NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Harry Raymond Gill
Morris Co. Up

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

A Morris county journal with a definite influence as a molder of opinion and with prestige as a successful business enterprise is the Dover Advance. Its editor and proprietor, Harry R. GILL, was practically brought up in a newspaper or printing office, and though a young man in his early thirties, his experience as a newspaper man dates back fully twenty years. He is an able editor, a first-class business man, and a live and public spirited factor in the affairs of his home city and county.

Harry Raymond GILL was born in Kingsland, Bergen county, New Jersey, April 25, 1879. In his family mingle two substantial stocks from the British Isles, the maternal ancestors being Scotch, while on the father’s side he comes from an old family whose original seat was in Cornwall, in the mining and industrial regions of southwestern England. The paternal grandfather was James GILL, a native of Cornwall, who came to this country in 1846, and to New Jersey in 1864. He was an experienced miner and was captain of mines in Tennessee. He was probably of Welsh stock, an inference which is strengthened by his musical ability and tastes. He was both a writer and a leader of choral music. He died at Wharton, Morris county, some thirty years ago. His first wife was a native of Tywardreath, England; they were married in Ireland, and she died in 1864, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was buried in the neighborhood. James GILL later came north and was again married. His children were:

  • John H. and
  • Elizabeth, deceased;
  • James W., father of the Dover editor;
  • Charles A., a resident of Eureka, Utah;
  • Isaac F., of Paterson;
  • Phillipa Ann, unmarried, living at Newark;
  • Fannie, wife of Thomas E. STURTEVANT, of Rockaway, New Jersey;
  • Christie, widow of the late George DORMAN, of Wharton, New Jersey;
  • Mary, wife of William ROSEWELL, of Camden, New Jersey.

The parents of Harry R. GILL are James W. and Johanna H. (McDOUGAL) GILL. James W. GILL was born at Valley Forge, Chester county, Pennsylvania, and now at the age of sixty-three, resides at Dover, New Jersey. His wife, who was born at Mendham, Morris county, New Jersey, died at the age of fifty-two in Dover. She was a daughter of Robert and Ann E. (HAND) McDougal. Robert McDOUGAL died in Mendham. In the family of Robert and Ann E. McDOUGAL were the following children:

  • Johanna H. (McDOUGAL) GILL, mother of H. R. GILL, and wife of James W. GILL;
  • Amanda, widow of Joseph LYNN, of Newark, New Jersey;
  • Ezra, of Dover;
  • Emma H., unmarried, living at Rahway;
  • Etta H., died at Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

To the marriage of James W. and Johanna H. GILL were born the following children:

  • John E., of Chicago;
  • James Walter, a machinist at Newark, New Jersey;
  • Edna M., living at home in Dover;
  • Johanna Mabel, of Dover;
  • Harry R.

In the public schools of the city of Dover, Harry Raymond Gill continued a pupil until he was twelve years old, and from that time forward his practical career continued without interruption. His vocational training may be said to have begun when he entered the employ of the Morris County Journal, the old Prohibition paper. He was next with the Dover Index, and still later with the Morristown Chronicle, under J. Frank LINDSLEY. He was also with the Jerseyman, and has the distinction of having brought out the first issue of the Daily Record of Morristown. On March 9, 1903, Mr. GILL founded the Dover Advance, an independent paper in politics, and one of the best news and advertising sheets in Morris county. The home of the paper was first on Warren street, where the first issue of the paper was published. The Advance has occupied its present home for the past five years. Its publication is twice a week, and its eight pages are filled with the local news, and crisp editorials, and with a generous quota of local advertising. The mechanical and reportorial staff include eight people, and the paper has been prosperous throughout its tens years of existence.  [Non-indexed microfilm copies of the Daily Advance can be found at the Dover Public Library, Dover, NJ~BKB]

Outside of his chief business field, Mr. Gill is prominent in social and civic circles. He is president of the Morris County Editorial Association, is district president of the Epworth League in the Paterson district, extending from Rutherford to Belvidere. His fraternal affiliations are with Morris Council R. A.; with Randolph Lodge I. O. O. F.; with Morris Council J. O. U. A. M., and is a member of the Methodist church of Dover. In politics he is, like his paper, independent.

On April 20, 1902, Mr. GILL was united in marriage with America DAVIS, daughter of Samuel and America DAVIS, of Dover. To their marriage were born two sons:

  • Raymond D. and
  • Samuel.

Mrs. GILL, the mother of these two children, died in May, 1907. Mr. GILL’s present wife, before her marriage, was Catherine Lanyon HAMBLEY, daughter of William and Eleanor Opie (MERTON) HAMBLEY, of Succasunna. By the second marriage is one child living,

  • Eleanor Lanyon; another,
  • Harry Merton, died in infancy.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).

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