The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-16
Death Of ,Ir. William II. GuI1and.

Another OF The fathers Of Dur city has de-
parted. William n. Gilliland died last evening
at quarter before Soclock. He passed away
peacefully in the fulness of his years, honored,
esteemed, and now lamentod by our whole
community. Few there are that attain so ripe
an old age as he; few indeed who close long
and wen-spent life with so rncid an end.
MIR. William b. Gilliland was born November
18th, 178S, in County Antrim, Ireland He
emigrated to this country i'll early childhood,
and soon began to show that aptness for mer-
camille pursuits that marked his after career.
He commenced business in 1912, as member
of the firm Of Glliiand, Ferris g. Co. During
the war with Great Britain, AIr. Gililand was
an active merchant, and visited Florida, which
was then Spanish province. His ventures
we're characterized with judgment and thor
ough knowledge Of the times, and proved al
most uniformly successful.
The firm was later successively changed to
Gilliland & Geager, Miliken, Gilliland d Dick,
and Fleming, Gililand & Co. About the year
1880 ne became interested in the wholesale dry
goods business on Hayne-street, and the firm
was then known as Gilliland, Son & Howell.
The death of his eldest son, Mr.. VIM. Gill;
land, caused change in the style of the firm
to Gillland, Howell s. Co., which name was re-
tanned up to the breaking out Of the late war,
when dissolution took place. During the
past two years Mr. Gililand was engaged in
business with his son, Mr.. Daniel B. Gilliland,
under the name Of Giililand g. Son, as auction
and commission merchants, No. 80 Hayne-
street.
During his long mercantile career MIR. Gill;
land suffered many reverses, but his energy
and business capacity enabled him to over
come these temporary checks. His store in
Hayne-street was burned at three different
periods, but in each instance he manfully put
his shoulder to the wheel, and succeeded in re-
storing all that was lost. At the commence
ment of the war the wholesale establishment
of Gillland, Howell & Co. was known through
out the South, and was one OF the most -four
ishing firms in the city.
Aside from his business reputation, Mr.. Gil
liland was known, loved and revered as man.
His good deeds and charities were constant
and liberal, though always unostentatious. He
served his feilow-citizens in a number of civil
positions with honor to himself and satisfac-
tion TO his constituents. Though for many
years public official, he never filed any post
of profit, being content to serve his country
for his country's good. For over quarter
o century be was one OF the Board of Alder
men, and frequently acted as Mayor od inte-
RIM. He was also until his death one OF the
Commissioners OF the Orphan House, and ever
took lively interest in that institution. As a
member of the different civic societies, he was
always foremost in advocating their advance
ment, and many of them owe their present
fourish;ng condition to his efforts in
their behalf The first meeting of the
Hibern:an Society was held at his
house about the year 1912, and for fifty
four years he was an active and Jealous men,
Der Of the Society. As a graceful compliment
to his many virtues and in recognition of more
than half century of devoted membership, he
was chosen, about one year ago, upon the
death of the late James Z. Robinson, to the
presidency Of the Society.
Mr. Giliiland was through life consistent
Christian and an upright gentleman. he be-
came connected early in life with the Presby-
terian Church, and was for years an elder and
one OF the strongest supporters Of the Central
Church. A fortnight before his death he seemed
as well as usual, but the lnroads of four-score
winters upon his system were not much longer
10 be resisted, and he intimated to more than
,ne friend that he felt that his end was at
hand.
His funeral services, We understand, will take
place tomorrow forenoon.