The Gilliland Cemetery receives its name from the fact that it is situated on a portion of the John W. Gilliland Donation Land Claim. It is in Section 34, Township 13 South of Range 1 East of Willamette Meridian in Linn County. The cemetery lies in the north-west quarter of the section.

To reach this cemetery proceed on State Highway 54 to the town of Sweet Home. From Sweet Home proceed eastward on same Highway for about two and one half miles; here there is an intersection with a graveled road leading south, (to right). Follow this graveled road south for about one-half mile or to the first corner leading east. Drive east here for about one-fourth mile. At this point the public road angles south-easterly; at the same point in the intersection with a private road (through gate) leading up the slope of a hillside north-easterly. This latter is the cemetery road. Follow it (about one fourth mile) to the summit of the ridge and the cemetery gate.

An alternate route from Sweet Home is as follows-Drive east on Long Street in Sweet Home. (Long Street is the first street south of Highway 34). The extension of Long Street eastward is the "old" Sweet Home-Foster route. Follow this road eastward for about two and one-half miles. At this point the public road angles up the hill south-easterly as described in former route, and the cemetery road (through gate) intersects it extending up the ridge north-easterly.

The Gilliland Cemetery is a rectangular tract of land crowning the summit of a prominent wooded ridge and approximately 15X17 rods in extent. It lies true with the cardinal points and the east-west dimensions are the longest. The cemetery is well fenced and cared for and free from all brush and noxious growths except a persistent summer growth of tall bracken. The cemetery is completely surrounded with pleasant groves of second-growth Douglas firs.

The first recorded burial in this tract is that of a child, William F. Gilliland (1852-1854), presumably a son of the original claim holder. Following this single burial sixteen years seem to have elapsed before the second one-that of Samule Farmer, aged 33 years, who died November 25, 1870. Next follows the burial of a boy of thirteen-Henry W., Son of M.W. & G. Miller who died October 7, 1871. The fourth burial of record is that of another daughter of the original claim holder, evidently a young married woman-R. Jennett Harris, Dau. of J. & M. Gilliland who died on March 25, 1874 at the age of just under twenty years.

The oldest birth date recorded here is that of Elizabeth Sittle, June 18, 1805.

For further information about this cemetery, contact the Sweet Home Genealogical Society, c/o Sweet Home Library, 13th Avenue & Kalmia Street, Sweet Home, Oregon, 97386.

For more information about some of these families, especially the Russell and Howes families, please visit Steve Carpenter's Sweet Home Families page, which tie into many Linn County cemetery records online.

** "My uncle,  Stanley Vernon Mays, is buried there, but on the website it lists a Stanley Vernon Mayer. He died in 1934, I think" Information provided 7-16-04 by Rita Maninger, d-rmaninger@[delete this]charter.net.

© 2000-2007 Jan Phillips