Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

lessed with two sons : Edward F. W. and
George R., and two daughters : Mary L.
and Lillian M.
Mr. Gillespie's creed—and his practice
was in accord with it—the message which
he sought always and everywhere to pro-
claim, and which is universal in its ap-
plication, is summed up in the following
brief quotation from his lecture on Ire-
land:
The promulgation of the gospel of peace and
good will, of kindly spirit, and the brotherhood of
mankind, is to be the gospel of salvation for Ire-
land. If men only understood the true relation-
ship there exists between them as children of a
Universal Father, and practised the Golden Rule
of life as taught by Him "who spake as never
man spake," if they only brought to bear on the
settlement of all disagreements the all-conquering
power of fraternal love, how quickly would the
still open wounds of centuries be healed, the
transmitted sores and heartburnings of genera-
tions, long sleeping in their native clay, be dried
up and assuaged by the soothing potency of the
truth—practiced and believed—that God is our
Father, and all we are brethren.
GILLESPIE, Edward T. W.,
Jonrnalist.
As editor of the "Stamford Advocate,"
Mr. Gillespie has for more than half a
century wielded an influence which has
rendered him one of the political and intellectual
forces of his community and
his State. As president of the widely
known firm of Gillespie Brothers, Inc.,
he is numbered among the leading business
men of the city of Stamford, Con-
necticut.
Edward T. W. Gillespie, son of John
(2) and Mary J. (Cunningham) Gillespie
(q. v.), was born August 27, 1841. He
received his preliminary education under
the tuition of his parents. In 1856 he and
his brother, William W. Gillespie, accompanied
an uncle to Canada, settling
in Guelph, Ontario, where their brother
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
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John was already established in business
as a merchant. By this elder brother Mr.
Gillespie was employed as a clerk until
1859, when he removed to New York City,
at which port he had landed upon arriving
in the New World. For a time he was
employed as a clerk in mercantile establishments,
but it was not long before he
found an opening into that sphere of
action for which Nature had especially
designed him. This opening was a hum-
ble position in the pressroom of an old
paper called "Vanity Fair," but his stay
there was of short duration. Early in
i860 his brother, William W. Gillespie,
came to Stamford, Connecticut, and entered
the office of the "Weekly Advocate"
as foreman. His fitness for the work
quickly became apparent, and in the autumn
of the same year he induced his
mother and his brother Edward T. W. to
make Stamford their home.
This removal might be called the turn-
ing point in Mr. Gillespie's life. The lit-
tle village weekly, which had been
established in 1829, was known as the
"Stamford Advocate," and was one of the
oldest newspapers in the State. In Oc-
tober, 1862, Mr. Gillespie wrote his first
article for the paper. It was entitled "A
Visit to the Seat of War," and from that
time forth he assumed the editorial management.
During the many years which
have since elapsed he has devoted the
best that was in him to furthering what
appeared to him to be the highest inter-
ests of the city. Possessed of natural
literary talent and having a strong liking
for the work, he cultivated his gift by
years of assiduous, practical endeavor in
the development of his newspaper. Always
a fluent and forceful writer, his
evident sincerity of purpose has given
weight to his editorials, carrying convic-
tion to his readers. With his powers as
a reasoner he combines the poetic gift.