Henry Gillespie
Henry Gillespie, better known as "Uncle Henry", was born in Mills River, North Carolina on May 3, 1882, the seventh of eight children born to Harvey Newton and Mary Emily Orr Gillespie. Both of his parents came from pioneer families of Western North Carolina. On his paternal side, both of his great-great grandfathers were very prominent and made big contributions to the growth of Western North Carolina. His great-great grandfather, John Gillespie, settled in Transylvania County before 1800 and at East Fork, near Rosman, North Carolina, he set up a gun shop and made some of the famous Gillespie long rifles.
His other great-great grandfather, Philip Sitton, came to the beautiful Mills River Valley, about the same time the Gillespie's came to East Fork.
Philip Sitton was given a land grant of 3000 acres by the State of North Carolina to establish an Iron Works or Forge. The establishing of this Iron Works was one of the most important contributions made to the development of this section. From the loops and bars of iron made at the Sitton forge, early settlers were furnished with tools of every description to aid them in taming the wilderness and adding refinements to their primitive mode of living.
Family tradition has it that John Gillespie (who had been a neighbor of Philip Sitton when both lived in Georges Creek, S. C.) sent his son Mathew to the Sitton Forge, some 40 miles away, to purchase iron for use in the manufacture of his rifles. On these trips, Mathew Gillespie became re-acquainted with Elizabeth Sitton, eldest daughter of Philip Sitton. They were wed in 1810 and soon afterwards, he set up a gun shop next to the Sitton Iron Forge and before long, Gillespie Long Rifles were being made at Mills River. Mathew and Elizabeth Sitton Gillespie were the great-grandparents of Henry Gillespie.
Henry's grandmother, Sarah Gillespie, was the daughter of Mathew and Elizabeth Gillespie, and his grandfather, John Harvey Gillespie, the son of William and Milly Davis Gillespie. William was a brother of Mathew, so Sarah and John Harvey Gillespie were first cousins.
Probably the best known of all the Gillespie rifle makers was Philip Gillespie, son of Mathew and brother of Sarah, grandmother of Henry. Many of his rifles are still around today, some are in museums. Philip and his brother Wilson left Mills River in 1863 and traveled over to Tennessee and joined the Union Army. On the night before they left, Philip took a keg of brandy and a bag of gold coins and hid them on his property until he returned after the war. Both of the Gillespie men died in Tennessee during the war. Many people have searched for the brandy and gold, and as far as known, it was never found.
Henry Gillespie never married, and lived with his parents until their deaths. Henry joined the Mills River Baptist Church at an early age, and attended this church until his death. As a youth, he worked on his father's farm, and later farmed on his own. What little education Henry received was at the old Mountain View School at Mills River. Henry owned one of the first cars in the Mills River Valley, a T-model Ford, many years before there were any paved roads in Mills River.
For many years, the Sitton's and Gillespie's held an annual reunion along the River beside the Mills River Baptist Church. Henry was one of the regular attendee's, along with many of his brothers and sisters and their families. Henry died November 19, 1948 at Mills River, and is buried in the Sitton-Gillespie Cemetery, along with many of his ancestors and family.
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN, ASHEVILLE, N. C., FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19, 1948
Gillespie Shooting Is Ruled Suicide
South Mills River Resident FoundDead
Near Home
HENDERSONVILLE - The death of Henry Gillespie, 66, a resident and farmer of the South Mills River section who was found dead from a shotgun wound about 8:10 a.m. Thursday on a bridge about one-half mile from his home, was declared a suicide by Coroner Bruce A. Cox, who said no inquest would be had.
Coroner Cox made suicide the official verdict after investigation and the finding of a note in the kitchen of the deceased. The note, written in ink on a small tablet, said: "Good by Myrtle, Ed and family. Please forgive me." The handwriting of the note was identified as that of the deceased by Ed Gillespie, a nephew, Mack Gillespie, a great nephew, and Deputy S. S. Whitaker, a resident of the neighborhood.
