WILLIAM GILFILLAN, M.D., who, in his lifetime was one of the most highly esteemed citizens of West Alexander, was born in 1818, in West Liberty, Ohio Co., Va., a son of Dr. Edward Gilfillan, who was born in Philadelphia, Penn., where he was reared and educated. Dr. Edward Gilfillan received a thorough course of training in the grammar schools of his native place, which was supplemented by medical study at a college in Philadelphia. In early manhood he came west, and settled in West Liberty, Va., where he was married to Mary McKinley, who bore him the following named children: Harriet (Mrs. John Baird), Oberlin (living in Van Buren county, Iowa), George (a physician of Van Buren county, Iowa), and William, the subject of this sketch. After his marriage Dr. Gilfillan remained at West Liberty, and then settled in West Alexander, this county, where he enjoyed a good practice, and bore the reputation of a skillful physician. Politically he was formerly a Whig and then a Republican. He was among the earliest members of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander. William Gilfillan passed his youth in West Alexander, and was educated at Dr. McClosky's Academy and Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Penn. He studied medicine with his father until twenty years of age, when he commenced active practice in West Alexander, w here he remained during the whole of his professional life, dying March 4, 1884. In 1843 the Doctor was married to Margaret, daughter of John Brotherton, of this county, and their children were Helen, Serena, Edward, John and Campbell. In politics Dr. Gilfillan was first a Whig and then a Republican. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 586 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Kathy Petty of Evansville, IN as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]