Walter
Scott Gillette, my grandfather, was born in Wisconsin, the youngest
of 5 brothers. My grandmother, Ellen McKeown, was born in Moyarget,
Co Antrim, Northern Ireland. I believe they met when Walter got a job
keeping house for Uncle Jim (James Norris Gillette). Ellen was only
16 and Walter was about the same age.
The
Gillettes came to California about 1892. James Norris Gillette,
Walter's brother, came to California first. He was an attorney and
had apprenticed in Wisconsin. Upon arriving in California, he opened
a law office and then sent for his parents and younger brothers.
James became a state senator, then the governor of California from
l907 to l911. He was the one who used to watch out for my grandpa
Walter. He got him several jobs, the last of which was at San Quentin
as, I believe, a disbursement officer.
Prior
to this, Walter had worked in the woods, in Eureka, then became
Depot Master at the train station there. After that, he became a
Federal Marshall and the family moved to San Francisco. He didn't
like the traveling, that his job entailed, and being away from his
family, so, in 1907, they moved to San Quentin. In those days they
operated under the "spoils" system, so whoever got in could
oust the "outs"! He moved my grandfather's family to San Quentin.
Walter
and Ellen Gillette had four children: Gertrude Ellen Gillette
(White), Royal Walter Gillette, Dorothy Lydia Gillette (Morey) and
John McKeown Gillette, who was born in San Quentin.
Author:
Dorothy Cowan
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