I have a letter from a Wiliam Gillen to my ggrandfather John Holmes in, I believe 1893. It looks like it was written from Harmanvile but I cant find that town. Anyone have any idea where he lived?
Thanks
Ed

Hi Ed, the closest thing I can find is Harwoodville, in Seward County, Kansas. Sorry.

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
I found William Gillen in William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas. It says P.O. Dorwin I can,t find Dorwin eather.
The Harmanvile might be Normanville I found this. "Normanville 1861. NW 1/4 S29 T4S R19E. P.O. Mar. 21, 1862, William Normile, postmaster. Name changed in 1864 to Ridge Farm, then re-named Wolf River in 1865, and discontinued in 1866. (Bird p.39)" The date on the letter could be 1873, It is hard to read.
The letter was written from Doniphan Co. I can read that.
Ed

I am not related
Census Place: Union, Doniphan, Kansas
Source: FHL Film 1254379 National Archives Film T9-0379 Page 545A
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
William GILLEN Self M M W 40 IRE.
Occ: Farming Fa: IRE. Mo: IRE.
Elizabeth GILLEN Wife F M W 39 IRE.
Occ: Keeping House Fa: IRE. Mo: IRE.
Alexander C. GILLEN Son M S W 16 PA.
Occ: Farming Fa: IRE. Mo: IRE.
John L. GILLEN Son M S W 15 KS.
Occ: Farming Fa: IRE. Mo: IRE.
Hugh N. GILLEN Son M S W 13 KS.
Occ: Farming Fa: IRE. Mo: IRE.
Elizabeth A. GILLEN Dau F S W 11 KS.
Fa: IRE. Mo: IRE.
Margaret GILLEN Dau F S W 9 KS.
Fa: IRE. Mo: IRE.
William M. GILLEN Son M S W 7 KS.
Fa: IRE. Mo: IRE.
Marria A. GILLEN Dau F S W 5 KS.
Fa: IRE. Mo: IRE.
Jennie O. GILLEN Dau F S W 2 KS.
Fa: IRE. Mo: IRE.
Samuel F. Son M S W 5M KS.
Fa: IRE. Mo: IRE.

Normanville was in Union Twp, Doniphan County
Here is a link to the Plat book of Doniphan County
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pyle/DoniphanPlat18...

There is a William GILLEN listed in the Doniphan County cemetery listings at the following link:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kscemete/doniphan/doniphan.htm

William Gillen of Doniphan County , Kansas was my Great Grandfather. He lived not far from, what is now, Denton Kansas. He might have lived in some other part of Doniphan County earlier before he bought land near Denton.
He was a founding director of the Denton bank which exists to this day. My Grandmother, Marie Lynn Gillen, married Albert F. Albers of Bendena and my father, Robert J Albers was the apple of Squire Gillen's eye. William Gillen was Justice of the Peace in Doniphan County for 25 years.
In case you are counting the generations, it will help you to know that I am 75.
I am wondering what the letter said.

Lynn Albers Kaplan

Do you know who William's siblings are? and, his parents' names? I am wondering if there is any relation to my family. I had a great, great, Aunt Jane (Gillen)BD: 1843 married a finnegan I think and her mother's name was Margaret (she had a brother named, Neil or Neal BD: 1845. I see William lived close by to Margaret so I am wondering if there is any relation. My great-great + Grandfather's name was Patrick Gillen, born in Ireland 1842, I am trying to find out any thing on him. Hoping maybe there is some relation here.

William Gillen 1840-1910 lived in Doniphan County, KS. I am reasonably sure he had 4 brothers (one of them was Neal 1848-83) and 3 sisters (one of them was Jennie 1844-1933). Their parents were i believe Alexander and Margaret Jane O'Neil. Coincidentally, William Gillen married Elizabeth Gillen, my grandfather's sister, in Armoy on 4 March 1863, and they emigrated from Ireland 10 days later. They went initially to PA, then on to MO and finally to KS by 1865 where they remained for the rest of their lives.
I am not sure however that the Jane, or Jennie, you are researching is the same one. Also, i am not sure where your Patrick, born in Ireland 1842, fits in.

William and Elizabeth, noted in my earlier post of even date, had a family of nine. I am particularly interested in the descendents of one of them, Hugh b1867, who married Sadie Bishop. They lived initially in Effingham where they had 2 sons, Bishop b1901 and Eugene b1903. Eugene married Aileen and they had at least 1 son Hugh Brenner Gillen b 1923. Hugh married Emmie McArthur and they lived in Atchison KS. Any information on their descendent would be appreciated.