Kate's Notes: For more information regarding the Gillilands of Belmont County, Ohio, please refer to the following in the Gilliland Trails Library:
An 1829 letter written by Wm. B. Hubbard regarding William Gilliland of Ohio
http://www.gillilandtrails.org/pages/Letter_hubbard.asp and the biography of George E. Gilliland of Ohio. Also among the Historical and Biographical Sketches you will also find a transcript of an old newspaper article, "How the Town of Fairview, Ohio Got Its Name."
   Other notes concerning the Gillilands of Belmont County may be found at the Belmont Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohbelogs/
   Lastly, although this biography states that Josiah Gilliland's grandfather was from Virginia, the Belmont County Gillilands are associated with a line of Gillilands who migrated from Maryland to Ohio.

A 

Biographical and Genealogical History

OF

Southeastern Nebraska
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EMBELLISHED WITH PORTRAITS OF MANY WELL KNOWN PEOPLE OF THIS SECTION OF THE GREAT WEST, WHO HAVE BEEN AND ARE PROMINENT IN ITS HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
_____________

VOL. I
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ILLUSTRATED
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CHICAGO                                             NEW YORK

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1904

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pp 163-165

JOSIAH GILLILAND.
 
   Josiah Gilliland, a retired farmer of South Auburn, has become well known through his connection with the agricultural interests of Nemaha county. He had led a thrifty and industrious life, has made by his own efforts all that he has in the way of worldly possessions, and wherever he has been called to touch the public life of the community he has performed a public-spirited part both as a man and as a citizen.
   Mr. Gilliland was born in Belmont county, Ohio, September 17, 1834. His grandfather was a Virginia farmer, and reared two sons and two daughters. One of the sons was Jesse Gilliland, who was born in old Virginia in 1812, and died in Morgan county, Ohio, when about seventy-five years old. He was a farmer in fair circumstances, and gave his children such advantages as were afforded in the community. His wife, who survived him several years, was Margaret Douglas, a relative of Stephen A. Douglas, and of Scotch ancestry. Her father was one hundred and eight years old when he died in Belmont or Guernsey county, Ohio. The following children of Jesse Gilliland and his wife are now living: James, a blacksmith and farmer in Morgan county, Ohio; Jesse Morgan, a farmer and carpenter in Ohio, with six children; Ellen, who has three children; Josiah; and John, a farmer in Schuyler county, Missouri, and now living with his third wife. The following children are deceased: Elizabeth Batie, who died in Belmont county, Ohio, leaving a family; Ruth Foreman, who died in Guernsey county, Ohio, leaving children; and Sarah Ann Hill, who died in Morgan county, Ohio.
   Josiah Gilliland moved with his father to Morgan county, Ohio, when he was seventeen years old, and lived there at home until he was twenty-two. He was then in Iowa for a short time, and from there went to Ogle county, Illinois, where he was married. He lived in Missouri until 1876, at which date he came to Nebraska, where he has been industriously and profitably engaged in farming until recently. He bought his good home in South Auburn in June, 1903, and is most comfortably situated to spend the remainder of his years. While now in his seventieth year, his capacity for work is hardly diminished, and he contemplates engaging in some business. Durng the Civil war he was a member of the home militia and also enlisted from Atchison county in Company I, Forty-third Missouri, serving for one year. While he was away his wife received an inheritance of four hundred dollars, and this is the only money which he cannot say he has made by his own efforts and honest industry.
   Mr. Gilliland was married in Ogle county, Illinois, to Miss Dalitha Maxwell, who died in Andrew county, Missouri, in 1866, aged twenty-four years, leaving three children: William A. is a farmer and land agent in Jackson county, Kansas, and has two sons and two daughters; Margaret Ellen is the wife of H. G. Rhodes, in Nemaha county, and has four children; and Alida is the wife of Andy Spear, of Jackson county, Kansas, and has four children. Mr. Gilliland was married on March 4, 1867, to Miss Carrie Coleman, of Morgan county, Ohio, and a daughter of Elisha and Lola (Scott) Coleman, the latter of whom died in Andrew county in 1901, leaving four children, but the latter is still living on the Missouri homestead.
   Mr.and Mrs. Gilliland have had ten children: Elisha is a farmer in Richardson county, Nebraska, and has one son and one daughter; Lola Virdie is the wife of S. Keister, and has two children living; Harry is a farmer in Nemaha county, and has a wife; Samuel, married, is on the home farm of two hundred and forty acres; one son died in infancy; Ernest, single, is also on the home farm; Mary and Clara both died of diptheria, aged respectively thirteen and ten; Louisa is aged fourteen; and Edith is a bright Miss of ten. Mr. Gilliland is now a Populist, having been formerly a Republican. The only office he has consented to hold has been that of school director. He is taking the initiatory degrees of the Masonic lodge at Rochester, Missouri. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder, and he took an active part in the building of a church on his farm, contributing liberally of time and money.

-- transcription by Kate Maynard, 2010