******CIVIL WAR VETERAN******
P.O.W. - Elmira, New York
COMPANY G - 14TH GEORGIA INFANTRY REGIMENT
"THE YANCEY INDEPENDENTS"
William Daniel Gillis was born in 1831 in North Carolina to John Gillis and Rosannah Hamilton.
Very little is known of his first 30 years.
During the War, William and brother Norman served as Privates in Co. G, 14th Georgia Infantry, "The Yancy Independents" out of Worth County, Georgia.
On March 4, 1862 he was captured at Spotsylvania, Virginia by Federal soldiers.
May 12, 1864 he was brought to the infamous prison camp at Elmira, New York where he was held for the duration of the war.
At Elmira, for whatever reason, Dan cooked meals and waited tables and had it better than many other soldiers.
On July 19, 1865, William was paroled at Elmira, New
York and returned home to Sylvester, Worth County, Georgia.
His brother Norman had already been sent home after being injured and having his arm amputated.
Once back in Georgia in 1865 he began to accumulate property from his inheritance and business ventures in and around Sylvester until he had a considerable personal Worth.
Also upon his return to Sylvester, he took a housekeeper Millie (Scott) Teasley, a young widow who had recently moved from Webster County with her parents after losing her husband Daniel O. Teasley in the war.
It's uncertain how it began but the pair soon were pregnant by 1866 and in 1867 she gave birth to a daughter Sallie Gillis despite not being married to Dan.
There have been rumors that they did not marry due to her having native American blood but there is no evidence in any way of such, even with DNA. (And keep in mind that her husband Daniel Teasley was a Caucasian)
It is most likely that Millie would not marry Dan because he was a womaniser and apparently had a temper and eccentric personality.
Regardless, they were recognized as common-law spouses and she lived rightly so as his wife.
The pair would have a son. William Daniel Gillis Jr in about 1869 and daughter Rosa Gillis on New Year's Day 1872.
The full names of his 3 children with Millie were:
-Sara Ann Elizabeth "Sallie"
Gillis (1867-1950)
-William Daniel Gillis Jr
(1869-1892)
-Rosa Anna Clarissa Gillis
(1872-1957)
There have also been rumors that the 3 children were adopted and not hia biologically. These are false rumors but partially true.
They were indeed his children with Millie however, he would later likely officially adopt them because of the stigma of being illegitimate children could hamper their future respect by others.
But I don't find any evidence that he even adopted them.
In one of the news articles about his will later, the journalist noted that he was "said to have adopted some children some time ago".
Sadly that text has been made to make people feel that his children were simply adopted but Dan and his later wife Elizabeth did adopt some children, and this is likely what the paper was referring to. In the 1890s and early 1900s they adopted Lonie Gillis from the Baptist Orphans Home in Hapeville as well as a girl Minnie Lee Davis and they took over care of (though I'm unsure if they officially adopted) Maggie Hayslip of Worth County.
By the year 1890 Millie and Dan were separated and he has married Elizabeth Dees Ratliff, a Widow at least two or three times over by then.
Elizabeth is the one who insisted on the adoptions, she also would use his money to open a hotel and purchase more buildings in Sylvester.
Elizabeth deserves her own story and you can contact me if you wish for details on her.
Only Dan and Millies 2 daughters lived full lives, my grandmother had many second hand stories of William told to her by her mother Sarah and grandmother Rosa. One standout was that William and his son Dan were not close, and that the elder would beat his son to death with an iron chain in a ditch. There are no records stating such, it is possibly family lore, however, it came directly from his daughter Rosa's own words. I tend to take this as fact. The boy was not seen on record since the 1880 census and very well may have perished from typhoid or another illness of that time.
As for Elizabeth Dees. Upon his passing, his will stated that his surviving 2 children Rosa and Sallie, along with their mother Millie, receive the bulk of his estate. Mrs. Elizabeth Dees Gillis was not mentioned in his will as and she did have her own wealth.
But Elizabeth filed and won a lawsuit to gain financial reward from her husbands estate. It is a complicated case and the sides fought for years. Elizabeth "produced" a will that she claimed Dan wrote prior to his passing however it was claimed that she had the will forged by the husband of Dan's Niece who also ended up gaining from this new will.
It is a fascinating story that I have my opinions on. If you wish for more info, contact me at [email protected]
Lastly, In 1911, Dan and Elizabeth had taken in an apparent troubled young woman from Leesburg named Mabel Pye.
That same year several lawsuits were filed by Mabel and her parents. The claim was that Dan had been inappropriate with her (again if you wish for info on that please contact me), this was about a year and a half before his death.
