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latter part of Feb., 1946. In May of that year he received his honourable discharge at Military Depot #6 in Halifax, NS. ‘
Frederick joined the Royal Canadian Air Force about 1944. He was stationed in Toronto, Ont., serving overseas in Newfoundland for a time; as Newfoundland had not yet joined Canada it was then referred to as over- seas. He too returned home in 1946 and received an honourable diScharge that year. '
Joseph M. passed away on April 18, 1950; Mary A. eight years later, on Oct. 18, 1958. “Joe” was quite well known as a good teller of stories, some true and some invented, but nevertheless many pleasant hours were passed by his entertainment. One story comes to mind, one I always re- membered. This was when he was in Boston. These two very grand ladies went to the Boston Gardens to hear a very exclusive orchestra, a European Symphony that had arrived. They were patiently sitting and wait— ing for the curtain to rise and the performance to begin. Finally the curtain goes up and the music began, and one said to the other, “My dear, but isn’t that beautiful! That’s a Sonata from Beethoven”. “Oh, no”, says the sec- ond, “I’m so sorry to contradict you but that’s a Concerto from Chopin”. He heard the first lady say, “l’m so sure I’m right dear, but I see a poster over there, I’m going over and prove it.” She goes over and reads the poster, returns with a very fallen face and remarked, ”How strange that we both should be wrong, that’s a Refrain from Spitting”.
Two of this couple’s grandchildren, Stephen’s twins, Ronnie and Reggie. caused quite a flurry when they decided to arrive in January, 1957, during a very heavy ”Silver Freeze”, which knocked out all power in Prince County, leaving complete darkness everywhere including the hospital. They were not really interested in waiting for a hospital, but arrived at home by candlelight. The trees at the homestead still show the scars from that icy weight, some so bent they straightened toward the sun again from that bent position, others broken off, grew a new top which looks quite unnatural. It was months before all telephone and light wires were completely restored
again.
GILLIS
The forefathers of the Gillis’ family of lndian River were natives of the Isle of Barron, Scotland. They came to Prince Edward Island in the late eighteenth century and settled at Mill’s Point.
Venantius Gillis was born in Miscouche, the son of John and Cecily (MacLellan) Gillis. He attended the district schools of his neighbourhood, then Central Academy, which later became Prince of Wales College. On the successful passing of his examinations in 1860, he entered upon his career as a surveyor which he continuously followed with success. ‘He married Catherine MacLellan, daughter of Augustine and Ann (Maclntyre) MacLellan of Indian River in 1868 and acquired the farm which fronts on the north side of Richmond Bay and is still in the Gillis family. They had a fam- ily of fourteen: Joseph, John, Archibald, Cecily, Edward, Wilfred, David, Martina, Stephen, Mary, Augusta, Bernard, Hubert and Joseph V. The first Joseph became a priest in Burlington, Vermont; Augusta became a Sister of Mercy, also in Vermont; Edward and Stephen were successful physicians,
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