In 1888, T. H. Leslie, from Illinois, moved his family to the prairie land on which Gillett stands today. Coming along at that time were the families of a brother, Henry, a sister, Mrs. A. H. Strode, and his parents, Mr. & Mrs. L. T. Leslie. Leslie was a fruit farmer and nursery stock dealer by trade, but more than anything else he was a promoter. In a short time he had promoted the George Places, T. S. Martins, W. D. Walkers, and Gus Walkers to sell their Illinois farms and move to Arkansas. In 1883 three families of German immigrants moved to the area just southeast of present day Gillett; Richters, Rooks, and Polls. Bt 1885 several additional families had also come to the prairie. Even a few of those earlier settlers near the Post and along the streams were buying prairie land.

With a promise by W. C. Champion of Champion, Arkansas (just north of Arkansas Post) to build a store, a town was laid off on the farms of T. H. Leslie and his brother, Henry. Their adjoining fence line which is today's Leslie Avenue, running east and west one block south of main street, was the beginning point in January of 1888. Champion put up his store that year at the east end of Leslie facing front street. In a matter of months other stores were going up. At first it was simply called New Town but shortly began being called Leslie Center. A Post Office was applied for under the name Leslie but was refused due to there already being one located in Northern Arkansas. There was already progress being made toward the development of the Stuttgart to Arkansas Post rail road. A financial underwriter for railroads from New York named Francis Gillett had visited the town as early as 1892. Unable to use the name Leslie, the decision was reached to call the New Town and Post Office Gillett, in his honor. Bt 1894, the railroad was nearing town and the new telegraph office was located in Gillett's first brick building on Main Street, generally known as the W. J. Stillwell building, but it was probably built by Mr. Flood from brick fired from the clay slash just east and north of Main Street. It served as a general mercantile on the ground level and the second story contained offices, rooms, and a meeting hall known as Leslie Hall.

Having built their original school house called Prairie Cottage just East of the present day Rice Paddy Restaurant in 1886, which also served as a non-denominational Church, the need for a new school was served when a new brick school started up on the NW corner of Leslie and Fourth in 1895. This building completed, and the arrival of the railroad to the East end of Main Street, called for a celebration. This celebration was held in new city park located on the NW corner of Park Avenue and Second Street. An earlier park called Wallace Grove had been located at the west end of Park Avenue prior to this.

In 1896, a petition was filed to incorporate the town and the signature of many of Gillett's early prominent citizens can be read from the document which hangs in today's City Hall. For whatever reason, the Incorporation was not completed until 1906, and it was in that year that Henry G. Leslie became the town's first official mayor. T. H. Leslie, having moved to Stuttgart in the mid-1890's had returned to Gillett but he died in 1903 without having seen the little town he had played a major role in beginning complete it's Corporation Charter.

In the 100 years since its incorporation, Gillett has fought the battle like all small farming communities, making the necessary improvements for a comfortable place to live and raise a family as its revenues allowed. Changing times, communication, and mobilization have created a heartbreaking loss of many businesses and specialty shops over the past century. However, there remains for those interested in a peaceful existence, a place to worship where they choose, purchase their necessities, enjoy full service banking, have their automobiles and farm machinery serviced and repaired, purchase farm supplies and services, place their children in private day-care and pre-school classes, and foremost have their children educated in a quiet fully accredited public school atmosphere.