E. C. GILLAM

On the roster of county officials appears the name of E. C. Gillam, who is now occupying the position of county treasurer. He was born in Genesee county, New York, near the town of Byron, January 28, 1860, a son of Orange and Elizabeth (Crosby) Gillam, natives of New Jersey and Vermont respectively. The father died in 1868 of a sunstroke, the year following his removal to Michigan, being at the time about thirty-eight years of age. His widow, who was born in 1836, still survives and makes her home in Lapeer county, Michigan. In their family were the following named: Elmer D., a carpenter living in Detroit, Michigan; E. C., of this review; Ella M., the wife of E. M. Wilbur, of Detroit; Myrtle, the wife of James Tewksbury, of Sanilac county, Michigan; and Charles H., who is living in Lapeer county upon the farm on which the family located in 1867 when they left New York and removed to the middle west.

E. C. Gillam was a lad of seven years at the time of the removal and his youthful days were spent in Lapeer county amid rural environment, his time being divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the sports of the playground and such tasks as were assigned him in connection with the improvement and cultivation of the home farm. In 1882 he went to Jackson county, Michigan, where he lived for six years, and in 1888 went to Fairfax, Linn county, Iowa, where he spent a year and a half. He next located in Norway, Benton county, Iowa, and in the fall of 1890 came to Tipton. He had been employed in shingle and lumber mills in Michigan until twenty years of age and had acquired his education by attending school through the winter months. After his removal to Jackson county he was employed for two years in a boot and shoe store and then began railroading as an agent in Jackson county for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company. Following his removal to Iowa he entered the services of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, also as station agent, and came to Tipton as representative of the road in the same capacity, thus serving until the spring of 1900, when he resigned to enter the retail grocery business on his own account. He devoted five years to the conduct of his store and then sold out, after which he engaged in farming for three years on a tract of land of one hundred and six acres, three and a half miles south of Tipton. This he sold when elected county treasurer in the fall of 1908. On the 1st of January following he entered upon the duties of the office, which he is now filling. He is proving a worthy custodian of the public funds, loyal to the interest entrusted to his care and his record is winning him the commendation of all concerned.

On the 28th of October, 1885, Mr. Gillam was united in marriage to Miss Emma A. Millard, who was born in Albion, Michigan, in 1858, and is a daughter of James and Harriet (Whitman) Millard. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gillam have been born six children: Leon, who died at the age of two years; Ralph; Rena; Millard; Hattie; and Gladys.

The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Gillam are members. He also belongs to Cedar Lodge, No. 11, A.F. & A. M., and is in full sympathy with the principles of the organization. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party, and he served on the board of education for two terms, or for six years, resigning that position when he removed to the farm. He was also a member of the city council for one term, and the promptness and fidelity with which he has ever discharged his official duties have won for him high encomiums. His life has been characterized by continuous progress, resulting from his business ability, his unflagging industry, and his wise use of opportunity.