Alexander Conkey Gillies

1868 - 1948  (80 years)

• Name	Alexander Conkey Gillies
  Born	22 Jan 1868	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Christened	5 Apr 1868	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Gender	Male
  Business	Ayr, , Ayrshire, Scotland
  	Car dealership
  		Ayr-AlexanderC.Gillies-0002-Garage-WaterlooRegionLibrary.jpg Alexander C. Gillies' Ayr Garage and Ford dealership, which was later owned by his son, John Gillies. Waterloo Region Library
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171441925
  Interesting	business, story
  Name	A. C. Gillies
  Occupation	44 Stanley St., Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	druggist
  Residence	1871	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Presbyterian
  Occupation	1901	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Druggist
  Occupation	1911	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Retail merchant - drug store
  Residence	1911	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Presbyterian
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-338361
  Died	3 May 1948	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2, 5]
  	Cause: Cause: Fractured Hip - Pneumonia
  Buried	5 May 1948	Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2, 5]
  Person ID	I338361	Generations
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	John Gillies,   b. 2 Feb 1831, Eckford, , Roxburgh, Scotland ,   d. 2 Mar 1907, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 76 years)
  Mother	Martha Jane Bell,   b. 20 Oct 1837, , Down Co., Ireland ,   d. 24 Jun 1915, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 77 years)
  Married	2 Jan 1863	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7, 8]
  Family ID	F247845	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Emily Frances "Emma" Thorne,   b. 4 Jul 1863, Edville, Northumberland Co., Ontario ,   d. 26 May 1953, Paris, Brant County, Ontario, Canada  (Age 89 years)
  Married	13 Aug 1893	Cramahe Twp., Ontario   [9]
  Children	1. John Thorne Gillies,   b. 18 Jun 1894, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1 Sep 1954, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 60 years)
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F247770	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Died In Galt Hospital, on Monday, May 3 1948 Alexander Conkey Gillies In his 81st year. The Funeral (Private) Will take place from the W.O. Ball Funeral Parlor, Ayr, on Wednesday, May 5th, at 2.30 p.m. Interment in the Ayr Cemetery. Kindly omit flowers. Waterloo Historical Society Death Notices Collection - photocopies ___________________________ Passing Of A. C. Gillies Alexander C. Gillies, dean of Ayr businessmen and one of the oldest and most widely known druggists of Ontario, passed away in Galt Hospital on Monday morning, in his 81st year. Following a stroke in 1941, Mr. Gillies had been in failing health for a number of years. On Thursday night he accidentally fell while crossing a room in his residence, and sustained a fracture of his left hip. He was taken to Galt Hospital on Friday morning, where pneumonia subsequently developed and the end came on Monday morning about 8 o'clock. Born at Perry's Corners Mr. Gillies was born in Blenheim Township, near Perry's Corners, being a son of John Gillies, a Scottish pioneer, and Martha Jane Bell, a native of Ireland. The family later resided in South Dumfries for many years on the farm now occupied by Douglas Maus. As a young man, Mr. Gillies decided to become a druggist, and to this end served his apprenticeship in pharmacies in Galt and Brighton. He graduated from the School of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, in 1891. Conducted Business Here for 55 Years In the year 1893, he decided to open a drug and Stationery store in Ayr, his native village, and for the past 55 years had conducted a successful business here. He first located in the stand now occupied by Henry Bechtel, barber, on Stanley street and later removed to the store which he had since occupied. In the passing of Mr. Gillies, the business section of Ayr suffers a severe loss, and the record he has established of serving the community continuously for a period of 55 years will not be easily surpassed. Keenly Interested in Village In his younger days, Mr. Gillies took a keen interest in all affairs pertaining to the advancement of the village. In the days when bicycling was in vogue, preceding the automobile era, he was agent for the well-known Gendron wheel, and parties of young chaps went on cycling tours to Hamilton and other points. In those early days, canoeing was also a popular sport and the event of the year was to make the trip to Paris by canoe, in the wake of the spring flood of the Nith. Was G. N. W. Agent For many years Mr. Gillies operated the G.N.W. telegraph office in connection with his business, and upon election night returns were received by him in Federal and Provincial contests and relayed to the Council Chamber by messenger boy, where the results were announced. Enthusiastic Band Supporter He was an enthusiastic supporter of the former Ayr Citizens' Band and made it possible to have a band stand erected fronting his trout pond on Northumberland street. Upon