WI BIO - Dane Co - GILLETT, Robert
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 579-580

Robert GILLETT, a farmer of Dane County, WI, was born in Derbyshire, England, 
in 1841, a son of George GILLETT, a native of England. George GILLETT 
brought his wife and five children to Springfield Township, Dane County, WI, 
in 1846. They came by sail vessel from Liverpool to New Orleans, landing 
after a rough and tedious voyage of six weeks. They next went to Galena [Jo 
Daviess County], IL, via the Mississippi River, and then by team to this 
section, where they purchased 200 acres of Government land, erected a good 
frame house for that period, which is still standing as a shelter for stock. 
George GILLETT afterward added 60 acres to his original purchase, and in 1881 
sold the entire place to Mr. REYNOLDS, its present owner. He then moved to 
Belleville, Dane County, WI, where his second wife passed away. By his 
second marriage George GILLETT had one son and a daughter, and the latter, 
Blanche, was employed as a teacher two years.

George GILLETT was first married to Fanny HENDERSON, and they had five 
children: (1) Ann, the wife of John BARDSLEY, of Cerro Gordo County, IA; 
(2) Mary, wife of John D. HILLIER, of Cerro Gordo County, IA; (3) William, 
a twin brother of Mary, resides in the city of Madison [Dane County], WI; (4) 
Robert, our subject; and (5) John, who resides near Belleville, Green 
County, WI. George GILLETT was a sea captain many years, and often took two 
sons with him as cabin boys. He was a self-made man, and a fine scholar, 
having been well versed in both Latin and Greek.

Robert GILLETT, our subject, was reared on a farm, and received only a 
limited education. On 12 Aug 1861, at the age of 20 years, he enlisted in 
the 11th WI Infantry, Company A, and served in the ranks about four years, 
with the exception of six months as hospital cook, and while confined with 
the smallpox a short time. He escaped the deadly missiles of war, but at one 
time had a close call from a spent ball, which grazed his head. He was also 
stung by a tarantula while in AL, and narrowly escaped death from the poison 
which lurked in his system a long time. After the close of hostilities, Mr. 
GILLETT rented land in Springfield Township, Dane County, WI, for a short 
time, and then purchased 70 acres of his father-in-law's farm. He now rents 
the entire place of his father-in-law, of which the stepmother has a life 
interest, and resides in the frame house erected by George GILLETT.

Robert GILLETT was married during the late war [1861-1865] to Miss Emma FORD, 
a daughter of John W. and Mary (ALLISON) FORD, the former a native of 
Hampshire, and the latter of Norfolk, England. They came to America in the 
spring of 1845, with a small cash capital, and purchased 160 acres of land in 
this county, to which he afterward added 40 acres more. Emma (FORD) GILLETT 
died on this farm [in Dane County, WI] in 1880, at the age of 54 years, and 
Robert GILLETT afterward married. He died at that place in 1879, in his 73rd 
year, leaving a large estate.

While in England, Robert GILLETT was employed as a gardener, and after coming 
to this country was a local Methodist minister, and was an earnest and 
efficient worker in the church. His son, John GILLETT, served in the late 
war four years, in the 11th WI Infantry, of which regiment Mr. [Robert] 
GILLETT's brother, William, was a member, as was also his [Robert's] 
brother-in-law, Lieutenant J. B. HILLIER. Mrs. [Robert] GILLETT's two 
brothers, John and James FORD, are Methodist ministers in regular work.

Robert and Emma (FORD) GILLETT have nine living children: Robert E. and 
George M., at home; Joseph E.; Blanche J., wife of Fred WILSON, of St. Paul, 
MN, and they have one son; Flora J., at home; [p 580] Anna Z., attending 
school; Arthur C., aged 13 years; Prudence L., 10 years; and Edith E., 7 
years. One son, Edward, died at the age of 2 years. Mr. GILLETT is one of 
the leading Republicans of his township, and is faithful in attendance at the 
conventions. Both he and his wife are loyal Methodists.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly