John Smith, son of John D. Gillis, was born in Argyle, Washington county, New York, July 17, 1823, died October 10, 1896. He came with his parents to Victor, New York, in 1826. He was educated in the public schools, and always followed farming. He married, December 30, 1847, Sarah, daughter of William and Catherine (McKinley) Wells. Children: 1. William W., born November 20, 1848, graduated from Cornell College in 1874, became editor and proprietor of the Victor Herald, a weekly newspaper; he died April 10, 1898; married Harriet S. Bundy, of Rochester, and had one child, who died young. 2. Mary V., born in 1851, died in 1870. 3. Martha, born June 5, 1855, married Joseph Brace, of Shelby, Orleans county. 4. Alexander P., born October 16, 1856, married Julia Craft; children: Florence, born October 5, 1898; Mary, September 1, 1900; John C., November 4, 1903; Stanley Wells, July 20, 1906; Charles Alexander. June 15, 1909. 5. John D., mentioned elsewhere.
William Wells, mentioned above, was born at Coxsackie, New York, in Greene county, April 16, 1799, married Catherine McKinley, who was born June 6, 1799, and came in 1835 to Victor; children: Catherine, Peter, Sarah, Cornelia, John, William and Alexander Wells.