SLIGO BIOS

GILLIN

From History of Scott County Iowa -1882 Chicago: Interstate Publishing Co.

Domnick Gillin was born in county of Sligo,Drun Clibb, Newton Parish, Ireland, June 24,1824. He emigrated to America and landed at New York on the 14th of April, 1847. He remained in New York three weeks, then went to Pittsburg,Pa. In 1853, he came to Scott County, and bought his present farm in Winfield Township. His first purchase of 160 acres has increased until he now owns 205 acres of rich land, all under good improvement. He was married to Ann McSteen, Oct 18, 1852, in the city of Pittsburg, Pa. She was born in County Sligo, Parish of Riverstown, Ireland, April 18, 1832, and came to America in 1851. Of eight children born of this union, six are living-Catharine, born Dec. 13, 1854, in Pittsburg, Pa., and married John Carroll; Michael V., Nov. 6, 1856; Thomas, Nov. 23, 1858; Peter, Sept. 20, 1860; John A., Aug. 19, 1862; and Jupta R., Sept. 21, 1868. The family are members of the Catholic church. In politics, Mr. Gillin is a Democrat; he is one of the prominent, representative farmers of his township.

KENNEDY

History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa 1882... Chicago: O. L. Baskin & Co., 1883

Patrick Kennedy, farmer, P.O. Neola, was born December 15, 1814, within one mile of the seashore, at Inniscron, County Sligo, Ireland. He is the son of Thomas and Hannah (Fox) Kennedy. His father was a farmer and was born in Ireland about 1782. His mother was also born in Ireland about 1782. HIs parents had three children- two sons and a daughter. Our subject was educated in subscription schools in Ireland. He lived and worked with his father until his marriage, which occurred in 1844 at the place of his birth. His bride was Winifred Bourke, born September 20, 1815, the daughter of Thomas and Bridget (Fox) Bourke. The parents were both natives of County Sligo, Ireland. Our subject came to America in 1847, accompanied by his brother. He landed in New York City, and lived over three years in Pennsyvlania. He then moved to Clark County, Ohio, where he lived about twenty-one years, afterward going to Caldwell County, Mo., where he lived about three years. An investment in land proved disastrous to the extent of $9,000, which represented his all. He then came to Council Bluffs, arriving in 1872, at which time he had just ten coppers left. He went to work with a will, and this year (1882), he was able to purchase 160 acres of well-improved land, for which he paid $3,500. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have had eight children, three of whom are buried in Ohio. Those living are Mary, born March 25, 1845, she is the wife of Patrick Hannan; Margaret born March 25, 1858, she was married to T. C. Brougham, and bore him three children, she died in February, 1880; Thomas, born February 22, 1860, and Kate, born May 21, 1862. In religion, Mr. Kennedy is Catholic, and in politics, a Democrat.

HILLIS

A Memorial and Biographical record of Iowa. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1896

