New Hampton Gazette
New Hampton, Iowa
18 June, 1913

“LANK” GILLILAND DIES
AT GREEN BAY, WIS.
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Remains of former Prominent Man
Of Chickasaw County Buried
In New Hampton
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   The remains of the late J. M. Gilliland, a former Chickasaw county official and well-known politician, arrived in New Hampton last Thursday for burial in Graceland cemetery.
   Mr. Gilliland died at his home in Green Bay, Wis., June 10, after an illness which had its beginning about a year and a half ago. Six weeks ago he was operated upon and had a second operation two weeks later. His decline from that time was rapid. He was aged 64 years.
   John Melanchthon Gilliland (known to thousands in Chickasaw county as “Lank” Gilliland) was born in Johnson county, Indiana, in 1849. He came with his people to Nashua in 1855 and grew up there, attending a rural school and then graduating from Bradford Academy. He taught school for a few years, attended the State University and was admitted to the bar in 1873. He settled in Nashua to practice his profession, was called as the Democratic candidate for clerk of the court, was elected, and twice re-elected, serving in all six years. Mr. Gilliland in 1877 was married to Miss Lydia Burgitt of New Hampton. They continued to reside in our county and in 1884 Mr. Gilliland was elected representative for Chickasaw county in the General Assembly. Having again taken up his residence at Nashua, Mr. Gilliland was appointed postmaster there and held the office seven years. In 1897 he and his wife removed to Green Bay, Wis., where he was engaged as a boarding car contractor. He is survived by his wife and one sister, Mrs. L. S. McCreary, of Nashua.
   The funeral was conducted by the Rev. Burton E. Marsh, pastor of the First Congregational church, and consisted of prayer and a brief and simple service. Many friends were in the cortege that moved from the railway station direct to Graceland.
   Those from a distance in attendance at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Rohrbach, E. W. Burgitt and Mrs. S. Burgitt, all of Britt;  J. W. Wright of Cedar Rapids; Mrs. S. J. Schlesinger of Hampton; Mrs. D. H. Smith and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Tupper, Mrs. L. S. McCreary, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Heald and Mr. Henry Erwine, all of Nashua.
   In Mr. Gilliland were combined many traits of character that made him liked. He was a student of exceptional mental grasp; a lover of literature; in his younger days a pronounced athlete, a woodcraftsman, student and deep lover of nature in all her forms. He had the seeing eye. Added to these was a personal magnetism, which charmed his associates and made him a popular and efficient worker in politics. To serve rather than to acquire for himself was his method in life. He was a member of the Masonic order and of the Elks lodge and was a credit to these orders. Sincere regret is felt by hundreds of friends in our county at the passing of one they know for a true man and brother.

-transcription by Kate Maynard, 2012