Margie Gilliland, a lifetime resident of Polk County recently received a First Families of Polk County certificate from Evelyn Cronan, board chair for the Polk County Historical & Genealogical Society.

   Margie's ancestor, James Gilliland, born 1801, was here when the county was formed in the fall of 1839, and although many of them went to Texas, some of his descendants have resided here until the present day.

   James and Jane Giles Gilliland appear in the 1850 Polk County census with five children still at home, Margaret, Quinten, Isaac, Elizabeth Jane and Martha.  A 'mystery person', 16-year-old Martha Killing, is also in the household. Researchers have been unable so far to determine her relationship to the family. Older children who had already married and were in their own households by 1850 were Sina, born 1824, who married George Harbison; William, born 1826, married Margaret Higgins, and Robert, born 1828, who married Caroline Rose.

    The other children's marriages were: Margaret, born 1825, married Bill Ford; Quinten, born 1830, married Ava Higgins; Isaac, born 1836, married Emeline Smith; Elizabeth Jane, born 1844, married Melvin Reynolds, and Martha, born 1847, married William Blair.  

   James was the son of William Gilliland, born 1780 in North Carolina, died here in Polk County and is probably buried in an unmarked grave in the old Columbus Cemetery. However, according to an article by Jean Gilliland in the Heritage of Polk County, the lineage has been traced back several generations to another James who came to America from Londonderry, Ireland in 1730 and was granted a 50,000-acre estate in Pennsylvania by William Penn. His grandson, also named James, was an officer in George Washington's Army.

   Margie's line of descent is through Quinten and Ava Higgins Gilliland, to their son, William Clemmer and wife, Ailcey Shamblin Gilliland and on to their son, Squire Bill and Laura Ann Christian Gilliland, who were Margie's parents. Margie had a sister Eva Lee (Mrs. Everett Bates) with whom she made her home for many years until Eva Lee's passing in 1999. Their siblings were Foy, who married Ruby Bailey; Broughton, married Sudie Bates; Chet married Pauline Stone, and Ovean, married James Scarbrough.

   Chet and Margie, both in their 90s, are still living. Chet is in a nursing home in Etowah, and Margie recently moved to Morningside, an assisted living facility in Cleveland where she happily spends her time reading, doing beautiful needlework, and visiting with friends and family who are frequent visitors.  

    The PCHGS Library, located at the corner of Commerce and Poplar Street in Benton, has much more information on this and related families in our files which we are happy to share with our visitors. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 to 3, and is kept open by PCHGS President, Marian Bailey Presswood who has volunteered her services there for the past 12 years.  

  Anyone who has an ancestor who was living in Polk County when it was formed in 1839 - and can prove it- is eligible for membership in First Families of Polk County. Contact PCHGS for an application form and more information.