From the March, 1908 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine (East Buffalo News):
When an Elmira paper charged Engineer W.H. McGill with being responsible for a recent accident at Addison, they made a serious mistake, as it happened that Mr. McGill was not only not on the train, but was actually confined to his home by illness. In the twenty-two years that Mr. McGill has been running for the Erie he says he has never yet made a mistake that cost the company a dollar, a record of which he may well feel proud.

From the July, 1914 issue of Erie Magazine:
Veteran Engineer W.M. McGill of Elmira, NY served as a pallbearer in the funeral of engineer Sumner Thatcher.

From the August, 1921 issue of Erie Magazine:
Engineer and Mrs. William H. McGill and family, of No. 204 W. Sixth St., Elmira, recently enjoyed a family reunion, held in honor of two events. On May 26, Mr. and Mrs. McGill celebrated the thirty-sixth anniversary of their wedding, and on June 3, Mr. McGill rounded out fifty years' service with the Erie Railroad Company.

He was born in Corning in 1856, where his father had been employed by the Erie as blacksmith when the road was first built through that section. On June 1, 1871, he commenced working for the railroad cleaning out coaches on the Rochester Division, nights. Corning was the terminal of the division. He worked for the following foremen before going on the road as fireman: Alonso Ferguson, Thomas Lidecker, Frean Kirkendall, Peter McGivern and Orin Smith. For thirty-four years he has been an engineer, and for the past five years has been in passenger service on the Susquehanna Division, during which time he has been officially complimented for smooth and even handling of trains in his charge. Mr. McGill has a clear service record and has never had an accident causing damage to property through negligence on his part, but has saved the company many dollars through a conscientious performance of duty.

During the past fifteen years Mr. amd Mrs. McGill have resided in Elmira. They have five children living: Joseph T. McGill, the eldest, is the official examiner of titles for Kings County, NY, and has recently been offered a position with the Erie, where his talents could be of similar service; James W. McGill is efficiency and production manager for the Kennedy Valve Works, Elmira; Thomas F.J. McGill is also employed in the latter works as office assistant; William H. McGill, Jr., the youngest son, is a veteran of the World War, and since his discharge from the service has been employed by the Erie at Hornell. One daughter, Agnes McGill, lives at home.

From the June, 1928 issue of Erie Magazine:
Elmira, NY was the scene during May of a series of reunions in honor of Engineer and Mrs. William H. McGill, who has just completed his 57th year of service with the Erie Railroad. At the same time the McGills celebrated the 42nd anniversary of their marriage, which took place at Corning, NY in 1886.

Mr. McGill was born in Corning in 1856. His father, James McGill, had been employed there by the Erie as a blacksmith since the road was first built. The younger McGill went to work for the Erie in 1871, when he was 15 years old. He rose to be a fireman and then an engineer, attaining the post of engineer when he was about 30.

During 41 years as an engineer he maintained a perfect record, without a single accident chargeable to his negligence. He has been in four serious accidents, and in all of them his record of vigilance and efficiency was complimented. The last of these occurred in 1925, when he stuck to his locomotive at the cost of four broken ribs and serious injury to hips and shoulders. His fireman was killed in this accident.

For 24 years, the McGills have lived in Elmira, where they raised a family of five children. J.T. McGill, the oldest son, resides in Brooklyn, where he is the official Examiner of Titles for Kings County, having graduated to this position from the Erie General Offices in New York; James W. McGill is production manager of the Kennedy Valve Company's works in Elmira; Thomas F.J. McGill of Elmira is employed in the accounting department of the Morrow plant; William H. McGill was formerly Erie ticket agent at Hornell and is now with the U.S. Postal Department in Elmira; Miss Agnes McGill lives at home with her parents. (A small photo was also published).

From the December, 1930 issue of Erie Magazine:
Engineer and Mrs. William H. McGill celebrated a family reunion this past summer at Elmira, NY, in honor of Mr. McGill's 59th year of service with the Erie. It was also the 44th anniversary of their marriage. Mr. McGill is now grand-daddy to six children. The oldest son, J.T. McGill, lives in Brooklyn where he is the Official Examiner of Titles for Kings County, having formerly been with the Erie in New York.

From the February, 1932 issue of Erie Magazine:
William H. McGill, Sr., of 204 West Sixth Street, Elmira, one of the most widely known engineers on the Erie's Susquehanna Division, died in hospital, Dec. 26th (1931), after a month's illness.

Mr. McGill was born in Corning in 1856 and has been in Erie service 60 years. His father, James McGill, had been employed there by the Erie as blacksmith when the road was built. The son, who has just passed away, was proud of his perfect service record as an engineer on the Erie and numerous were the tributes to him from former colleagues on the railroad. (Susquehanna Division) Superintendent J.D. Rahaley attended the funeral, and members of his family were touched by a telegram received by one of his sons, J. Tyson McGill, in which Mr. Rahaley extended his sympathy to members of the family and said that the company had lost a valuable and highly respected employe.

Mr. McGill was a member of Elmira Council 229, Knights of Columbus; Division 641, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers; Erie Railroad Veterans Association; and St. Patrick's church. Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Mary A. McGill; four sons, J. Tyson McGill, the oldest, of Brooklyn, where he is the official Examiner of Titles for Kings County, having graduated tyo this position from the Erie general offices in New York; James W. McGill, production manager of the Kennedy Valve Company's works at Elmira; Thomas F.J. McGill of Elmira, employed in the accounting department of the Morrow plant; William H. McGill was formerly ticket agent at Hornell and is now with the U.S. Postal Department at Elmira; a daughter, Miss Agnes McGill of Brooklyn; seven grandchildren; one brother, Andrew M. McGill of Bethlehem, PA; and two sisters, Mary E. McGill of Elmhurst, L.I., and Catherine Baxter of Toledo, OH. Burial was at Corning.

Also:
On this page we publish the photographs and accounts of the lives of two Erie veterans in Elmira, Engineer William H. McGill and Conductor Edgar R. Flett, who worked the same trains, lived on the same street, died on the same day and were buried from the same church by the same undertaker. (Two small photos were published).

From the May, 1932 issue of Erie Magazine:
Mrs. Mary A. McGill, widow of William H. McGill, Sr.. widely known Erie engineer who died last December, passed away last March at the family home, 204 W/ Sixth Street, Elmira. Mrs. McGill is survived by 5 children, J. Tyson McGill of Brooklyn, James W., Thomas F.J., and William H. McGill of Elmira, and Mary Alice McGill of Brooklyn; and two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Osborne of Rochester and Miss Josephine D. Cassidy.