AN ILLUSTRATED LEGISLATIVE MANUAL
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THE
NEW YORK RED BOOK

CONTAINING THE

PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ITS GOVERNORS, STATE
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, WITH
THE PORTRAITS OF CONGRESSMEN, JUDGES AND
MAYORS, THE NEW CONSTITUTIOIN OF THE
STATE, ELECTION AND POPULATION
STATISTICS, AND GENERAL 
FACTS OF INTEREST

By EDGAR R. MURLIN.

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NEW CONSTITUTION COMPILED BY R. C. CUMMING, O. L. POTTER AND F. B. GILBERT

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ALBANY:
JAMES B. LYON, PUBLISHER.
1897.

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pages 212-213

Richard Gilleland.
   Richard Gilleland, Republican, who represents the Twenty-third Assemby district of the city of New York in the Assembly, came to this country from the north of Ireland, with his parents, when a young boy, and has since resided in the city of New York. He is forty-two years of age. He was for many yeasr a painter and decorator and has been an employer of labor in that trade for the last ten years, having a place of business in Harlem. He has had charge of the decoration of the homes of some of the wealthiest New Yorkers. As an employer, he has always paid the highest scale of wages and he has had the support of the labor element in his political campaign.
   Mr. Gilleland has been from boyhood an ardent Republican. He has been a worker and officer in district associations, and a delegate to nominating conventions, but has never held public office other than his present one. The district in which he was elected has been a Democratic one, majorities having been recorded last year for the Secretary of State and Assemblyman on the Democratic ticket. In 1896, largely through the energetic canvass made by Mr. Gilleland, there was a large majority for him over his Democratic opponent. The vote was Gilleland, 5,772; Hayden, Democrat, 4,454; Thompson, National Democrat, 326. In few districts was there so complete an overturn, and the respect and esteem in which Mr. Gilleland is held was manifested in the large vote he received.
   Mr. Gilleland is married and has two children. He is a member of the Manhattan Republican Club and several other social and political organizations.
   Mr. Gilleland was eleacted to the Assembly of 1897 by receiving 5,772 votes, to 4,454 for Thomas J. Hayden, Democrat; 326 for John M. Thompson, National Democrat; and 121 for Charles E. Thompson, Socialist.
   In the Assembly of 1897 Mr. Gilleland was a member of the Committee of Military Affairs, Trade and Manufactures, and Printed and Engrossed Bills.

-- transcription by Kate Maynard, 2009

Kate's Notes:
   In 1903 Richard Gilleland was appointed the Labor Arbitrator for New York by the state's Labor Commissioner. He resigned that post in 1905. After this point I have no additional informaton on Richard's political career.
   Census records for 1900 and 1910 show that Richard was living in Manhattan. In 1910 he is listed on the census with wife Margaret B., born New York of Irish parentage; daughter Agnes, age 19; and son Harold, 16.