Kate's Notes: For more information on the Gilliland family of Yankton, South Dakota, please refer to the biographical sketches of William H. and Samuel G. Gilliland of Yankton, which can be found in the Gilliland Trails library.

From The Daily Huronite
Huron, South Dakota
June 24, 1890

Drowning of Young Gilliland.

Special to the Huronite.
   Yankton, June 21. -- Rankin Gilliland, a young man about 17 years of age, was drowned in Jim river about 10 o’clock a.m., today. A party of young people went to that locality, which is a popular place of resort, for a picnic. Young Gilliland and a companion went in to bathe. He swam two-thirds the distance across the river and turned to go back. After swimming a short distance he went down and before assistance could reach him he sank to rise no more. It is supposed he was taken with cramps. The body was recovered within an hour but all efforts to resuscitate him were in vain.

-- transcription by Kate Maynard, 2010