the conclusion of weekly concerts conducted on this stand, it gave Mr. Gillies much pleasure to occasionally invite the members of the band to partake of lunch and refreshments upon the spacious veranda, of his home, over-looking the water of Watson's dam. As a naturalist of note, Mr. Gillies was fond of wild flowers and was one of the few persons who knew of the deep forest recesses where grew the rare and elusive trailing arbutus and lovely lady-slipper. Mr. Gillies was an ardent hunter and, while his health permitted, rarely missed the deer-hunting season up north. He was also an enthusiastic fisherman and skillful photographer. In addition, he had acquired the art of mounting his trophies of gun and line, which he was proud to display. As one of the original Ford car dealers of the Province, Mr. Gillies erected a garage on Northumberland street on the site of a former planing mill. Famous Trout Pond Harnessing the spring stream which furnished power for the water wheel, he constructed a dam, or pool, which he stocked with speckled trout. This pool, with its pleasant rustic surroundings, soon became famous throughout the Province and was visited by thousands of persons each year. In the adjoining park was a miniature cabin containing many Indian relics, Mr. Gillies was a former member of old Stanley Street Presbyterian Church and, following union, of Knox United Church. He was also a member of Dolman Lodge, I.O.O.F. To Mrs. Gillies, who was his constant and untiring helpmeet throughout the years, goes the sympathy of the entire community in her sad bereavement. Those Surviving Surviving are his widow, whose maiden name was Emma Frances thorn, of Brighton; one son, John T. Gillies of Ayr; a granddaughter, Miss Marjoree Gillies; one sister, Mrs. Sarah Hall, Welland, and a brother, William Gillies of Paris. The funeral, which was private, took place this (Wednesday) afternoon from the W. O. Ball Funeral Parlor to the Ayr cemetery. The Ayr News May 6 1948 pg 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S326] Census - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - 1901, Ayr (Village) A Page 4. [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . Gillies/ Alexander C. Gillies/ 1868 - 1948/ his LovIng wife/ Emily F. Thorne/ 1863 - 1953/ John Thorne Gillies/ 1894 - 1954/ his beloved wife/ Mildred B. Taylor/ 1897 - / Marjorie B. Gillies/ 1923 - / beloved wife of/ Kenneth A. LIngelbach/ 1923 - [S29] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Galt - St. Andrews Presbyterian. Alexander Conkey Gillies Born 22 Jan 1868 Parents John Gillies & Jane Bell baptized 05 Apr 1868 Occupation: Farmer [S1282] Census - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - 1911, p 6. [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . Gillies/ Alexander C. Gillies/ 1868 - 1948/ his Loving wife/ Emily F. Thorne/ 1863 - 1953/ John Thorne Gillies/ 1894 - 1954/ his beloved wife/ Mildred B. Taylor/ 1897 - 1993/ Marjorie B. Gillies/ 1923 - 2006/ beloved wife of/ Kenneth A. Lingelbach/ 1923 - / [A] Father [B] Mother [C] Marjoree B./ Lingelbach/ 1923 - 2006 [D] Mildred B. Gilles/ 1897 - 1993/ At rest [E] John T. Gillies/ 1894 - 1954/ at Rest. [S355] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1871, Sect. 1 Page 24. [S5] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - 1858-1869 Marriage Register. John Gillies b. Roxburgh, Scotland res: Dumfries Township Age: 31 born abt 1832 father: Thomas mother: Agnes Whilers married Martha Jane Bell Age:: 20 born abt 1843 b. Co. Down, Ireland Spouse res: Dumfries Township father: Samuel mother: Jane Covey married 2 Jan 1863 county: Waterloo [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name: Martha Jane Bell Age: 20 Birth Date: abt 1843 Birth Place: Ireland Marriage Date: 2 Jan 1863 Marriage County or District: Waterloo Father: Samuel Mother: Jane Casey Spouse: John Gillies Spouse's Age: 31 Spouse Birth Date: abt 1832 Spouse Birth Place: Scotland Spouse Residence: Dumfries Township Spouse Father: Thomas Spouse Mother: Agnes Whilers Residence: Dumfries Township [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name: Alexander C Gillis Age: 25 Birth Date: abt 1868 Birth Place: Galt, Ontario Marriage Date: 30 Aug 1893 Marriage County or District: Northumberland Father: John Gillis Mother: Martha Bell Spouse: Emma Thorne Spouse's Age: 30 Spouse Birth Date: abt 1863 Spouse Birth Place: Cramahe Township Spouse Father: John Thome Spouse Mother: Ann Houghman

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 22 Jan 1868 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Christened - 5 Apr 1868 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Business - Car dealership - - Ayr, , Ayrshire, Scotland Occupation - druggist - - 44 Stanley St., Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 13 Aug 1893 - Cramahe Twp., Ontario Occupation - Druggist - 1901 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Retail merchant - drug store - 1911 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian - 1911 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: Cause: Fractured Hip - Pneumonia - 3 May 1948 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - 5 May 1948 - Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth