Gillen, Charles W., M.D. b. 1865

GILLEN, JONES, PECK, BRALLIER

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/21/2006 at 21:34:23

GILLEN, CHARLES W. M.D.

Dr. Gillen, by general consent one of the leading physicians of Lyon county, and a much respected citizen of Doon, came to that point, where he began the practice of his profession in 1890. His professional attainments and personal character at once won the respect and confidence of the community, and from the first he has taken a leading place in the medical world.

In 1898, on account of his health, he was obliged to retire from professional activity, as he was not able to meet the demands upon him. He could refuse no call as he felt the obligations of his great profession, and the only way to regain his health, was to get out of the work entirely. At Waterloo he had undertaken to build an office practice, but on account of ill health he was also compelled to give it up, and came back to Doon, and opened a real estate office in his own home, where his wife can assist him. In this enterprise he has met with much success, and has organized the Gillen Land Agency with branch agencies in southwestern Minnesota, southeastern Dakota, and does business in northwestern Iowa. His prospects are very flattering, as he also holds the agency of the lands for the Great Northern and Northwestern railroads.

In 1890 Dr. Gillen engaged in a drug business at Doon in company with his brother and a Mr. Anderson under the firm name of Gillen Brothers & Anderson. In 1896 Mr. Anderson retired, being succeeded by J.O. Hoff, the firm then becoming Gillen Brothers & Hoff. The store was sold in 1898 to Mr. Hoff, who still retains the ownership and management.

Dr. Gillen was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, in September, 1865, and two years later was brought west by his mother, his father having died in the meantime. The mother was left with ten children, and determined to invest her little patrimony in cheap Iowa land for the benefit of her children. She bought land in Black Hawk county, Iowa, and there was able to keep her family together, and bring them to maturity. This was a remarkable achievement, and shows her a woman of much force of character and noble spirit.

Three of her boys are successful merchants in Doon, while all have won an honorable standing in life. Dr. Gillen graduated from Rush Medical College in 1890, and was granted a certificate of practice from the State Medical Association as well as the County Medical Association. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a Republican.

Dr. Gillen was married May 3, 1893, to Miss Nora L., a daughter of George and Emma (Jones) Peck. They are the happy parents of a family of three children: Donald, Miriam, and the baby. Mrs. Gillen come from the old pioneer stock, is of Welsh descent, and traces her ancestry to Major Anderson of Revolutionary fame. Among the Doctor's ancestors is Samuel Leyden, who was a sergeant in the Revolution. He is also connected with the Brombaugh family, one of which was appointed by President McKinley superintendent of public construction in Cuba, soon after the termination of the Spanish war. Eliza Brallier, his mother, came of English parentage, while the Gillen family is of Scotch-Irish descent, the name being originally McGillis. It has long been represented in this country.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-190

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson