John Victor GILLIS

                   As a young man, John rode horses and herded cattle in Montana . He also
carried mail.  During World War I, John joined the so-called "Spruce Squadron"
in the U. S. Army, cutting trees to be used in building army  aircraft.  After
the war, he settled in the Libby, Montana area and remained there the rest of
his life.  He worked in the lumber industry, mined gold, cut Christmas trees and
cut cord wood.  He never owned a house but always lived in a tiny trailer home.
       John was married to Laura Smith in Missoula, Montana.  They had no
children.  Laura is the daughter of Joseph Smith and Mary Ann Booth.
       The month and year of John's death was obtained from the Social Security
Death Index in 1995.  John and Laura are both buried at Libby.  The information
on John's biography was obtained by interview with Joseph H. Gillis.