Born about [location unknown]
Daughter of John Brookins Gilliland
and Sirrenna (Herron) Gilliland
Sister of
Susanna (Gilliland) Stump, James A. Gilliland, John Frank Gilliland, Melinda (Gilliland) Stump, Francis Marion Gilliland, George Washington Gilliland, Jane Gilliland, Catherine (Gilliland) Smith, Wesley J. Gilliland, Martin Garrett Gilliland, David Gilliland [half], Lewis William Gilliland [half] and Emma Isabelle (Gilliland) Robinson [half]
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died
at about age 81
[location unknown]
Profile last modified
This page has been accessed 14 times.
Biography
According to census records, specifically 1856 Iowa and 1860 Federal census, Irene's name was actually Serienna. There have been several spelling variations but most often she was referred to as Rena or Rene. The only reference to her as Irene, that I have found, is on her headstone and her obituary.
Based on census records she was born about 5 years before the date on her headstone. She would have been born in September of 1854 instead of in 1859 as she was listed as 2 years old on the 1856 Iowa Census. Her grandson, Dover Donnelly, offered some speculation as to why the difference in birth dates. If census records are to be believed, she was older than her husband by several years which was not done in those days. It is also possible that since she was raised by her older sister, maybe no one ever told her exactly when she was born. Rene's mother died in December of 1857 about the same time as her new baby. This indicates that the very latest the Rene could have been born was late in 1856 or early 1857. The reason for the date discrepancy is something that will probably never be proven either way.
Her death certificate lists her birth date as 18 Nov 1858. The informant was listed as her son, John William McCarty,
She was referred to by her granddaughter, Eloise, as Grandma Cow. This apparently was because she had a cow and the other grandma didn't.
Ottumwa Courier - July 1, 1935, page 1, col. 6.
Mrs Irene McCarty, 76, of South Milner Street, died suddenly at 8:00p.m Sunday at her home. Survivors are two sons, Will and Earl, Ottumwa; Mrs Birdie Donnelly, Mrs Florence Donnelly and Mrs Pearl Wilson, Ottumwa; twenty-seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1:30p.m Wednesday at the Johnson Funeral Chapel, and at 2' o'clock at the Pentecostal Church conducted by the Rev. A. D. McClure. Burial will be in the Shaul Cemetery.
Sources
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