Joseph K. Gill
Encyclopedia
Joseph Kaye Gill (August 13, 1841 – October 1, 1931) was an American
retailer and publisher in the state of Oregon
. A native of England
, he came to the United States with his parents and settled in Oregon where he managed a bookstore in Salem
. Later he entered the business and became the owner of the now defunct J. K. Gill Company that operated in the Pacific Northwest
as a book and office supply store.
, England
, in 1841 to Mark and Amelia Gill. He was the oldest of their eleven children. In 1854, he emigrated to the United States with his parents. The family first settled in Massachusetts
where he received his education in the schools of Worcester
before enrolling at Wesleyan Academy
in Wilbraham
at the age of eighteen.
In 1864, he sailed to Oregon where he enrolled at Willamette University
in Salem in an effort to improve his eyesight by moving west. He had boarded with the wife of Salem founder William H. Willson
while attending Wesleyan. Gill also taught at Willamette’s preparatory department while he attended the college. In 1865, he returned to Wesleyan Academy where he graduated in June 1866.
and Chloe Willson, and Gill took over operating the bookstore formerly owned by Willson at 356 State Street. The couple would have six children, five daughters and one son, Mark. After a short time he purchased the business, but sold it in 1870. Gill then moved to Portland
where he opened a new bookstore with George A. Steel
that same year. He gained sole control of the business in 1878 when Steel retired, and then named it J. K. Gill Company, later taking in his brother John as a partner. In 1884, he founded the Columbia River Paper company with William Lewthwaite and Henry Pittock
, with Gill serving as president. He also helped found Merchants National Bank and served on the boards of several local insurance companies.
. The flagship Portland store of Gill’s book business moved into a new ten-story building in 1921. In civic affairs he was Republican and member of the Club Commercial Society. Joseph Kaye Gill died on October 1, 1931, at the age of 90. The company would grow to 63 stores in 1990 located in California, Ohio, Washington, and Oregon before a long decline due to increased competition from stores such as Office Depot
. In January 1999, the final seven stores of the office supply, book, stationery, and art supply retailer were closed.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
retailer and publisher in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he came to the United States with his parents and settled in Oregon where he managed a bookstore in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. Later he entered the business and became the owner of the now defunct J. K. Gill Company that operated in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
as a book and office supply store.
Early years
Joseph Gill was born in YorkshireWest Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in 1841 to Mark and Amelia Gill. He was the oldest of their eleven children. In 1854, he emigrated to the United States with his parents. The family first settled in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
where he received his education in the schools of Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
before enrolling at Wesleyan Academy
Wesleyan Academy
The Wesleyan Academy of Guaynabo is a private, non-profit, college-preparatory school, affiliated with the Evangelical Wesleyan Church of Puerto Rico. The academy specializes in English teaching with emphasis on spiritual life...
in Wilbraham
Wilbraham, Massachusetts
Wilbraham is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is also a suburb of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts and part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,868 at the 2010 census...
at the age of eighteen.
In 1864, he sailed to Oregon where he enrolled at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem in an effort to improve his eyesight by moving west. He had boarded with the wife of Salem founder William H. Willson
William H. Willson
William Holden Willson was a pioneer of the U.S. state of Oregon and the founder of its capital city, Salem. A native of New Hampshire, he immigrated to the Oregon Country in 1837 to work at the Methodist Mission, and there would participate in the Champoeg Meetings...
while attending Wesleyan. Gill also taught at Willamette’s preparatory department while he attended the college. In 1865, he returned to Wesleyan Academy where he graduated in June 1866.
Oregon
Gill returned to Oregon in 1866 where he was married in August to Frances A. Willson. She was the daughter of William H.William H. Willson
William Holden Willson was a pioneer of the U.S. state of Oregon and the founder of its capital city, Salem. A native of New Hampshire, he immigrated to the Oregon Country in 1837 to work at the Methodist Mission, and there would participate in the Champoeg Meetings...
and Chloe Willson, and Gill took over operating the bookstore formerly owned by Willson at 356 State Street. The couple would have six children, five daughters and one son, Mark. After a short time he purchased the business, but sold it in 1870. Gill then moved to Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
where he opened a new bookstore with George A. Steel
George A. Steel
George A. Steel was an American politician and businessman in the state of Oregon. A native of Ohio, he moved to Oregon in 1862 where he became postmaster of Portland and helped build a railroad line among other business ventures...
that same year. He gained sole control of the business in 1878 when Steel retired, and then named it J. K. Gill Company, later taking in his brother John as a partner. In 1884, he founded the Columbia River Paper company with William Lewthwaite and Henry Pittock
Henry Pittock
Henry Lewis Pittock was an Oregon pioneer, newspaper editor, publisher, and wood and paper magnate. He was active in Republican politics and Portland, Oregon civic affairs, a Freemason and an avid outdoorsman and adventurer...
, with Gill serving as president. He also helped found Merchants National Bank and served on the boards of several local insurance companies.
Later years
In Portland Gill lived in a mansion on the affluent northwest Nineteenth Street. A Methodist, he was the president of his church’s trustee’s board . In the 1890s he climbed Mount HoodMount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
. The flagship Portland store of Gill’s book business moved into a new ten-story building in 1921. In civic affairs he was Republican and member of the Club Commercial Society. Joseph Kaye Gill died on October 1, 1931, at the age of 90. The company would grow to 63 stores in 1990 located in California, Ohio, Washington, and Oregon before a long decline due to increased competition from stores such as Office Depot
Office Depot
Office Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...
. In January 1999, the final seven stores of the office supply, book, stationery, and art supply retailer were closed.