Gillis Bridge

The 1996 FraserDesign Missouri Historic Bridge Inventory appears to be in error with respect to this bridge. The Gillis bridge built in 1908 was at Gillis Ford. That bridge replaced an earlier bridge at that location, built J. B. Clayville for $215 in 1896. Gillis ford is in the SW 1/4 Section 27, about 2.5 road miles SE of Shelbyville. The SW 1/4 of Sec 27 T58N R10W was owned by Mrs. W. D. Gillis in 1878 (Edwards Brothers 1878 Illustrated Atlas of Shelby County). This bridge is located closer to 5 road miles from Shelbyville in T57N R10W Sec 1-2. Newspaper accounts suggest that this bridge was built c. 1911-1912 following a petition to the county court in 1909 by the neighbors lead by neighboring landowner Charles F. Perrigo/Parigo (Hunnewell Graphic 12 Feb. 1909). January 1911 newspaper notices indicate that the county was willing to build a bridge at 'Graveyard ford' if the neighboring landowners would provide fill and haul it for free.

This location appears to have been known as both 'Baker ford' and 'Graveyard ford.' The land southeast of the ford was owned by J. R. Baker in 1878 and George E. Baker Jr. in 1902, thus accounting for the ‘Baker ford’ designation.

There is a small cemetery just south of the bridge on the east side of Black Creek that accounts for the references to this location as 'Graveyard ford'. That cemetery includes the marked grave of Thomas Jefferson Davis (d.1849) who was original owner of the 80 acres just north of the Bridge. The unmarked 1833 grave of Angus McDonald Holliday, the original owner of the land east of the bridge (SW 1/4 Sec 1) is also likely there, along with the grave of William T. Matson. Angus M. Holliday died in early June 1833 from cholera - contracted from his neighbor William T. Matson who had been in Palmyra when the 1833 epidemic broke out. Matson was returning to his nearby home on the west side of Black Creek from Palmyra but was unable to cross Black Creek at the ford due to high water. Matson stayed overnight with Holliday and died there the next morning. At Matson's burial, Angus Holliday fell ill with cholera and then he died the next day (History of Monroe and Shelby Counties, Missouri, 1884).

This is not far from my dentist in Shelbina, so I visit here somewhat frequently. Shot some video here this visit, bridge is very unique with its' tall sides and picturesque setting.