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Martin & Sarah C. Howell Gillihan
martinsarah.jpg
Tombstone

William 1 Gillihan
William 2 Gillihan
 
Martin GILLIHAN
b 30 Oct 1824 Jackson Co, TN;
d 26 Jan 1906 Portland, Multnomah Co, OR
buried at the Old City Cemetery in Vancouver, Clark Co, WA.
                           Martins parents were Thomas GILLIHAN & Lucinda "Lucy" BROWN.

In 1844 Martin left Polk County, Missouri and started across the overland trail with ox teams and driving a band of cattle along with the Wagon group called the California Company or the Cornelius GILLIAM Wagon Train. Martin married first on 21 May 1844 on the Oregon Trail to Elizabeth AZBILL/ASABILL daughter of Franklin M ASBELL/ASABELL, they may have had a child in 1844 along the Oregon Trail possibly in MO. They divorced later in Sep 17, 1846 (Bill of Divorce).
After 6 months on the Oregon Trail they arrived in Washington County, Oregon, he worked on a ranch during winter and following spring. In 1845 he farmed independently on a piece of land & in fall of 1846 came to Sauvie's Island. He settled there on farm of 640 acres now owned and occupied by John Howell. In the spring of 1847 he traded his land for 3 Cayuse horses, and with his brother WILLIAM, rode on horseback down into California, where they worked in the woods near San Francisco. Later on he worked on a ranch near Santa Clara and in the spring of 1848 went to Sutter Mills & saw first gold taken out of that place. Returned to Oregon fall of 1848 and in spring of 1849 returned again to California across mountains with ox teams & prospected/mined in vicinity of Hangtown. Returned to Oregon in winter of 1849 accompanied by his BROTHER'S WIDOW  (This was Nancy Asbill Gillihan, widow of William who died at Sutters Mill, Ca.) and her 3 children & located on the farm belonging to Mrs. Gillihan (widow), but which was purchased from her by her brother-in-law Martin Gillihan in 1850.
Martin married second to Sarah C Howell on Dec 15, 1850 and had 13 kids settling a Donation Land Claim this same year signed by President U. S. Grant. Sarah and her family had traveled the Oregon Train also in 1850.  In the 1870's Martin traveled back eastward (probably to Missouri) to bring some of his other brothers west; Gideon & Thomas GILLIHAN by Wagon Train.
~

1880 CENSUS-OREGON & FACTS

Martin Gillihan
Age: 54
Estimated birth year: <1826>
Birthplace: Tennessee
Occupation: Farmer
Relationship to head-of-household: Self
Home in 1880: Columbia, Multnomah, Oregon
Marital status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Spouse's name: Sarah C. Gillihan
Father's birthplace: NC
Mother's birthplace: NC

Presley Gillihan Columbia, Multnomah, OR <1861> W TER So

Rebecca Ann Gillihan
Columbia, Multnomah, OR <1863> Oregon Daughter

Sara Eliza Gillihan
Columbia, Multnomah, OR <1868> Oregon Daughter

Mary Gillihan
Columbia, Multnomah, OR <1873> Oregon Daughter

Harriet Gillihan Columbia, Multnomah, OR <1879> Oregon Daughter

Clara Gillihan Columbia, Multnomah, OR <1867> Oregon Daughter

~

NOTES:
Divorce:
Elizabeth Gillihan vs. Martin Gillihan.
Filed by Elizabeth.
[Oregon Spectator 4/9 Jul 1846]
~

Township 2 North, Range 1 West
claim # surname first names section,
3239 Gillihan Martin 10-14-15-23
~

1880 Dist. #, Clark Co, Washington Census:
Thomas S.-Self-M-M-W-52-TN
Jane-Wife-M-F-W-53-TN-TN-TN
Isaack-Son-M-W-26-MO-
Emily A.-Dau-S-F-W-16-MO
George W.-Son-S-M-W-9-MO
Bertha C. G-Dau-S-F-W-8-WA-MO-MO
Sarah A.-Dau-in-Law-28-1852-MO-Widow-W-F-TN-TN

~

1880 Clark Co Washington Census:
Gideon B.-Self-M-M-W-57-TN-Farmer-SC-SC
Mary-Wife-M-F-W-49---TN-Keeping house-SC-SC
Phineas B.-Son-S-M-W-26-MO-Working on farm
Ann E-Dau-S-F-W-21-MO
Lucy A-Dau-S-F-W-17-MO
John W-Son-S-M-W-13-MO
Catherine L-Dau-S-F-W-7-WaTerr

~

Other Gillihan Burials in the OLD VANCOUVER CITY CEMETERY

Anna R. Gillihan,   
Death:   Mar. 26, 1940

Betsy J. Gillihan, d. March 1899

Clarissa Gillihan, d. Jan. 26, 1899, age 22 yrs.

Edwin Gillihan, b. unknown d. Dec. 17, 1921

Gideon Bedford Gillihan, b. May. 19, 1823 d. Jun. 14, 1902,  parents were Thomas GILLIHAN & Lucinda "Lucy" BROWN. Husband of Mary Jane Hensley Gillihan

Jane Akin/Rountree Gillihan, b. Dec. 20, 1826 d. Aug. 30, 1905

John Thomas Gillihan, b. Sep. 24, 1851 d. Feb. 21, 1934

Mary Jane Hensley Gillihan, b. Sep. 2, 1830 d. Mar. 28, 1885,

Sarah Catherine Howell Gillihan, b. Feb. 7, 1833 d. Aug. 28, 1903, Second wife of Martin Gillihan

Mary Gillihan, b. Feb. 27, 1851 d. Jun. 27, 1885,

Martin E. Gillihan, b. Feb. 4, 1890 d. unknown

Robert H. Gillihan, unknown d. Jan. 21, 1924

Thomas Summers Gillihan, b. Oct. 28, 1827 d. Jul. 30, 1901, parents were Thomas GILLIHAN & Lucinda "Lucy" BROWN. Husband of Jane A (Adkins) Roundtree

Willard Benjamin Gillihan, b. Feb. 1, 1858 d. May. 11, 1881

~



 

Gideon B. & Mary Jane Hensley Gillihan
gideonmary.jpg

Children of Gideon and Mary Jane:

Miranda Alberta b. Oct 14, 1847 in Missouri; d. Sept 15, 1898 in Clark Co.,
Washington.  She married Ira Eddy Spencer on Dec. 17, 1865.