The finding of the body on the bridge over the South Fork of Mills River on |South Mills River Road between the home of the deceased and the nephew, Ed, had started a wide investigation due to the fact that the elder Gillespie had had trouble with hunters on his property about two weeks ago.
At that time, according to Deputy Whitaker, Gillespie ordered night hunters off his property and shots were exchanged. Later a rifle shot was fired into the Gillespie home.
It was because of the hunting incident that members of the family had been staying with Mr.
Gillespie, a bachelor, overnight. The great-nephew, Mack, said he stayed with Mr. Gillespie last night. During the night, he said, they thought they heard someone on the porch of the home but found no one on investigation.
Mack said he left shortly after daylight this morning.
The body was found by Miss Cora Bells Gillespie, a great-niece of the deceased, as she started to Hendersonville on South Mills River Road. Her father, Ed, said he crossed the bridge about 8 a.m. and the body was not there at that time. A school bus had also crossed the bridge about 8 a.m.
Apparently the last person to see Mr. Gillespie alive was Mrs. Charles Sitton, whose home is between that of the deceased and the river. She said that he stopped there and gave her $10 which he had promised as a Thanksgiving orphanage contribution. She said she watched him as he walked toward the river and about 8:15 a. m. heard what she thought was a single shot.
Mr. Gillespie was shot in the head and both barrels of the shotgun found nearby had been discharged. He was identified as the owner of the weapon.
The suicide note was found by Corporal E. B. Quinn and James Kuykendall of the state highway patrol, Deputy Whitaker and the relatives, Ed and Mack.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 3 p.m. at Sycamore Baptist Church by the Rev. W. E. Rufty and burial will be in Gillespie Cemetery with nephews as pallbearers.
Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. W. M. Sitton and Mrs. W. E. Field of Mills River and Mrs. C. N. Allen of Dana; a brother, George Gillespie of Mills River; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Henry Gillespie, better known as "Uncle Henry", was born in Mills River, North Carolina on May 3, 1882, the seventh of eight children born to Harvey Newton and Mary Emily Orr Gillespie. Both of his parents came from pioneer families of Western North Carolina. On his paternal side, both of his great-great grandfathers were very prominent and made big contributions to the growth of Western North Carolina. His great-great grandfather, John Gillespie, settled in Transylvania County before 1800 and at East Fork, near Rosman, North Carolina, he set up a gun shop and made some of the famous Gillespie long rifles.
His other great-great grandfather, Philip Sitton, came to the beautiful Mills River Valley, about the same time the Gillespie's came to East Fork.
Philip Sitton was given a land grant of 3000 acres by the State of North Carolina to establish an Iron Works or Forge. The establishing of this Iron Works was one of the most important contributions made to the development of this section. From the loops and bars of iron made at the Sitton forge, early settlers were furnished with tools of every description to aid them in taming the wilderness and adding refinements to their primitive mode of living.
Family tradition has it that John Gillespie (who had been a neighbor of Philip Sitton when both lived in Georges Creek, S. C.) sent his son Mathew to the Sitton Forge, some 40 miles away, to purchase iron for use in the manufacture of his rifles. On these trips, Mathew Gillespie became re-acquainted with Elizabeth Sitton, eldest daughter of Philip Sitton. They were wed in 1810 and soon afterwards, he set up a gun shop next to the Sitton Iron Forge and before long, Gillespie Long Rifles were being made at Mills River. Mathew and Elizabeth Sitton Gillespie were the great-grandparents of Henry Gillespie.
Henry's grandmother, Sarah Gillespie, was the daughter of Mathew and Elizabeth Gillespie, and his grandfather, John Harvey Gillespie, the son of William and Milly Davis Gillespie. William was a brother of Mathew, so Sarah and John Harvey Gillespie were first cousins.
Probably the best known of all the Gillespie rifle makers was Philip Gillespie, son of Mathew and brother of Sarah, grandmother of Henry. Many of his rifles are still around today, some are in museums. Philip and his brother Wilson left Mills River in 1863 and traveled over to Tennessee and joined the Union Army. On the night before they left, Philip took a keg of brandy and a bag of gold coins and hid them on his property until he returned after the war. Both of the Gillespie men died in Tennessee during the war. Many people have searched for the brandy and gold, and as far as known, it was never found.
Henry Gillespie never married, and lived with his parents until their deaths. Henry joined the Mills River Baptist Church at an early age, and attended this church until his death. As a youth, he worked on his father's farm, and later farmed on his own. What little education Henry received was at the old Mountain View School at Mills River. Henry owned one of the first cars in the Mills River Valley, a T-model Ford, many years before there were any paved roads in Mills River.
For many years, the Sitton's and Gillespie's held an annual reunion along the River beside the Mills River Baptist Church. Henry was one of the regular attendee's, along with many of his brothers and sisters and their families. Henry died November 19, 1948 at Mills River, and is buried in the Sitton-Gillespie Cemetery, along with many of his ancestors and family.
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN, ASHEVILLE, N. C., FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19, 1948
Gillespie Shooting Is Ruled Suicide
South Mills River Resident FoundDead
Near Home
HENDERSONVILLE - The death of Henry Gillespie, 66, a resident and farmer of the South Mills River section who was found dead from a shotgun wound about 8:10 a.m. Thursday on a bridge about one-half mile from his home, was declared a suicide by Coroner Bruce A. Cox, who said no inquest would be had.
Coroner Cox made suicide the official verdict after investigation and the finding of a note in the kitchen of the deceased. The note, written in ink on a small tablet, said: "Good by Myrtle, Ed and family. Please forgive me." The handwriting of the note was identified as that of the deceased by Ed Gillespie, a nephew, Mack Gillespie, a great nephew, and Deputy S. S. Whitaker, a resident of the neighborhood.
The finding of the body on the bridge over the South Fork of Mills River on |South Mills River Road between the home of the deceased and the nephew, Ed, had started a wide investigation due to the fact that the elder Gillespie had had trouble with hunters on his property about two weeks ago.
At that time, according to Deputy Whitaker, Gillespie ordered night hunters off his property and shots were exchanged. Later a rifle shot was fired into the Gillespie home.
It was because of the hunting incident that members of the family had been staying with Mr.
Gillespie, a bachelor, overnight. The great-nephew, Mack, said he stayed with Mr. Gillespie last night. During the night, he said, they thought they heard someone on the porch of the home but found no one on investigation.
Mack said he left shortly after daylight this morning.
The body was found by Miss Cora Bells Gillespie, a great-niece of the deceased, as she started to Hendersonville on South Mills River Road. Her father, Ed, said he crossed the bridge about 8 a.m. and the body was not there at that time. A school bus had also crossed the bridge about 8 a.m.
Apparently the last person to see Mr. Gillespie alive was Mrs. Charles Sitton, whose home is between that of the deceased and the river. She said that he stopped there and gave her $10 which he had promised as a Thanksgiving orphanage contribution. She said she watched him as he walked toward the river and about 8:15 a. m. heard what she thought was a single shot.
Mr. Gillespie was shot in the head and both barrels of the shotgun found nearby had been discharged. He was identified as the owner of the weapon.
The suicide note was found by Corporal E. B. Quinn and James Kuykendall of the state highway patrol, Deputy Whitaker and the relatives, Ed and Mack.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 3 p.m. at Sycamore Baptist Church by the Rev. W. E. Rufty and burial will be in Gillespie Cemetery with nephews as pallbearers.
Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. W. M. Sitton and Mrs. W. E. Field of Mills River and Mrs. C. N. Allen of Dana; a brother, George Gillespie of Mills River; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Henry Gillespie
Henry Gillespie, better known as "Uncle Henry", was born in Mills River, North Carolina on May 3, 1882, the seventh of eight children born to Harvey Newton and Mary Emily Orr Gillespie. Both of his parents came from pioneer families of Western North Carolina. On his paternal side, both of his great-great grandfathers were very prominent and made big contributions to the growth of Western North Carolina. His great-great grandfather, John Gillespie, settled in Transylvania County before 1800 and at East Fork, near Rosman, North Carolina, he set up a gun shop and made some of the famous Gillespie long rifles.
His other great-great grandfather, Philip Sitton, came to the beautiful Mills River Valley, about the same time the Gillespie's came to East Fork.
Philip Sitton was given a land grant of 3000 acres by the State of North Carolina to establish an Iron Works or Forge. The establishing of this Iron Works was one of the most important contributions made to the development of this section. From the loops and bars of iron made at the Sitton forge, early settlers were furnished with tools of every description to aid them in taming the wilderness and adding refinements to their primitive mode of living.
Family tradition has it that John Gillespie (who had been a neighbor of Philip Sitton when both lived in Georges Creek, S. C.) sent his son Mathew to the Sitton Forge, some 40 miles away, to purchase iron for use in the manufacture of his rifles. On these trips, Mathew Gillespie became re-acquainted with Elizabeth Sitton, eldest daughter of Philip Sitton. They were wed in 1810 and soon afterwards, he set up a gun shop next to the Sitton Iron Forge and before long, Gillespie Long Rifles were being made at Mills River. Mathew and Elizabeth Sitton Gillespie were the great-grandparents of Henry Gillespie.
Henry's grandmother, Sarah Gillespie, was the daughter of Mathew and Elizabeth Gillespie, and his grandfather, John Harvey Gillespie, the son of William and Milly Davis Gillespie. William was a brother of Mathew, so Sarah and John Harvey Gillespie were first cousins.
Probably the best known of all the Gillespie rifle makers was Philip Gillespie, son of Mathew and brother of Sarah, grandmother of Henry. Many of his rifles are still around today, some are in museums. Philip and his brother Wilson left Mills River in 1863 and traveled over to Tennessee and joined the Union Army. On the night before they left, Philip took a keg of brandy and a bag of gold coins and hid them on his property until he returned after the war. Both of the Gillespie men died in Tennessee during the war. Many people have searched for the brandy and gold, and as far as known, it was never found.
Henry Gillespie never married, and lived with his parents until their deaths. Henry joined the Mills River Baptist Church at an early age, and attended this church until his death. As a youth, he worked on his father's farm, and later farmed on his own. What little education Henry received was at the old Mountain View School at Mills River. Henry owned one of the first cars in the Mills River Valley, a T-model Ford, many years before there were any paved roads in Mills River.
For many years, the Sitton's and Gillespie's held an annual reunion along the River beside the Mills River Baptist Church. Henry was one of the regular attendee's, along with many of his brothers and sisters and their families. Henry died November 19, 1948 at Mills River, and is buried in the Sitton-Gillespie Cemetery, along with many of his ancestors and family.
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN, ASHEVILLE, N. C., FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19, 1948
Gillespie Shooting Is Ruled Suicide
South Mills River Resident FoundDead
Near Home
HENDERSONVILLE - The death of Henry Gillespie, 66, a resident and farmer of the South Mills River section who was found dead from a shotgun wound about 8:10 a.m. Thursday on a bridge about one-half mile from his home, was declared a suicide by Coroner Bruce A. Cox, who said no inquest would be had.
Coroner Cox made suicide the official verdict after investigation and the finding of a note in the kitchen of the deceased. The note, written in ink on a small tablet, said: "Good by Myrtle, Ed and family. Please forgive me." The handwriting of the note was identified as that of the deceased by Ed Gillespie, a nephew, Mack Gillespie, a great nephew, and Deputy S. S. Whitaker, a resident of the neighborhood.
