GILLEN, Courtland C. - Putnam

Courtland’s obituary appeared in Greencastle’s the Daily Banner of 1 Sept. 1954 and follows:

Long Illness is Fatal to C. C. Gillen

Was a Former Congressman and Judge of Putnam Court

Courtland C. Gillen passed away at the Putnam county hospital at 3:25 a. m. Wednesday after an illness of many months. His death, although expected for weeks, was a sever shock to his many friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Gillen had not been in robust health for the past two years, but declined to go to the hospital for a check-up until it was considered too late. He spent much of last winter in the south and it was on his return that he went to the hospital and subsequent operations determined the cause of his illness.

Mr. Gillen served the community well and in many ways. He was active politically and also from a civic standpoint. He was a member of the Methodist church, the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary club, being on of the founders of that organization and a past present. He was also a charter member of the local Elks Lodge and during the time when his health was good, he enjoyed visiting the lodge and participating in its festivities.

For fifty years, Court as he was fondly called by neighbors and friends, had been engaged in the active practice of law, the profession which he dearly loved and to which he gave unstinted service. Employing the pattern so often used by successful lawyers, Mr. Gillen began his career, after graduating from high school, by teaching in the public schools of north Putnam county and attending DePauw University. After a few years of teaching, Mr. Gillen, attracted by the profession of law, quit teaching and attended the Indiana Law School from which he was graduated with high honors. He was admitted to the bar in 1904, and shortly before going to the hospital, he enjoyed a Golden Anniversary dinner with his family.

During his early law practice Mr. Gillen gained valuable training in his profession by serving as county attorney and as prosecuting attorney of Putnam county.

In 1930 Mr. Gillen was elected to congress from the old Fifth Indiana Congressional district. In Washington, he soon was recognized for his ability and his devotion to his country. He gained the unusual distinction of being given a place on the very important committee on Inter-State and Foreign Commerce. He was instrumental in formulating a new code of laws for the Panama Canal Zone, making the laws conform with U. S. Laws, rather than the old Spanish Code of laws under which they were operating.

After serving in congress, Mr. Gillen returned to Greencastle where he resumed the practice of law. In 1934 he was elected Judge of the Putnam Circuit Court. He served in this capacity when he resigned to again enter the private practice of law.

Early in his work, Mr. Gillen practiced alone, but later formed a partnership with George Wilson and their offices were over the present Prevo store. In 1918 he formed a partnership with the late B. F. Corwin which lasted until the latter’s death in 1939. It was a mutually esteemed partnership. following the death of Mr. Corwin, Mr. Gillen formed a partnership with Glenn H. Lyon which was marked with success.

Although his primary interest was in the practice of law, Mr. Gillen gave unselfishly of his time to his community the state and to the nation. In 1913, Mr. Gillen became the first Democrat to be named a member of the Greencastle school board. He took a very active interest in the Greencastle school system and participated in the activities which lead to the construction of the present high school building, the gymnasium and the Miller school building. He recognized early, the need of consolidation of scowl districts, and using his legal talents, he wrote the first Consolidated School law of Indiana, a statute which became the pattern of other consolidated laws in the state and one which was widely used by other school corporations in Indiana.

Mr. Gillen believed that every citizen owed unselfish devotion to state and country. His ability and his achievements became widely known throughout Indiana. Politically he became active in local and state affairs and served as delegate to state conventions and in 1936 was an alternate delegate to the National Democratic convention.

Mr. Gillen was truly grateful for the many civic and political honors that an appreciative public bestowed upon him, but those who knew him best, were aware of his greatest interest and de. . . . was for his innumerable friends and for his home and country. The son of Columbus and Rachel, he spent practically his entire life in Putnam county.

A write up in the “DePauw Alumnus” for 1954 (page 22) mentions additionally that he was ‘x-03,’ meaning he attended but did not graduate, and that he was survived by, “the widow; two daughters, one of whom is MRS. DON BEDELL (RACHEL, x-45); one son, WAYNE, ‘25; and three grandchildren.