Robert Haywood b. Oct. 28, 1850 in Missouri; d. Jan 21, 1924 in Clark Co.,
Washington.

Thomas Bedford b. Sept 15, 1853 in Mercer Co., Missouri; d. July 16, 1938 in
Clark Co., Washington.  He married Hattie Amis Blair on Dec 24, 1886.

Matilda Hannah b. Jan. 8, 1856 in Missouri; d. July 12, 1918, in Clark Co.,
Washington.  She married John R. Eaton on Jan 29, 1873.

Ann Elizabeth b. Nov. 9, 1858 in Missouri; d. July 12,  1918 in Clark Co.,
Washington.  She married Columbus Sigel Blair on Feb. 27, 1883..

Keziah Dufonite b. April 22, 1861 in Independence, Missouri; d. Dec. 5, 1941
in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon.  She married Charles Winslade Laver on
Feb. 27, 1878.

Lucy Alice b. April 20, 1863 in Mercer Co., Missouri; d. May 26, 1934 in
Clark Co., Washington.  She married Hannibal Blair on May 30, 1882.

John W.  b. July 22, 1866 in Mercer Co., Missouri; d. abt. 1932 in Portland,
Multnomah Co., Oregon.  He was married April 2, 1890 to Jessie G McQueen.

Twins:  Almond (Male) and Alta (Female) born Dec. 23, 1868 in Mercer Co.,
Missouri.  Died same day.

Catherine Leona  b. Jan 14, 1873 in Mercer Co., Missouri; d. unknown in
Orting, Washington.  She married James Thomas Sherman McQueen on Jan 14,
1891.
PROFILE OF MARTIN:
The name of pioneer is written in indelible letters upon the career of Martin Gillihan, who came to Oregon in 1844, when the plains were comparatively unused to the imprint of oxen hoofs, or to the camp fires of the hopeful pale face travelers. Born in Jackson county, Tenn., October 30, 1824, Mr. Gillihan was but six years of age when his parents removed to Greene county, Ill., from which locality they went to Polk county, Mo., at the end of three years. Until his nineteenth year Martin performed his share toward cultivating the farm of his father, and in the spring of 1844 started across the overland trail with ox teams, and driving a band of cattle. After six months of great hardship and ever present danger from the attack of Indians, he arrived in Washington county, Ore., where he worked out on a ranch during the winter and following spring. During 1845 he farmed independently on a piece of land, and in the fall of 1846 came to Sauvie's Island and settled on the farm of six hundred and forty acres now owned and occupied by John Howell. In the spring of 1847 he traded this land for three Cayuse horses, and with his brother William, rode on horseback down into California, where they worked in the woods near San Francisco. Later on he worked on a ranch near Santa Clara, and in the spring of 1848 went to the Sutter Mills and saw the first gold taken out of that place.  Enriched by his California experiences from the standpoint of information Mr. Gillihan returned to Oregon, in the fall of 1848, and in the spring of 1849, in confirmation of his faith in the mining possibilities of that state, returned to California across the mountains with ox teams, and prospected and mined in the vicinity of Hangtown. His return to Oregon in the winter of 1849 would argue that his success as a miner was that of the average, rather than that of the best-favored mortal. On this journey he was accompanied by his brother's widow and her three children, and they located on the farm belonging to Mrs. Gillihan, but which was purchased from her by her brother-in-law, Martin Gillihan, in 1850. This farm, which is still owned by Mr. Gillihan, comprises six hundred and forty acres of land, and
has been augmented by the purchase of additional land, comprising in its entirety nine hundred acres. Here the successful owner has conducted a stock-buying, selling and raising business, and for many years his name has been known from one end of Multnomah county to the other.
In 1850 Mr. Gillihan was united in marriage with Miss Sarah C. Howell, a native of Millerstown, Pa., and a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Mathews) Howell. Mr. Howell crossed the plains in 1850 and first located on the plains of Washington county, where he resided for a short time, when he removed to Sauvie's Island. Here he bought a farm and carried on general farming and stock-raising up to the time of his death in 1886. On arriving in Oregon Mrs. Gillihan took up her residence in Portland, where she resided until her marriage with Mr. Gillihan. As a result of this union thirteen children were born, four of whom are now deceased. Mr. Gillihan has taken an important part in the affairs of his county, and has staunchly supported the men and measures of the Republican party. For more than forty years he has been a member of the school board, and has held offices of more or less importance from time to time during his long residence here. Being a member of the Oregon Pioneer Association he and his wife have taken an active interest in the work of that organization and have missed none of the meetings, which each year show a decrease in attendance. Possessing sterling and substantial characteristics Mr. Gillihan has impressed his worth upon the community of which he is a valued acquisition, and his good name has been maintained through all the vicissitudes of his march to success.
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity Oregon" pub. Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, 1903 page 743

Dedicated to the Memory of Elmer Austin Gillihan