The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-11-06
ANOTHER CHAPTER ABOUT
0UNNlSON COUNTY MEN


Mr.. Editor:
A young soldier passed away in Los
Angeles about month ago, who was
born in Created Butte twenty-nine
years ago. His name was Arthur b.
Gillett. son of Edward W. Gillett.
who was the well-known popular Rio
Grande Agent about thirty years ago.
The young man went with his parents
to Arizona and from there to Los An
geles, where Mr.. Gillett was traffic
manager for the Salt Lake railroad
all during the construction period of
that road twenty years ago. Arthur
Gillett graduated in the Los Angeles
High School. and had launched into
the business of shirt manufacturer.
When the war broke out he felt 1t
his patriotic duty to do his bit, en-
listed, served over seas. which under
mined his health to that extent that
his constitution could not stand 1t,
and he answered the last roll call.
There are left to Mr.. and Mrs. Gillett
three married daughters to share the
grief of son and brother. I am not
sure. but think one or two of the
daughters were born in Crested Butte.
Ed Giilett succeeded the writer as
editor of the Pilot in 1893 Associated
with him was your fellow townsman.
DIR. J. w. Rockefeller, both of whom
think are now living a retired life.
Mr.. Gillett followed his occupation
as railroad man. filling responsible
positions for number of years after
leaving Crested Butte, finally being
successful in some business ventures
enabled him to enjoy life with peace
and plenty. DIR. Rockefeller usually
spends the winter in California.
And Jimmy McIlwee is a million
lived in Crested Butte 30 or 35 years
ago that do not remember Jimmy and
his brother Pat. They worked in the
coal mine and were always interested
in dancing; in fact, think they once
gave dancing lessons. Whenever there
was dance at the Elk Mountain
House. Jimmy used to call the figures
for all of the square dances, and I can
see and hear him now. standing on
chair, ''ladies to the right, gents to
the left, allemant left" etc. When
Cripple Creek broke out, about 1894.
Jimmy went over there and his ability
as a tunnel driver and expert rock
breaker was soon recognized. While
Bert Carlton furnished the money to
drive the Roosevelt tunnel some four
miles long. 1t was Jimmy Mcilwee's
brains. ability and experience that
did the real work.
After that job was completed jim
my became famous as an expert tun-
mel driver. and had contract from
the Denver. Laramie & Northwest tern
on big railroad tunnel contract, said
to be one of the longest tunnels in
the world. and now I believe he is
living life of ease in Denver, and
no doubt he often dreams of the days
long ago in Crested Butte.
/ met George Havercamp in Salt
Lake last summer. For many years
he kept cigar store in Crested
Butte. After selling out he was in
the abstract business for number of
years in Provo. Utah, and incidentally
became interested in mining in the
Tintic district of Utah. Fortune has
smiled on him, as his mining inter
ests proved profitable, and he does
not have to abstract any more, but
-. l. .n,.to IN
Gunnison county.
Mr.. J. b. Thompson. who estap-
lished the Bank Of Crested Butte. has
resided in Salt Lake ever since he
left there, about thirty years ago.
His brother Henfy returned east to
reside in the old home. Hillsboro,
Ohio. j. B.. or Jack, rs he is known
among his intimates. is always glad
to greet old friends from GuAnison
county.
In 1880 young man came out from
Chicago to Irwin to start store. His
name was John f. Packard. After
conducting store there for couple
of years he departed for Pomona, Cal
ifornia. and had much to do with
starting that beautiful city on the
road to prosperity. He sold out at
Pomona and returned to Chicago
some years ago. I understand he was
in Irwin this summer going over the
scenes of his early business career.
Peter G. Gates, who. I think is
rated in the millionaire class and
lives in beautiful home in Pasadena,
California, lived in Crested Butte
from 1880 to 1884, or at least had his
i