The obituaries for the Rev. James Gilliland and his wife Isadore were contributed by Nancy Canter Downard.

From the Clinton (ILL) Register, January 21, 1910

Isadore (HOLMES) GILLILAND 

CHRISTIAN MOTHER IS CALLED HOME.
Was Wife of Former Clinton Minister, Who 
for Two Years Has Been Located in Lincoln.

   Saturday the people of Clinton were pained to learn of the death of Mrs. E. A. Gilliland, who passed away at 8 o'clock that morning at her home in Lincoln, aged 46 years. She lived in Clinton about nine years, her husband being pastor of the Christian church here, and she had hundreds of friends in this county, who felt a keen sorrow when they learned death had taken her from home and loved ones. They knew her and loved her for her kindly disposition, gentle ways and earnest Christian life. The following is from the Lincoln Courier:
   "Isadore Holmes was born in Mason county, Ill., Dec. 1, 1862. All her girlhood days were spent near Vermont, Ill., where she graduated with honors from the public school at an early age. She was married to E. A. Gilliland August 9, 1882. There were born to this union three children, Eva M. Mitchell, who resides in Clinton, Ill.; Owen E., residing at El Reno, Okla.; and Elfleda, at home.
   "Mrs. Gilliland had been sick for over a year, suffering severely much of the time, a part of the time, however, she was able to walk out and receive her friends at home. She had been confined to her bed but little over a week at the last; death came quietly Saturday morning Jan. 15, 1910.
   "Rev. Gilliland came to the Christian church pastorate with his wife and daughter in June, 1908. Never in the history of the church has a pastor and his wife taken hold upon the hearts of the people more fully than these two have done. Earnest, faithful, full of zeal, the work of the church took on new life with their coming and advanced wonderfully.
   "While her health permitted, she worked by her husband's side among the people, calling, visiting in sickness, encouraging and by the very cheeriness of her presence aiding and benefiting all with whom she came in contact.
   "She was an active member of both the Ladies Aid and Willing Workers societies, and was president of the C. W. B. M. when stricken with sickness. She will be greatly missed by the members of these organizations who loved her because of her splendid personality and sweet natured womanliness, as well as appreciating her abilities as a manager and worker in church lines. It is a terrible bereavement and loss to Rev. Gilliland, and his people extend to him and his, their deepest and most sincere love and sympathy."
Funeral services were held in the Christian Church in Lincoln Monday at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. F. L. Bower, of Kansas City, a close friend of the family. A number of Clinton people attended and returned to Clinton with the family and friends at 5 o'clock, the remains being brought here for interment in Woodlawn cemetery.

From the Clinton (ILL) Register, May 3, 1912

Rev. James M. GILLILAND 

DEATH OF NOTED MINISTER.

   Rev. James M. Gilliland, builder of churches in Bloomington and Normal and one of the most able and eloquent ministers of the Christian denomination in Illinois, died Friday in Bloomington shortly before 5 o'clock at his home, following a stroke of paralysis. He was stricken a week before, while in his study, having just finished his manuscript on "Twenty-Five Years of Religious History in Bloomington" which was read by another minister while Rev. Gilliland was very ill.
   He was born in Fulton county, this state, March 26, 1855. He lived and worked on a farm from the age of 12 until he finally left the parental roof at the age of 24. During that period he acquired an excellent educational equipment, first attending Abingdon college in 1875. In 1880 he graduated from Eureka college, receiving his master's degree from that institution in 1881. In the fall of that year [he] assumed his first charge at Mechanicsburg, remaining there four years. His next pastorate was at Harristown where he remained until he received a call from the First Christian church in Bloomington.
   Feb. 1, 1888, Rev. Mr. Gilliland began his work in Bloomington. The church at that time had something over 400 members, who worshipped in a building that had long served beyond its usefulness. The city, too, was not the "beautiful Bloomington" of today. There were few pavements and the old-fashioned mule-cars were still in operation on Main street and West Washington street.
Mr. Gilliland was married on June 25, 1897, to Miss Clara Kelly, the wedding taking place at Vermont, Ill. The home life of Mr. Gilliland and his family has been exceptionally happy and the minister was seen at his best in his home. One child, Mary, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilliland, who is now Mrs. G. E. Brammer, of Des Moines.
   In four years the church grew from 400 to 1550 members and he resigned the pastorate to become pastor of the Second Christian church, which he established, and a new building was erected in 1892. A few years later he resigned the pastorate of this church to take charge of another church he established. The fourth church he had built was in Normal, completed a few weeks before his death.