Whitfield Brittin Gillen

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Whitfield B. GILLEN, the senior member of the undertaking firm of GILLEN, HANCE Company, of Dover, New Jersey, and prominent in the politics of the region was born at Dover, New Jersey, December 10, 1859.

His father, Charles A. GILLEN, was son of Thomas GILLEN, a native of Morris county, New Jersey, died at Dover. Charles A. GILLEN was a prominent man in Morris county, having served as assessor and as income tax collector appointed under President CLEVELAND. He has also been surrogate of the county for ten years, and was elected sheriff on the Democratic ticket twenty six years ago, and served in this capacity for three years, but was again elected surrogate before his term as sheriff was completed. He was by occupation an undertaker, having an establishment in Dover prior to the birth of his son, Whitfield B. GILLEN. He married Caroline D. COE, born in Millbrook, Morris county, and now living at Dover at the age of seventy seven years. She is a daughter of Thomas and Caroline COE, who lived and died at Millbrook, their native village. They had nine children, of whom five are now living:

Estelle, married J. P. WOODHUL, of Dover;
Whitfield B., with whom the present biographical sketch is concerned;
Frank I., of Dover, employed in the business;
Flora, married Harry G. WOLFE, treasurer of the Morris County Savings Bank, of Morristown;
Edith, unmarried and living with her mother.

Whitfield B. GILLEN was educated in the district schools of his native county, and when a mere youth was taken into the undertaking establishment of his father at Dover. He continued to be his father’s partner up to the time of the latter’s death in March, 1901, when Mr. GILLEN became sole owner. He served as town clerk for a year and then became freeholder from Dover, serving in this capacity for several terms. In 1911 he was elected sheriff on the Democratic ticket. During his father’s term of office as surrogate Mr. GILLEN was employed as the latter’s assistant. Mr. GILLEN is a member of the Masonic order, and also of the Elks. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum and to the Red Men. He is a Presbyterian in his religious beliefs.

He married, in Dover, New Jersey, Clara B. WOLFE, born in Ledgwood, Morris county, New Jersey. Her father, Ferdinand V. WOLFE, and her mother Elizabeth (FORCE) WOLFE, were both natives of Morris county, the former dying in 1910. He had been a lieutenant in the Twenty seventh Regiment, National Guard of New Jersey, and had held the office of mayor of Dover. Her mother has been dead for many years. They had three children but one,

Beatrice, died in childhood.

The two living are:

Elizabeth W., married John W. SMITH, and lives in the home of Whitfield B. GILLEN;
Grade Elinor, who lives with her father.

Transcribed by E.J.Carlson.