17 Mar 1935 Allan Gillis
At Antigonish, March 17, after several years of ill health, Allan Gillis, St. Ninian St., at the age of 79. Deceased was the son of the late Andrew Gillis, Morar. As a young man he came to Antigonish and learned the carpenter trade with the late John Colin MacDonald. In due course he became a building contractor, and his work became well and favorably known over a wide area of eastern Nova Scotia. He erected the majority of the stations on the Inverness Railway, the mine buildings at Inverness, the Catholic churches at St. Peter’s and Big Pond, and other edifices. He was a skilled craftsman and a conscientious one. Mr. Gillis was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Hanrahan, Morar, who died in 1901. Eleven children were born of this union, of whom three now survive: John Gillis and Miss Margaret Gillis, Dorchester, Mass; Joseph Gillis, New Bedford, Mass. Subsequently remarried Mrs. Roderick Chisholm (nee Mary MacKinnon), who survives him. Surviving also are two brothers: Frank Gillis, retired station agent at Sydney Mines, and Andrew, retired contractor at Newport, R.I. The funeral took place March 20, interment being at St. Ninian’s cemetery after requiem Mass at the Cathedral, Father MacDonald officiating. The pall bearers were: Adam Mahoney, D.A. MacDonald, M. Wilmot, J.D. MacGillivray, John A., MacDonald and Angus Gillis.