Known to thousands in Chickasaw County as "Lank" Gilliland was born in Johnson County, Indiana, in 1849. He came with his people, to Nashua in 1855 and grew up there; attending a rural -school and then graduating from Bradford Academy. He taught school for a few years, attended the State University and was admitted to the bar in1873. He settled in Nashua to practice his profession, was called as the Democratic candidate for clerk of the court, was elected, and twice reelected, serving six years. Mr. Gilliland in 1877 was married to Miss Lydia Burgitt of New Hampton. They continued to reside in our county and in 1884 he was elected representative from Chickasaw county in the General Assembly. Having again taken up his residence at Nashua, Mr. Gilliland was appointed postmaster there and held the office seven years. In 1897 he and his wife moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was engaged as a boarding car contractor. He was a member of the Masonic order, Elks' Lodge and the Congregational Church.