GILLAN, Thomas A. 1850

GILLAN, TRAYNOR, COSGROVE, MURRAY, MCNAUGHTON

Posted By: P. Bergmeier (email)
Date: 5/15/2005 at 16:48:18

Thomas A. Gillan, owner and proprietor of the "Main Street Livery," at La Porte City, Iowa, was born June 29, 1850, on a farm in Pleasant Prairie township, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, and is a son of Patrick and Alice(Traynor) Gillan.

Patrick Gillan was born in 1814 in Liverpool, England, and came to America with the family of Thomas and Mary Traynor, whose daughter, Alice, he married at a later date. The latter died in Lake County, Illinois, in 1868, aged 44 years. She was a native of the North of Ireland. Patrick Gillan and his wife had seven children, namely: Mrs. Rose Cosgrove, of Chicago; Mrs. Mary Murray, who died in Chicago; Thomas A; Bernard; Patrick, deceased; Sarah, who died in Chicago, aged 18 years; and Alice, who died, aged three years. Patrick Gillan was a carpenter by trade, and this was his main occupation, although he owned a farm of 160 acres in the vicinity of New Hampton, Chickasaw County, Iowa, which land, however, he never occupied. From New York he moved to Wisconsin, and later to Lake County, Illinois, where he died in 1858, aged 44 years.

Thomas A. Gillan was a babe but a few months old when his parents moved to the farm in Lake County, Illinois, where he remained until he was 25 years of age. During the next decade, Mr. Gillan traveled extensively and at various points, had different occupations. In 1875 he worked on a farm in the vicinity of La Porte City, Iowa, and then went to North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, where he lived the exciting life of a cowboy for three years. The next two years were spent in farming in Minnesota, after which he came to Cedar township, Black Hawk County, and followed the stock business for three years. Mr. Gillan then left country life and went into the Illinois Central Railroad freight house at Waterloo, where he continued five years. He then returned to agricultural pursuits, working on ex-Governor Boies; Grundy County farm for one year.

New discoveries and attractions in the far West led Mr. Gillan on a prospecting trip to the Pacific Coast, but he returned to Black Hawk County in about a year, and worked for three years for Joseph Husman, in the stock business. During this time he was elected city marshal, an office he has held for the past 11 years. On July 15, 1903, he purchased what is known as the "Main Street Livery," which is still considering on much improved lines.

In 1880, Mr. Gillan married Louise McNaughton, who was born February 26, 1853, near Montreal, Canada, and is a daughter of Alexander and Jennie McNaughton, the former of whom was born in Scotland, and the latter in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Gillan have two daughters: Neva Alice, who married Charles Burgess, of La Porte City, and has one child, Margaret Louise; and Effie Pearl, who is at home.

Prior to the first election of President McKinley, Mr. Gillan was a Democrat, but he has been identified with the Republican party since. Fraternally, he belongs to the K.O.T.M., of which he is State Chaplain, having previously served as State sergeant. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gillan is a well known citizen and has taken an active and useful part in matters pertaining to the development of the interests of La Porte City.

History of Black Hawk County and It's People
1915