John Henry Gill, the eldest son and 2nd eldest of six children, was born in North Carolina to Sallie L. Nicholson and Thaddius S. Gill. His siblings were Lena, Sidney, Herbert, Leon, and Malcolm.

He served in the US Army during WWI,

earning the Distinguished Service Cross.

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GILL, JOHN HENRY Sergeant,

U.S. Army Headquarters Company,

120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, A.E.F.

Date of Action: September 29, 1918

Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross

is presented to John Henry Gill, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. After being twice wounded during the attack, Sgt. Gill, with his trench-mortar section men, who had become lost from other companies, and stragglers, attacked a strong machine-gun position at the junction of the tunnel and canal and was wounded the third time. During the attack, he was wounded in 13 places by machine-gun bullets and shrapnel, but continued the attack with the utmost coolness and bravery.

General Orders No. 37, W.D., 1919

Home Town: Henderson, NC.

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After the war, he earned a degree in engineering from North Carolina State university and went to work for the Seaboard Railroad in 1925 as an assistant to the division engineer. From that point on he gained experience as assistant engineer, chief clerk to the superintendent, roadmaster, assistant superintendent, and assistant to the chief engineer of the Seaboard system.

In May of 1951, he assumed the duties as Chief Operating Officer of the FL-GA Railroad and then, in October of 1953, he was appointed President and General Manager of the Jacksonville Terminal Co.

In 1946, he bought the M. L. Holland property on Kingsley Lake and used it as a summer home until 1953 when he moved here full time.

After a successful 37-year career in the railroad industry, he retired in 1962 as President of the Jacksonville Union terminal/Seaboard Air Line Railroad, that later merged, creating CSX.

During his retirement, he spent time hunting, fishing, and tending to a massive 1½-acre garden, raising just about everything from asparagus to zucchini.

Although he never had any children, he was married twice, adopting the younger son (Jack) of his first wife. She passed away after 30 years of marriage. He then re-married, which lasted for almost 20 years.

Predeceased by his parents, first wife, and son; he is survived by his widow, step-daughter, 2 step-sons, 4 grandaughters, 5 grandsons, and all of his siblings.