Albert J. Gilliland, 88, passed away at the Memorial Community Hospital December 12th. Mr. Gilliland was born August 1, 1869, in Iowa, and for the past 40 years, farmed on the Mark Beaty farm north of Blair. He was married to Sidney Margaret King and she died in November 1956.

Survivors are five daughters and two sons: Mrs. Rosie Stricklett, Mrs. Clyde Noyes (Grace), Mrs. Carl Hansen (Violet), Mrs. Dorothy McCully and Mrs. Carl Peterson (Bernice) all of Blair, Mr. Charles Gilliland of Azusa, California, and Albert Gilliland of Blair. Another daughter, Melinda Mae Brommer preceded him in death. A brother Wm. Gilliland of Blair and a sister, Mrs. Clara Allen of California, 27 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services were held December 16th at 2:00 P.M. with Rev. Fred Sigmond officiating.

Pallbearers were Ray Therkelson, George Kegler, Jim Juui, Harry Bolln, Jay Wakefield and James F. Hansen.

2) Gilliland, Albert James 12/12/1957 Blair Newspaper, Blair, Nebraska, December 1957

ALBERT J, GILLILAND DIES

Albert J. Gilliland, 88, passed away at the Manorial Community Hospital December 12th. Mr. Gilliland was born August 1, 1869 in Iowa and for the past 40 years farmed on the Mark Beaty farm north of Blair. He was married to Sidney Margaret King and she died in November 1956.

Survivors are five daughters and two sons: Mrs. Rosie Stricklett, Mrs. Clyde Noyes (Grace), Mrs. Carl Hansen (Violet), Mrs. Dorothy McCully and Mrs. Carl Peterson (Bernice) all of Blair, Mr. Charles Gilliland of Azusa, California, and Albert Gilliland of Blair. Another daughter, Melinda Mae Brommer preceded him in death. A brother Wm. Gilliland of Blair and a sister, Mrs. Clara Allen of California, 27 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren also survive. Funeral services were held December 16th at 2:00 P.M. with Rev. Fred Sigmond officiating.

Pallbearers were Ray Therkelson, George Kegler, Jim Juui, Harry Bolln, Jay Wakefield and James F. Hansen.

Gilliland's Wed for 62 Years

Mr. and Mrs. Albert (Rab) Gilliland, who reside on a farm north of. Blair celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary last Friday, April 1st. There was no special note made of the occasion, except for the picture of the elderly couple, which was taken by The Enterprise photographer.

Mr. and Mrs. Gilliland have lived on the E. M. Beaty farm for the past 27 years. "So long folks think I own the place," Mr. Gilliland quipped. Despite his 84 years of age, he still operates the 212-acre farm, doing most of the work himself, and doing it well. His sprightly step and his keen mind belie his 84 years by more than ten years and his memory of the early days in this area rivals men 30 years his junior.

Mrs. Gilliland, who is 74, is in failing health, and requires considerable care which Rab, by which he is most familiarly known, admits "slows up the farm work, somewhat." Rab was born in Ottumwa, Iowa when that state was in its infancy. He came west with his parents when he was a small lad and endured the hardships of the early days. He recalls living in a "soddie" which was the most acceptable and practical type of home for the prairies. He spent most of his boyhood years as a cattle border on the bottoms near Ft. Calhoun and DeSoto and he learned to make a livelihood through the "school of hard knocks." He spoke readily of the early day shipping on the Missouri, of the old river landing at DeSoto and the early settling of Blair.

The couple was married at Blair, April 1, 1893 by a minister by the name of "Camp-bell", but what became of him, neither can remember. Mr. and Mrs. Gilliland became the parents of eight children, seven of whom are still living. In addition, they raised another boy, to whom they had given shelter when he was but a small lad.

The sons and daughters are: Mrs. Lyle Stricklett (Rosie); Mrs. Clyde Noyes (Grace); Mrs. Adam Brummer, all of Blair; Mrs. Buck Hollings-worth (Dorothy) of Omaha; Bad Gilliland, of Blair; Mrs. Carl Hansen (Violet) of Blair: Mrs. Carl Petersen (Bernice) of Blair and Charles Gilliland of Los Angeles, California. Clyde Brommer, the youth who was raised by the Gilliland's, lives in Lincoln. A daughter, Melinda, died a number of years ago.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska. ~~~

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