Again, for more info on Dan and Elizabeth and Millie please do contact me
[email protected]
P.O.W. - Elmira, New York
COMPANY G - 14TH GEORGIA INFANTRY REGIMENT
"THE YANCEY INDEPENDENTS"
William Daniel Gillis was born in 1831 in North Carolina to John Gillis and Rosannah Hamilton.
Very little is known of his first 30 years.
During the War, William and brother Norman served as Privates in Co. G, 14th Georgia Infantry, "The Yancy Independents" out of Worth County, Georgia.
On March 4, 1862 he was captured at Spotsylvania, Virginia by Federal soldiers.
May 12, 1864 he was brought to the infamous prison camp at Elmira, New York where he was held for the duration of the war.
At Elmira, for whatever reason, Dan cooked meals and waited tables and had it better than many other soldiers.
On July 19, 1865, William was paroled at Elmira, New
York and returned home to Sylvester, Worth County, Georgia.
His brother Norman had already been sent home after being injured and having his arm amputated.
Once back in Georgia in 1865 he began to accumulate property from his inheritance and business ventures in and around Sylvester until he had a considerable personal Worth.
Also upon his return to Sylvester, he took a housekeeper Millie (Scott) Teasley, a young widow who had recently moved from Webster County with her parents after losing her husband Daniel O. Teasley in the war.
It's uncertain how it began but the pair soon were pregnant by 1866 and in 1867 she gave birth to a daughter Sallie Gillis despite not being married to Dan.
There have been rumors that they did not marry due to her having native American blood but there is no evidence in any way of such, even with DNA. (And keep in mind that her husband Daniel Teasley was a Caucasian)
It is most likely that Millie would not marry Dan because he was a womaniser and apparently had a temper and eccentric personality.
Regardless, they were recognized as common-law spouses and she lived rightly so as his wife.
The pair would have a son. William Daniel Gillis Jr in about 1869 and daughter Rosa Gillis on New Year's Day 1872.
The full names of his 3 children with Millie were:
-Sara Ann Elizabeth "Sallie"
Gillis (1867-1950)
-William Daniel Gillis Jr
(1869-1892)
-Rosa Anna Clarissa Gillis
(1872-1957)
There have also been rumors that the 3 children were adopted and not hia biologically. These are false rumors but partially true.
They were indeed his children with Millie however, he would later likely officially adopt them because of the stigma of being illegitimate children could hamper their future respect by others.
But I don't find any evidence that he even adopted them.
In one of the news articles about his will later, the journalist noted that he was "said to have adopted some children some time ago".
Sadly that text has been made to make people feel that his children were simply adopted but Dan and his later wife Elizabeth did adopt some children, and this is likely what the paper was referring to. In the 1890s and early 1900s they adopted Lonie Gillis from the Baptist Orphans Home in Hapeville as well as a girl Minnie Lee Davis and they took over care of (though I'm unsure if they officially adopted) Maggie Hayslip of Worth County.
By the year 1890 Millie and Dan were separated and he has married Elizabeth Dees Ratliff, a Widow at least two or three times over by then.
Elizabeth is the one who insisted on the adoptions, she also would use his money to open a hotel and purchase more buildings in Sylvester.
Elizabeth deserves her own story and you can contact me if you wish for details on her.
Only Dan and Millies 2 daughters lived full lives, my grandmother had many second hand stories of William told to her by her mother Sarah and grandmother Rosa. One standout was that William and his son Dan were not close, and that the elder would beat his son to death with an iron chain in a ditch. There are no records stating such, it is possibly family lore, however, it came directly from his daughter Rosa's own words. I tend to take this as fact. The boy was not seen on record since the 1880 census and very well may have perished from typhoid or another illness of that time.
As for Elizabeth Dees. Upon his passing, his will stated that his surviving 2 children Rosa and Sallie, along with their mother Millie, receive the bulk of his estate. Mrs. Elizabeth Dees Gillis was not mentioned in his will as and she did have her own wealth.
But Elizabeth filed and won a lawsuit to gain financial reward from her husbands estate. It is a complicated case and the sides fought for years. Elizabeth "produced" a will that she claimed Dan wrote prior to his passing however it was claimed that she had the will forged by the husband of Dan's Niece who also ended up gaining from this new will.
It is a fascinating story that I have my opinions on. If you wish for more info, contact me at [email protected]
Lastly, In 1911, Dan and Elizabeth had taken in an apparent troubled young woman from Leesburg named Mabel Pye.
That same year several lawsuits were filed by Mabel and her parents. The claim was that Dan had been inappropriate with her (again if you wish for info on that please contact me), this was about a year and a half before his death.