     Isaac L. Hillis is the honored Mayor of Des Moines, and, as his official position well indicates, is one of the most prominent residents of the capital city. He is a Western man by birth, and possesses the true Western spirit of progress and enterprise which have placed the upper Mississippi States on a par with the older and more thickly inhabited States on the Atlantic coast.
     Born in Madison, Indiana, on the 23d of January, 1853, Mr. Hillis is one of the eight children of William C. and Eliza S. (Lea) Hillis, the former a native of Jefferson county, Indiana, and the latter of Baltimore, Maryland. The paternal grandfather, David Hillis, descended from an old Saxon family, and his ancestors emigrated to the north of Ireland, settling in county Sligo, at the time of the ascension of Charles II to the throne. The first member of the family that crossed the Atlantic to America was William Hillis, the great grandfather of our subject, who came to this country as a surgeon of the English army before the Revolutionary war. After war was declared he resigned his position, enlisted with the Colonists, and served in the Revolutionary army until the close of the contest. When the struggle was over he did not return to his native land.
     David Hillis was a surveyor or civil engineer in his early life, and located the boundary lines of nearly the whole of Indiana and a good part of Illinois. He was Lieutenant Governor of the Hoosier State for one term, and was chairman of a committee appointed by the President of the United States to form boundary lines and establish peace relations among the Indian tribes. For the long period of about forty years he was a State Senator from Jefferson county, Indiana, and took a prominent and active part in formulating the history of the State during that period. He was a member of the Whig party, and the Democratic party was largely in the majority in that he was enabled to win the election, even though his opponents had strong support. His father had located in Indiana about 1808, and was also one of the most prominent men of that region. During the war of 1812 David Hillis was manager of the advance guard under General Harrison and Colonel of the Kentucky Rangers, and was sent into Indian camps to prevent large gatherings of the red men to attack white soldiers. He thus fought many desperate battles. His death occurred about 1856.
     The maternal grandfather of Des Moines' Mayor - Isaac C. Lea - was a descendant of John Lea, a Quaker minister who came to America with William Penn and located in the Keystone State. Isaac C. Lea for many years resided in Baltimore, Maryland, where he engaged in business as a merchant and banker. In an early day in the history of that locality he moved to Madison, Indiana, but his death occurred in New York city, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. He had a large family. His father, Samuel Lea, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and because of that fact was disowned by his church, which is much opposed to warfare.
     William C. Hillis is a lawyer by profession, and has practiced in the courts of Indiana, Missouri and Iowa. He came to Des Moines about 1875, making the city his home until 1884, when he removed to California. He was Police Judge of the courts of Des Moines, Iowa, served as Circuit Attorney for a number of counties in Missouri, was treasurer of Jefferson county, Indiana, and served for several sessions as a member of the State Legislature. Failing health caused his removal to the Pacific slope, at which time he retired from an active business life. Four of the eight children of the family are still living: Alice, who resides in Santa Barbara, California; Isaac L.; Joseph W., manager of the abstract business in Des Moines; and Ralph, who is also in Santa Barbara.
     When Isaac L. Hillis was a lad of ten summers he accompanied his parents on their removal to the northwestern part of Missouri, and remained at home until seventeen years of age, when he entered La Grange College, at which he was graduated on the completion of a four years course. He was honored by being made valedictorian of his class, a selection that must have certainly been made upon its merits, as the teachers in the college and all of the students in the class were Democrats and southern sympathizers, while Mr. Hillis is an outspoken Republican. Another indication of his superior mental worth is shown by the fact that upon his graduation he was made a professor of Latin and mathematics in the school where he had formerly been a student and continued in charge of those branches for a year, when he was offered and accepted the principalship of one of the schools at Keokuk. His talent as an educator and the splendid success he had in the work soon became known over a wide territory, and he was offered the position as principal of the east city high school of Des Moines. He served in that capacity two years and was elected for a third but declined, for in the meantime he had made other plans, desiring to enter the legal profession. Accordingly he went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to pursue his studies in the law department of the Michigan University. He had, as a law student, while in the senior year, the high honor of being elected by acclamation as president of his class, of more than 200 students.
    Mr. Hillis applied himself closely to his studies and creditably passed the examination, being thus well fitted to enter upon his chosen work. He is the owner of the pioneer abstract books and for a number of years personally attended to the abstract business, but for the past three years this business has been in charge of his brother, J.W. Hillis, while he has given his personal attention to the law business and to real estate matters.
    Mr. Hillis was happily married in 1880, in New Orleans, to Miss Cora Bussey, a daughter of General Cyrus Bussey, Assistant Secretary of the Interior, and a very prominent and influential man. Her mother bore the maiden name of Ellen Kiser. The home of Mr. Hillis, situated in North Des Moines, is one of culture and refinement, noted for its hospitality. In the family are three children - Ellen, a bright girl of eleven years; Cyrus Bussey, and Isaac. one son, Philip, died last spring while returning from California. Upon their marriage Mr .and Mrs. Hillis came north to live, but the latter's ill health necessitated a return to the South, where they continued for two years. When she was again restored they once more came to Des Moines, where they have since resided. In social circles they hold a most enviable position and they have a host of warm friends who esteem them highly.
     In his political connections Mr. Hillis has always been a Republican, and an active worker in the interests of his party. For several campaigns he was president of the Garfield Club, was temporary and permanent chairman of the county convention in 1893, and in the Jackson-Boies campaign made a number of speeches in behalf of the former. He also aided with his voice and influence in the last campaign. Two years ago he was the candidate for the office to which he was elected in 1894. As Mayor of Des Moines he has proved a most capable and efficient official, devoting himself to the welfare of the city with an interest most commendable. He is public-spirited in an eminent degree, and all who know him recognize his many excellencies of character and esteem him for his genuine worth.