152 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Mr. Gillet continued his purchases West until, at the 

 present time, he is the possessor of several thousand acres 

 of land. In the year 1869 he began cutting timber on his 

 land there, and either marketing or manufacturing into 

 lumber, at the city of Oshkosh or Warsaw. His business 

 operations in lumber have so increased that for several years 

 past they reach several millions of feet annually. 



He was, in his early life, a Clay Whig, and upon the 

 formation of the Republican party became a supporter of 

 its principles. Never solicitous of any official publicity, 

 and never seeking emolument of office, he has preferred the 

 independence and quiet of a business life. 



Mr. Gillet has been identified with the growth of the 

 village of Addison since its population numbered about two 

 hundred and fifty inhabitants, with a few scattering resi- 

 dences. Since his residence here he has been connected 

 with the schools of the town for several years as school 

 commissioner. 



The Presbyterian Church had been organized some three 



years previous to his settling at Addison, then consisting 

 of thirteen members. In the spring after coming here he 

 was elected an elder of the church, which office he has held 

 now for some forty-two years, and still holds acceptably to 

 the church. He was one of the prime movers in the con- 

 struction of the Presbyterian Church edifice of Addison, 

 and liberally contributed for the same, and is always inter- 

 ested in the progress of church and kindred interests. 



Mr. Gillet was one of the originators of the Addison 

 Academy, and for several years president of the board of 

 trustees and one of the principal managers of the school. 



He was one of the original stockholders of the Addison 

 and Elkland Plank-Road, built under charter dated 1850, 

 and was connected with its management during its entire 

 existence,— which closed September, 1878,— either as pres- 

 ident or treasurer. 



In the year 1845 his wife died, and in June, 1846, he 

 married his present wife, Catherine S., youngest daughter 

 of Rev. William B. Stowe, a Presbyterian clergyman. 



j^.^#^- 



DR. BRADLEY BLAKSLEE 



was born in Brattleboro', Windham Co., Yt., Oct. 16, 1794. 

 His father, David Blakslee, was a native of New Haven, as 

 was also his grandfather, James Blakslee. The latter was 

 a captain in the Revolutionary war ; was in the battle of 

 Bennington ; his occupation was farming ; moved to Brattle- 

 boro' during war time, where he died, being frozen to death 

 while crossing the Green Mountains to get money to pay off 

 his soldiers. 



The former was married in Vermont, to Julia Redfield, 

 and after living successively in Broome, Cayuga, and Ot- 



sego Counties, settled at Addison, Steuben Co., in 1840, 

 where he died, Dec. 6, 1851, aged eighty-six. His wife 

 died in 1859, at the age of ninety. Of their seven children, 

 Dr. Bradley Blakslee is the only surviving one ; was second 

 son ; received his early education at Aurelius, Cayuga Co., 

 N. Y. At the age of twenty-four he began the study of 

 medicine with Dr. Root, of Otego, Otsego Co., where he 

 remained two years, and until the death of Dr. Root. He 

 then spent one year as a student of Dr. Whitmarsh, of 

 Delhi, N. Y., and after an examination by the board of 

 censors of that place, he was passed as an M.D., and opened 