Again, for more info on Dan and Elizabeth and Millie please do contact me
[email protected]
******CIVIL WAR VETERAN******
P.O.W. - Elmira, New York
COMPANY G - 14TH GEORGIA INFANTRY REGIMENT
"THE YANCEY INDEPENDENTS"
William Daniel Gillis was born in 1831 in North Carolina to John Gillis and Rosannah Hamilton.
Very little is known of his first 30 years.
During the War, William and brother Norman served as Privates in Co. G, 14th Georgia Infantry, "The Yancy Independents" out of Worth County, Georgia.
On March 4, 1862 he was captured at Spotsylvania, Virginia by Federal soldiers.
May 12, 1864 he was brought to the infamous prison camp at Elmira, New York where he was held for the duration of the war.
At Elmira, for whatever reason, Dan cooked meals and waited tables and had it better than many other soldiers.
On July 19, 1865, William was paroled at Elmira, New
York and returned home to Sylvester, Worth County, Georgia.
His brother Norman had already been sent home after being injured and having his arm amputated.
Once back in Georgia in 1865 he began to accumulate property from his inheritance and business ventures in and around Sylvester until he had a considerable personal Worth.
Also upon his return to Sylvester, he took a housekeeper Millie (Scott) Teasley, a young widow who had recently moved from Webster County with her parents after losing her husband Daniel O. Teasley in the war.
It's uncertain how it began but the pair soon were pregnant by 1866 and in 1867 she gave birth to a daughter Sallie Gillis despite not being married to Dan.
There have been rumors that they did not marry due to her having native American blood but there is no evidence in any way of such, even with DNA. (And keep in mind that her husband Daniel Teasley was a Caucasian)
It is most likely that Millie would not marry Dan because he was a womaniser and apparently had a temper and eccentric personality.
Regardless, they were recognized as common-law spouses and she lived rightly so as his wife.
The pair would have a son. William Daniel Gillis Jr in about 1869 and daughter Rosa Gillis on New Year's Day 1872.
The full names of his 3 children with Millie were:
-Sara Ann Elizabeth "Sallie"
Gillis (1867-1950)
-William Daniel Gillis Jr
(1869-1892)
-Rosa Anna Clarissa Gillis
(1872-1957)
There have also been rumors that the 3 children were adopted and not hia biologically. These are false rumors but partially true.
They were indeed his children with Millie however, he would later likely officially adopt them because of the stigma of being illegitimate children could hamper their future respect by others.
But I don't find any evidence that he even adopted them.
In one of the news articles about his will later, the journalist noted that he was "said to have adopted some children some time ago".
Sadly that text has been made to make people feel that his children were simply adopted but Dan and his later wife Elizabeth did adopt some children, and this is likely what the paper was referring to. In the 1890s and early 1900s they adopted Lonie Gillis from the Baptist Orphans Home in Hapeville as well as a girl Minnie Lee Davis and they took over care of (though I'm unsure if they officially adopted) Maggie Hayslip of Worth County.
By the year 1890 Millie and Dan were separated and he has married Elizabeth Dees Ratliff, a Widow at least two or three times over by then.
Elizabeth is the one who insisted on the adoptions, she also would use his money to open a hotel and purchase more buildings in Sylvester.
Elizabeth deserves her own story and you can contact me if you wish for details on her.
Only Dan and Millies 2 daughters lived full lives, my grandmother had many second hand stories of William told to her by her mother Sarah and grandmother Rosa. One standout was that William and his son Dan were not close, and that the elder would beat his son to death with an iron chain in a ditch. There are no records stating such, it is possibly family lore, however, it came directly from his daughter Rosa's own words. I tend to take this as fact. The boy was not seen on record since the 1880 census and very well may have perished from typhoid or another illness of that time.
As for Elizabeth Dees. Upon his passing, his will stated that his surviving 2 children Rosa and Sallie, along with their mother Millie, receive the bulk of his estate. Mrs. Elizabeth Dees Gillis was not mentioned in his will as and she did have her own wealth.
But Elizabeth filed and won a lawsuit to gain financial reward from her husbands estate. It is a complicated case and the sides fought for years. Elizabeth "produced" a will that she claimed Dan wrote prior to his passing however it was claimed that she had the will forged by the husband of Dan's Niece who also ended up gaining from this new will.
It is a fascinating story that I have my opinions on. If you wish for more info, contact me at [email protected]
Lastly, In 1911, Dan and Elizabeth had taken in an apparent troubled young woman from Leesburg named Mabel Pye.
That same year several lawsuits were filed by Mabel and her parents. The claim was that Dan had been inappropriate with her (again if you wish for info on that please contact me), this was about a year and a half before his death.
