Bios: Gillilands: Summit Twp, Butler Co, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Norm Garofano.
 garofano@dreamscape.com

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FROM " History of Butler County" by Robert C. Brown, Ed&Pub [Chicago
1895] Reel # 27, Collection # 57, Pennsylvania County Histories [on 35mm
film] on page 303 of Collection #57, Reel # 27.:

  John Gilliland, a native of County Monahan Ireland, came to America in
1817, and in 1820 settled upon the farm now occupied by his son, Robert
Gilliland, Esq.  He worked at weaving a number of years, making cloth
for the neighbors, who in exchange assisted him in clearing his land.
He married Mary Frazier in 1820.  They had a family of four sons and six
daughters-- Mary J. (Murdock), Elizabeth (Allen), Isabella (Fraizer),
Maria, Robert, James, Margaret (Boren), William, George F. and Rachel N.
(Allison).  Of these, Mary J., Maria, Robert, James and Rachel are
living. [i.e. 1894]  Robert Gilliland has been School Director
twenty-four consecutive years, and now holds his fifth commission as
Justice of the Peace.

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FROM " 20th Century of History of Butler and Butler County and
Representative Citizens" by James A. McKee, ed & comp.[Pub 1909], Reel
#28, Collection #62, of Pennsylvania County Histories [on 35mm film]
on page 676 of Collection #62, Reel # 28.:

JOHN A. GILLILAND, justice of the peace, in Summit Township, resides on
his fine farm of 125 acres, which is favorably located about
three-fourths of a mile northeast of East Butler, on the line adjoining
Oakland Township.  Mr. Gilliland was born on his present farm, November
7, 1860, and is a son of Robert and Rebecca (Armstrong) Gilliland.
   John Gilliland, the ===grandfather of John A.===, was born in Ireland
and came to America in the spring of 1818 and in 1820 he bought the
present farm in Summit Township.  In the ensuing fall he married and all
his children, with one exception, were born on this farm.  He was a
weaver by trade and engaged in this business for three years in Center
Township, during which period his son James was born, and then returned
to Summit Township, and spent the remainder of his life on his old farm.
   Robert Gilliland, father of John A., was born on the same farm and
here spent his life engaged in agricultural pursuits.  He died April 25,
1894.  He married Rebecca Armstrong, who was born near Perrysville,
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.  Her father was Andrew Armstrong.  Her
mother died when she was a child and she came to Butler county, where
she was a member of the family of her uncle, a farmer in Jefferson
Township, until she reached maturity and joined her father and
step-mother at Allegheny City, where she remained until her marriage
with Robert Gilliland.  The four daughters and one son born to this
union all were born in Summit Township, on the present farm.  Mr.
Gilliland was second in the family, his sisters being:  Mary E.,
Margaret Ellen, Isabella, and Rachel Jane, all of whom elected to remain
unmarried.  The mother survived the father for a number of years, her
death taking place on September 28, 1903.
    John A. Gilliland attended the country schools during boyhood, and
being the only son, has had the management of the farm ever since he was
old enough to assume the responsibility.  He carries on general farming
and has one oil well on his place.  The frame residence was built by the
grandfather and at the time  it was erected was considered a marvel of
architecture, being the first frame house put up in all this section.
The father of Mr. Gilliland erected the other buildings.  Mr Gilliland
is serving in his ninth consecutive year as a justice of the peace, and
few citizens are better known or more highly regarded.  He is a member
of the United Presbyterian Church of Butler.
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From: Norm Garofano, of Syracuse, NY.  Somehow connected to John
Gilliland of Butler Co.  I used to go with my parents from Pittsburgh to
East Butler to visit 'Aunt' Mary and her brother 'Uncle' John Gilliland
on sunny Sundays during the 1935-1940.