prevented the former Chat
ham man from getting his part OF
the inheritance.
About eight years ago Mr.. Gillian
came to Durham, where he could
work in the cotton mills, and give
the motherless children OF his trst
wife the advantage of an education.
For five years he toiled in the mill
till one day he got one of his hands
caught in one of the machines OF the
mill, which totally disabled him.
His children were forced into the
mill, and the old man was inactive
for some time. When his hand
cured up it was lame, and it was
then he took the paper job. For
three years he peddled the morning
paper in this city in the western
section of the city, earning from SIX
to eight dollars a week.
However, the old mans needs
were simple and he saved up part
of his money. Several months ago
he gave the circulation man notice
that he was going to quit, since ne
had saved up enough to keep him
going the remainder OF his life. he
went out of town for a visit to rela-
tives in Henderson and in Chatham
county. About a month ago he re-
turned to the city with a third wife.
Very few OF Mr.. Gillam's acquaint-
ances in Durham knew of this IN
heritance for he is very reticent He
tends to his own business and resents
any attempt to pry into his affairs.
Hence no one here knew that he was
heir to what looks like fortune to