White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-28
NEVADA STATE IN THE MAKING;
ELY, CAPITAL or WHITE PINE

| Ifnlly established III the cOmmerfid1
world, and to this fact some of the
early-day business men owed their
financial salvation.
One hrief instance may be cited to
show the rugged and unswervable
honesty of Billy" McGill. In the late
| SOS number of merchants were
caught in the crash of Taylor and
one, whose name had better be left
sunmentioncd. was on the verge OF
bankruptcy when hard pressed by his
San Francisco creditors. Mr. McGilI
at once came forward and endorsed a
note for 1000, | think 1t was, for
this merchant When the note fell
due and the merchant was unable to
| meet IL demand for payment was
| made on Mr. McGill. who took the
note to his erstwhile friend and asked
him about it The merchant replied
that the note was payable in San
| Francisco and the creditors could not
sue unless the signers were caught
in California. This remark cut Mr..
McGili to The heart, to think that the
man he had befriended should sug-
gest that he dishonor his own good
name by defaulting on the note. He
Mt once sent his check in payment TO
1 a
never known him 10 hold malice
against anyone. believe that he was
never afterward able to feel the same
toward this maa. His debtor was
given his own time to settle the obli-
cation, Mr.. McGill trading out the
account in the store at the merchants 2
own prices and convenience. While
this incident happeed a great many
years ago and has probably been for
gotten by Mr. McGll the writer
learned of il at the time and cites it
To show that Mr.. McGill was OF the
same sterling character years ago
that he is today.
Mr.. and Mrs. McGill raised a FAM
lily OF four children, William, Neil.
Katie and Cleveland, all of whom
proved credit TO their parents. Mrs.
MeGill, while ever ready and seeking
&c do deeds OF charity, never for a
moment neglected her home inter-
esis. The writer knew Mrs. McGill
when she was a girl in her teens !;
knew her for over thirty years. and
| always found her ;ha same kind and
admirable lady. At her home she
was the soul OF hospitality and the
writer has driven to the McGill home
at all hours and always found a vel
come. No matter how large the
crowd. Mrs. McGill always found
room for all and saw that Sing. her
trusted servant for years. provided a
spread for her visitors.
! In addition TO providing all the ed
I ucatienal advantages possible for her
own children. Mrs. McGill adopted
her little niece, Daisy Briggs, when
the latter Has left an orphan through
he death OF her parents. MIR. and
Mrs. Robert Briggs. IN the early ges
| Mrs. McGill sent Daisy away to school
and gave her every care that could be
given by parent up to the time of
he little girls death, at about the
age OF IL. at Ely. Daisy was a beau
tiful little girl. admired by all who
knew her. aud pail of gloom Was
thrown over the entire community
when the news of her death became
known.
IL was only a few years after the
death OF Daisy that Mrs MeGill her
self. In 1910, passed away. leaving
behind Iier name thai will be for
ever green in the hearts of the young
people of Ely, to whom she was more
than friend. Many Of these chIl-
cren were Sunday school pupils of
Mrs. McGill. who used TO drive in
from her ranch home TO teach the
children on Sunday before there were
any ministers or churches in Ely, the
Sunday school being housed in the
public school building Mrs. McGill,
with the aid of the wifc of DR. Rich.
ardson. established the first Sunday
school in Ely and supported IL for
many years
While billy" McGill has been
urged by his legion of friends many
times in the last forty years to accept
political hcnors. he has steadfastly
refused to allow the use of his name
Oh the ballot The sole exception TO
this rule was In the late '9os, when
an attempt was made 10 resurrect the
republican party at a tir,c when the
state was overwhelmingly for free
silver. Mr.. McGill was one of the
few men who were not carried away
BY the silver craze. AMI on his shoul.
ders rested the responsibility for the
resurrection of the republican party.
He was nominated for the assembly
and on election day party lines were
forgotten In the case of AIR. McGill
and he was elected by a fattering
majority. a tribute from his fellow
citizens to his sterling worth
Mr.. McGill held a prominent place
In the assembly. so much so that his
name has since been mentioned not
only for governor hut also for the
United States senate bat he has so far
refused to enter the political arena,
believing that his services were most
needed in White Pine county and re-
fusing to forsake his friends OF many
years standing
1Jop,c MoH;U CL: