REPRESENTATIVE 
MEN OF OHIO

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1904-1908
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ADMINISTRATION OF

MYRON T. HERRICK

GOVERNOR OF OHIO, 1904-5

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BY
JAMES K. MERCER
1908
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PRESS OF FRED J. HEER
1908

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GEORGE E. GILLILAND

   One of the best known newspaper correspondents at Washington, D.C., and a man recognized by the profession and the general public as possessing all the qualities that go to make up the ideal jounalist and good citizen, is George E. Gilliland, who was born in Granview, Washington county, Ohio. He was the son of George Shannon Gilliland, a nephew of Governor Wilson Shannon, and Aurelia Stevens Gilliland, the father being a successful merchant, and once clerk of the court of Washington county. He died when George E. Gilliland was a mere child, and the latter enjoyed only a common school education.
   George Edward Gilliland began life as a telegraph operator at Barnesville, Belmont county, Ohio, and in the summer of 1877 entered the employ of the Cincinnati Enquirer as assistant telegraph editor. In 1884 he was transferred to Washington, D.C., and entered into active newspaper work as a correspondent. His relations with the late Washington McLean and John R. McLean were close and confidential. Being one the best equipped men in Washington for the honorable and respectable post of private secretary, he entered into such a relation with the late Senator Calvin S. Brice, upon the entry of the latter into the United States Senate in 1891, maintaining his place with credit to himself and satisfaction to Senator Brice, during his term. In 1901, Senator Clark, of Montana, before assuming his duties, asked Senator Gorman, of Maryland, to suggest a suitable person for private secretary. Mr. Gorman at once recommended Mr. Gilliland as the best suited from every point of view, and he was at once engaged by Senator Clark, acting through his term, which ended March 4th, 1907.
   Mr. Gilliland married Miss Aileen Buskirk, of Portsmouth, Ohio. They have no children. He was a member of but one fraternal society, the Elks, of Cincinnati, club life never appealing to him. Mr. Gilliland has always maintained Cincinnati as his legal residence and through all the years that he has sojourned at Washington, he has, with but three of four exceptions, returned to the Queen City to cast his vote.
   He has an extended acquaintance among the statesmen and public men of the country, and is everywhere recognized as not only a capable and high-class correspondent, but one whose friendship is valuable. Mr. Gilliland is among the best known men at the National Capital, and for more than two decades has maintained himself in the highest regard, both as a man and a journalist.

Transcribed by Kate Maynard, 2008

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Kate’s notes: George E. Gilliland, born 24 March 1850, can trace his lineage back to Hugh Gilliland, b. before 1749 in Maryland, and Elizabeth Morgan, b. between 1763 and 1768 in Virginia. He was married in 1882 to Aileen Buskirk, born abt 1853 to Abraham W. Buskirk, b. 1820 in Virginia, and Jane F. Buskirk, born 1827 in Ohio. The mother’s maiden name is unknown.The Buskirk family made their home at Portsmouth, Ohio, where Aileen was born.

George Edward’s parents were George Shannon Gilliland, b. abt 1818 and d. 10 Nov. 1854 at Belmont Co., OH, and Aurelia Pier Stevens, b. 14 Oct 1820. His grandparents were Morgan Gilliland, b. before 1792 to Hugh and Elizabeth Morgan Gilliland, and Nancy Shannon. The grandparents were married at Belmont County, Ohio on 18 Dec. 1817.

For more on this Gilliland line, please follow the links below:

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/OHBELMON/2006-03/1142095051

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/a/v/Pamela-G-Davis/ODT1-0019.html