Version 6.00

15 February 2025

David March © 2019

GILLIES FAMILY

John “Midford” Hadwen Gillies was born on 26 February 1872 in Teeswater, Bruce County to John Gillies (1843-1905) and Fanny Styles Midford (1845-1903). Midford had four siblings, William Bertram “Digby” (1875-1948), Thirza Isabel Edna (1878-1965), Thomas E I (b 1879) and George “Ernest” (1883-1967).

John Sr trained as a doctor at McGill Medical School, Toronto and then in New York. He came to Teeswater in 1867 and practised medicine in Teeswater for the rest of his life. His wife, Fanny Midford was the daughter of William Midford of Ottawa who was noted for his ornamental metal work; he did the ornamentation work on the parliament buildings and at the University of Toronto.

Midford, Digby and Ernest all trained as doctors in Canada and then went to undertook post-graduate work in Europe. Digby and Ernest later settled in Vancouver.

Midford returned to Teeswater in 1903 to assist in his father’s medical practise. Midford married Gladys Irvine McPherson on 2 June 1908 in Teeswater. Gladys was born on 30 April 1887 in Puslinch, Wellington, Ontario to James Phillip McPherson (1861-1928) and Elizabeth Johnston (b 1860). Gladys had six siblings, Jessie Olive (b 1889), William James (1893-1971), Maud Elizabeth Maudie (b 1896), Grace Edgar (1898-1955), Marion Johnston (b 1901) and Jean (b 1901).

Midford and Gladys had three children,

Helen Bentley (1911-1995),
John Donald MacPherson (1914-1996) and
John Midford (1921-2001).

Midford remained working in Teeswater; he became Medical Officer of Health for Teeswater Village, a member of the Bruce County Medical Board and was a member of the Masonic Order for over fifty years. Midford died on 16 April 1961. Gladys died on 30 January 1980. They are both buried in the Culross-Teeswater Cemetery.

Dr Gillies position of prominence on the quilt surely indicates his status in Culross as early as 1918.

Helen Bentley Gillies was born on 23 August 1911 in Teeswater. She studied at the University of Toronto (1928-1932) and was a Registered Nurse when she travelled to Buffalo, New York on 1940. Helen married James Edward Wilson on 12 July 1941 in Teeswater. James was born on 16 October 1909 in Clarksburg, Harrison, West Virginai to James Edward Wilson Sr (1881-164) and Mary Evelyn Boggess (1885-1971). James and Helen lived in West Virginia. James died on 26 May 1970 at Tygart Lake, Taylor County, West Virginia and Helen died on 10 November 1995 in Clarksburg.

John Donald MacPherson Gillies married Frances Plaunt and they moved to Toronto. John died on 25 October 1996 and Frances on 28 January 2005. They are both buried in the Culross-Teeswater Cemetery.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title Culross Gillies Tree.