The finding of the body on the bridge over the South Fork of Mills River on |South Mills River Road between the home of the deceased and the nephew, Ed, had started a wide investigation due to the fact that the elder Gillespie had had trouble with hunters on his property about two weeks ago.
At that time, according to Deputy Whitaker, Gillespie ordered night hunters off his property and shots were exchanged. Later a rifle shot was fired into the Gillespie home.
It was because of the hunting incident that members of the family had been staying with Mr.
Gillespie, a bachelor, overnight. The great-nephew, Mack, said he stayed with Mr. Gillespie last night. During the night, he said, they thought they heard someone on the porch of the home but found no one on investigation.
Mack said he left shortly after daylight this morning.
The body was found by Miss Cora Bells Gillespie, a great-niece of the deceased, as she started to Hendersonville on South Mills River Road. Her father, Ed, said he crossed the bridge about 8 a.m. and the body was not there at that time. A school bus had also crossed the bridge about 8 a.m.
Apparently the last person to see Mr. Gillespie alive was Mrs. Charles Sitton, whose home is between that of the deceased and the river. She said that he stopped there and gave her $10 which he had promised as a Thanksgiving orphanage contribution. She said she watched him as he walked toward the river and about 8:15 a. m. heard what she thought was a single shot.
Mr. Gillespie was shot in the head and both barrels of the shotgun found nearby had been discharged. He was identified as the owner of the weapon.
The suicide note was found by Corporal E. B. Quinn and James Kuykendall of the state highway patrol, Deputy Whitaker and the relatives, Ed and Mack.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 3 p.m. at Sycamore Baptist Church by the Rev. W. E. Rufty and burial will be in Gillespie Cemetery with nephews as pallbearers.
Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. W. M. Sitton and Mrs. W. E. Field of Mills River and Mrs. C. N. Allen of Dana; a brother, George Gillespie of Mills River; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Henry Gillespie, better known as "Uncle Henry", was born in Mills River, North Carolina on May 3, 1882, the seventh of eight children born to Harvey Newton and Mary Emily Orr Gillespie. Both of his parents came from pioneer families of Western North Carolina. On his paternal side, both of his great-great grandfathers were very prominent and made big contributions to the growth of Western North Carolina. His great-great grandfather, John Gillespie, settled in Transylvania County before 1800 and at East Fork, near Rosman, North Carolina, he set up a gun shop and made some of the famous Gillespie long rifles.
His other great-great grandfather, Philip Sitton, came to the beautiful Mills River Valley, about the same time the Gillespie's came to East Fork.
Philip Sitton was given a land grant of 3000 acres by the State of North Carolina to establish an Iron Works or Forge. The establishing of this Iron Works was one of the most important contributions made to the development of this section. From the loops and bars of iron made at the Sitton forge, early settlers were furnished with tools of every description to aid them in taming the wilderness and adding refinements to their primitive mode of living.
Family tradition has it that John Gillespie (who had been a neighbor of Philip Sitton when both lived in Georges Creek, S. C.) sent his son Mathew to the Sitton Forge, some 40 miles away, to purchase iron for use in the manufacture of his rifles. On these trips, Mathew Gillespie became re-acquainted with Elizabeth Sitton, eldest daughter of Philip Sitton. They were wed in 1810 and soon afterwards, he set up a gun shop next to the Sitton Iron Forge and before long, Gillespie Long Rifles were being made at Mills River. Mathew and Elizabeth Sitton Gillespie were the great-grandparents of Henry Gillespie.
Henry's grandmother, Sarah Gillespie, was the daughter of Mathew and Elizabeth Gillespie, and his grandfather, John Harvey Gillespie, the son of William and Milly Davis Gillespie. William was a brother of Mathew, so Sarah and John Harvey Gillespie were first cousins.
