The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-01-18
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Rev. John n. ssi1lhaus. Pastor or she
M D.. Church, Cairo.

tFrom the United States Biographical Dic,ion.
ary aud Portrait Gallery Of Eminent and Self
Made Men,
John ID. Gillian, clergyman Of the
Methodist Episcopal church, Cairo, ILL
nois, was born in Jersey county, Illinois,
September 18th, 1884. His parents were
Ezekiel and Jane (watson) Gillian. Ills
father had been a soldier In the war Of
1872, and afterwards a farmer, In mode
rate way, In Illinois. His mother died
when he was but three years old, and his
father when he was but ten, and his
early life was fraught with trials and
privation. For two or three
years Immediately succeeding the death
OF his father he made his home with
married sister--Mrs. William l.. Jerome,
and when but mere boy was hired to
work by the month OH a farm, and In
this way earned as much as kept him
clothed, while for three months in the
winters he attended such schools as the
neighborhood afforded. He never had
the privilege of attending college. but by
his own unaided industry and persever-
ance he has become one of the best in
formed men of the day. He Is emf
nently a self-made man. In boy
hood and youth he was noted
for the many noble and generous
qualities of head and heart which
80 eminently characterize his maturer
years. At the age Of eighteen he was
employed as clork in dry goods store
in Jerseyville, where he remained two
years, when, by the aid of friends, he
purchased an interestin family grocery
store, In which business he Continued
about three years. At the age of twenty
he experienced change OF heart, and
became a Jealous and ardent member of
the Methodist Episcopal church; at the
age of twenty-one was licensed to preach
the everlasting gospel; Joined
the Southern Illinois confer.
ence in 1856. and for two
years thereafter pursued a preparatory
course of studies for the ministry; was
ordained deacon by Bishop Morris in
1858, and an elder by Bishop Simpson in
1850. During the interval he has served
as pastor of the following charges: Gill
lespie, Litchfleld, Kane, Upper Alton,
Eawardsville, Salem, Centralia, Nash
vile and Cairo. He possesses in an en-
inent degree the mostimportant elements
of success-great force Of character,
with wonderful energy and perseverance.
AS minister he ranks .among
the first of his conference,
while his faithfulness to duty
and actual worth are attested by the suo-
cess that has attened bis labors as pas
tor. His sermons are plain, logical.
practical and effective, and his name is
treasured keepsake with the people to
whom he has severally ministered.
In politics he has always been Re-
publican, and at the outbreak of the war
was appointed chaplain Of the Nth Reg
iment Illinois Volunteers, which position
he filled with great acceptance and use-
tulness for two years, when failing health
compelled him to resign.
He was married on the 18th Of Septem-
Der. 1857, to Miss Malissa j. Smith.
daughter Of j. F. and Sarah Smith, of
Jerseyville, Illinois, with whom he lived
happily till December 4, 1874. when she
fell asleep in Jesus. She was the
mother of six children, three of whom
survive her-Lewis W., Mary Ii. and
John f. On the Goth OF October, 1875,
he was married to Miss Sarah A. Shcp-
herd, daughter of F. Ii. and K. A. Shep-
herd, of Nashville, Illinois.