James Gillies and his family sailed to Canada from Scotland in 1821. The Gillies
first settled in Lanark Township. In 1852, John Gilles ( 1811 - 1888) built his first
sawmill on the Clyde River north of the village of Lanark. Over the years, the Gillies
acquired extensive timber limits and built a large enterprise which employed hundreds of
men in the bush and the mill. The collection provides information on the lumbering
business, investments, estate management, and insurance. Collection consists of
correspondence, financial and legal documents, records relating to the business activities
of the Gillies family and the administration of the estate of James Gillies. The
Collection also includes 389 b&w photos, 17 colour photos and 25 negatives.