Probably the best known of all the Gillespie rifle makers was Philip Gillespie, son of Mathew and brother of Sarah, grandmother of Henry. Many of his rifles are still around today, some are in museums. Philip and his brother Wilson left Mills River in 1863 and traveled over to Tennessee and joined the Union Army. On the night before they left, Philip took a keg of brandy and a bag of gold coins and hid them on his property until he returned after the war. Both of the Gillespie men died in Tennessee during the war. Many people have searched for the brandy and gold, and as far as known, it was never found.
Henry Gillespie never married, and lived with his parents until their deaths. Henry joined the Mills River Baptist Church at an early age, and attended this church until his death. As a youth, he worked on his father's farm, and later farmed on his own. What little education Henry received was at the old Mountain View School at Mills River. Henry owned one of the first cars in the Mills River Valley, a T-model Ford, many years before there were any paved roads in Mills River.
For many years, the Sitton's and Gillespie's held an annual reunion along the River beside the Mills River Baptist Church. Henry was one of the regular attendee's, along with many of his brothers and sisters and their families. Henry died November 19, 1948 at Mills River, and is buried in the Sitton-Gillespie Cemetery, along with many of his ancestors and family.
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN, ASHEVILLE, N. C., FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19, 1948
Gillespie Shooting Is Ruled Suicide
South Mills River Resident FoundDead
Near Home
HENDERSONVILLE - The death of Henry Gillespie, 66, a resident and farmer of the South Mills River section who was found dead from a shotgun wound about 8:10 a.m. Thursday on a bridge about one-half mile from his home, was declared a suicide by Coroner Bruce A. Cox, who said no inquest would be had.
Coroner Cox made suicide the official verdict after investigation and the finding of a note in the kitchen of the deceased. The note, written in ink on a small tablet, said: "Good by Myrtle, Ed and family. Please forgive me." The handwriting of the note was identified as that of the deceased by Ed Gillespie, a nephew, Mack Gillespie, a great nephew, and Deputy S. S. Whitaker, a resident of the neighborhood.
The finding of the body on the bridge over the South Fork of Mills River on |South Mills River Road between the home of the deceased and the nephew, Ed, had started a wide investigation due to the fact that the elder Gillespie had had trouble with hunters on his property about two weeks ago.
At that time, according to Deputy Whitaker, Gillespie ordered night hunters off his property and shots were exchanged. Later a rifle shot was fired into the Gillespie home.
It was because of the hunting incident that members of the family had been staying with Mr.
Gillespie, a bachelor, overnight. The great-nephew, Mack, said he stayed with Mr. Gillespie last night. During the night, he said, they thought they heard someone on the porch of the home but found no one on investigation.
Mack said he left shortly after daylight this morning.
The body was found by Miss Cora Bells Gillespie, a great-niece of the deceased, as she started to Hendersonville on South Mills River Road. Her father, Ed, said he crossed the bridge about 8 a.m. and the body was not there at that time. A school bus had also crossed the bridge about 8 a.m.
Apparently the last person to see Mr. Gillespie alive was Mrs. Charles Sitton, whose home is between that of the deceased and the river. She said that he stopped there and gave her $10 which he had promised as a Thanksgiving orphanage contribution. She said she watched him as he walked toward the river and about 8:15 a. m. heard what she thought was a single shot.
Mr. Gillespie was shot in the head and both barrels of the shotgun found nearby had been discharged. He was identified as the owner of the weapon.
The suicide note was found by Corporal E. B. Quinn and James Kuykendall of the state highway patrol, Deputy Whitaker and the relatives, Ed and Mack.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 3 p.m. at Sycamore Baptist Church by the Rev. W. E. Rufty and burial will be in Gillespie Cemetery with nephews as pallbearers.
Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. W. M. Sitton and Mrs. W. E. Field of Mills River and Mrs. C. N. Allen of Dana; a brother, George Gillespie of Mills River; and a number of nieces and nephews.
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Son of Harvey Newton and Mary Emily Orr Gillespie
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