Again, for more info on Dan and Elizabeth and Millie please do contact me
[email protected]
P.O.W. - Elmira, New York
COMPANY G - 14TH GEORGIA INFANTRY REGIMENT
"THE YANCEY INDEPENDENTS"
William Daniel Gillis was born in 1831 in North Carolina to John Gillis and Rosannah Hamilton.
Very little is known of his first 30 years.
During the War, William and brother Norman served as Privates in Co. G, 14th Georgia Infantry, "The Yancy Independents" out of Worth County, Georgia.
On March 4, 1862 he was captured at Spotsylvania, Virginia by Federal soldiers.
May 12, 1864 he was brought to the infamous prison camp at Elmira, New York where he was held for the duration of the war.
At Elmira, for whatever reason, Dan cooked meals and waited tables and had it better than many other soldiers.
On July 19, 1865, William was paroled at Elmira, New
York and returned home to Sylvester, Worth County, Georgia.
His brother Norman had already been sent home after being injured and having his arm amputated.
Once back in Georgia in 1865 he began to accumulate property from his inheritance and business ventures in and around Sylvester until he had a considerable personal Worth.
Also upon his return to Sylvester, he took a housekeeper Millie (Scott) Teasley, a young widow who had recently moved from Webster County with her parents after losing her husband Daniel O. Teasley in the war.
It's uncertain how it began but the pair soon were pregnant by 1866 and in 1867 she gave birth to a daughter Sallie Gillis despite not being married to Dan.
There have been rumors that they did not marry due to her having native American blood but there is no evidence in any way of such, even with DNA. (And keep in mind that her husband Daniel Teasley was a Caucasian)
It is most likely that Millie would not marry Dan because he was a womaniser and apparently had a temper and eccentric personality.
Regardless, they were recognized as common-law spouses and she lived rightly so as his wife.
The pair would have a son. William Daniel Gillis Jr in about 1869 and daughter Rosa Gillis on New Year's Day 1872.
The full names of his 3 children with Millie were:
-Sara Ann Elizabeth "Sallie"
Gillis (1867-1950)
-William Daniel Gillis Jr
(1869-1892)
-Rosa Anna Clarissa Gillis
(1872-1957)
There have also been rumors that the 3 children were adopted and not hia biologically. These are false rumors but partially true.
They were indeed his children with Millie however, he would later likely officially adopt them because of the stigma of being illegitimate children could hamper their future respect by others.
But I don't find any evidence that he even adopted them.
In one of the news articles about his will later, the journalist noted that he was "said to have adopted some children some time ago".
Sadly that text has been made to make people feel that his children were simply adopted but Dan and his later wife Elizabeth did adopt some children, and this is likely what the paper was referring to. In the 1890s and early 1900s they adopted Lonie Gillis from the Baptist Orphans Home in Hapeville as well as a girl Minnie Lee Davis and they took over care of (though I'm unsure if they officially adopted) Maggie Hayslip of Worth County.
By the year 1890 Millie and Dan were separated and he has married Elizabeth Dees Ratliff, a Widow at least two or three times over by then.
Elizabeth is the one who insisted on the adoptions, she also would use his money to open a hotel and purchase more buildings in Sylvester.
Elizabeth deserves her own story and you can contact me if you wish for details on her.
Only Dan and Millies 2 daughters lived full lives, my grandmother had many second hand stories of William told to her by her mother Sarah and grandmother Rosa. One standout was that William and his son Dan were not close, and that the elder would beat his son to death with an iron chain in a ditch. There are no records stating such, it is possibly family lore, however, it came directly from his daughter Rosa's own words. I tend to take this as fact. The boy was not seen on record since the 1880 census and very well may have perished from typhoid or another illness of that time.
As for Elizabeth Dees. Upon his passing, his will stated that his surviving 2 children Rosa and Sallie, along with their mother Millie, receive the bulk of his estate. Mrs. Elizabeth Dees Gillis was not mentioned in his will as and she did have her own wealth.
But Elizabeth filed and won a lawsuit to gain financial reward from her husbands estate. It is a complicated case and the sides fought for years. Elizabeth "produced" a will that she claimed Dan wrote prior to his passing however it was claimed that she had the will forged by the husband of Dan's Niece who also ended up gaining from this new will.
It is a fascinating story that I have my opinions on. If you wish for more info, contact me at [email protected]
Lastly, In 1911, Dan and Elizabeth had taken in an apparent troubled young woman from Leesburg named Mabel Pye.
That same year several lawsuits were filed by Mabel and her parents. The claim was that Dan had been inappropriate with her (again if you wish for info on that please contact me), this was about a year and a half before his death.
Again, for more info on Dan and Elizabeth and Millie please do contact me
[email protected]
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