William Gillis

William Gillis ( – July 18, 1869), sometimes spelled Gilliss, was an American fur trader, real estate developer and pioneer who was one of the original founders of Kansas City, Missouri.

Biography Gillis was born in Somerset County, Maryland , to Thomas and Nelly Gillis (née Cannon). He ran away in 1806 at age 14 by ship and moved to Cincinnati. While there, he started a carpentry business and befriended William Henry Harrison.

Gillis served in the military, and fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812. After the war, Gillis moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois with his brother and guardian, John. While there, he met Pierre Menard, ended his carpentry, and began trading fur.

In the early 1830s, Gillis moved to Jackson County, Missouri and continued his trade with Native Americans. In 1838, he was one of the 14 original founders of the Town of Kansas, building the city's first hotel, the "Union Hotel", in 1848. In 1854, he helped fund the Kansas City Enterprise and the Kansas City Journal.

Death and legacy Gillis died on July 18, 1869, in Kansas City, Missouri.