BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS

--OF--

GREENE COUNTY, INDIANA
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WITH REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER DAYS
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VOLUME II.
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ILLUSTRATED
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 
1908
B. F. BOWEN & CO.

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pp 551-554
JAMES HARVEY GILLILAND

   Born under the pure skies of Kentucky, we find in the records of James Harvey Gilliland some striking parallels to the life of America’s great emancipator, 
Abraham Lincoln. He was born, like Lincoln, in Kentucky, on February 12, 1830, of humble parentage, and emigrated later across the Ohio River into Indiana, which became his permanent home. He was the son of Abel and Jennie (Gastenew) Gilliland, farmers and successful stock raisers. They were emigrants to America from Scotland. On a trip south with a drove of hogs, Abel Gilliland contracted that scourge of the South, yellow fever, and his life was snuffed out like a candle. His mother had died when he was still a child, and he was sent out among the neighbors to make a living. He received a fair education in the Kentucky common schools, and when nineteen years of age came to Indiana, beginning work here at farming. He later learned the miller’s trade. A partnership with Linsey Carr was formed and together they operated the Carr mills on Indian creek in Jackson township, Greene county. In 1856 he removed to his farm in the same township and continued there until his demise, December 19, 1875. His farm, consisiting of unimproved land, was soon brought up to a high standard of productiveness as the result of hard work and steady application.
   In 1854 he was married to Rachel Lamb, who was born May 29, 1836, in Lawrence county, Indiana. She was the daughter of John W. and Patsy (Green) Lamb, both natives of North Carolina. They came in 1836 to Lawrence county, Indiana, and later removed to Greene county, taking up a tract of wild, unimproved land, transforming it into fertile fields by hard and steady work.
   Mr. and Mrs. Lamb were members of the Christian church, and were regarded in their community as pious, upright citizens. Their family consisted of seven children: Calvin G., living on a farm in Jackson township; Hiram, also farming; Rachael, wife of our subject; Elizabeth, wife of James McDowell, an ex-Union soldier, both deceased; Abigail, deceased, was the wife of Marion Duggar; John Thomas, now living in Bloomfield; Matilda, wife of Jerry Hatfield, also of Bloomfield.
   Abel and Jennie Gilliland were the parents of ten children. The first five -- Mary, Margaret, Nancy, Mahala and James H., our subject -- are all deceased. Christopher is now making his home in Missouri; the seventh in order of birth, Catherine, is also deceased; Frank is living in Kansas, as is Josiah, while the last, George, has his home in Missouri.
   Mr. and Mrs. Gilliland became the parents of eight children: Josiah, deceased, was married to Martha Gastinew and to this union were born two children, one of whom died in infancy and the other, Othnell, is making his home with his grandmother, Mrs. Gilliland; John C. has his home in Bloomfield; Jennie, deceased, was the wife of William G. Graham, and to this union were born two children, both of whom, Francis M. and Carrie, make their home with their grandmother; Zeno, the third child of our subject, is now in the state of Washington; Carrie became the wife of Marion Busenberg, and has her home in Jasonville; Florence, having married Sherman Holmes, resides in Lawrence county, this state; James H., a telegrapher, operates at Carlisle, Indiana; Allie, wife of George Mitchell, lives at Jasonville.
   In June, 1861, James H. Gilliland enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the war, receiving his discharge at Indianapolis in 1865. Having the skill of an excellent marksman, he was soon singled out from the ranks and was put to service as one of the company’s sharpshooters. In this he sustained a high reputation, and during the greater part of his time in the service he was employed in that capacity. He saw many strenuous times, and took part in such engagements as Stone River, Murfreesboro, Green Brier and many other conflicts and skirmishes. He was singularly fortunate in coming through without a wound, but his clothing was frequently rent with bullet holes.
   In 1887 Mrs. Gilliland disposed of her farm and retired to Bloomfield, where she now occupies a neat little residence in the southern part of the city. She has won many friends as a result of her genial social spirit and her devotion to the comfort and welfare of others.

-- transcription by Kate Maynard, 2010