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Both the family Bible and institution records recorded her name asGilby. However, she was
probably named after her mother who signedher name Gilley. 4/26/1869 She was declared insane and admitted to the State Hospitalper the following: "In the matter of Gilly Jane Spurgin, alleged to be Insane. Whereas Jesse K. Spurgin of the County aforesaid has duly filedin the County Court of said County a statement that Gilly Jane Spurginof the County and State aforesaid is Insane and that said Jesse K.Spurgin believes that said Gilly Jane Spurgin for her benefit and forthe safety of the community, ought to be committed to the IllinoisState Hospital for the Insane and the facts of her case can be provenby Dr. E. Penwell, a regular physician and by William Mears both ofwhom reside in said County. It is therefore hereby ordered by the Court that the clerk ofsaid Court issue a (unreadable) under the seal of said Court directedto the Sheriff requiring the said person alleged to be Insane to bebrought before the judge of said Court at the office of the clerk ofsaid Court in Shelbyville in said County at 1 1/2 oclock P.M. this day(April 26th 1869) which time and place are appointed for the hearingof said (unreadable). And the above order of the Court having been complied with, comesnow the Sheriff into Court with the body of said Gilly Jane Spurginalleged to be Insane and notice of this proceeding having been dulyserved upon the said Gilly Jane Spurgin as required by law. Whereupon comes a jury to wit: W.G. Wilson, M.D.; James Goodwin;R.B. Miller; G.E. Guion; J.T. Nelson and William Myers, who being dulyelected tried and sworn according to law, and having heard theevidence for verdict say: ' We the undersigned Jury in the case of Gilly Janes Spurginalleged to be Insane having heard the evidence in the case aresatisfied that said Gilly Jane Spurgin is Insane, and is fit person tobe sent to the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane; that she is aresident of the State of Illinois and County of Shelby, that her ageis 35 years, that her disease is of about 15 months duration; that thecause is unknown - but follows a fever attended with sore eyes, thatthe disease is with her not hereditary; that she is not subject toEpilepsy, and that she is free from vermin; or any infectious disease,and that she is a pauper. It is therefore ordered by the Court that said Gilly JanesSpurgin be conveyed by the sheriff to the Illinois State Hospital forthe Insane at Jacksonville to be treated for her said disease, &c.' " 6/4/1873 Shelby Co, IL. Gilly, her daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth,and son, Nelson, were all admitted to the Shelby County Infirmary(Almshouse) because of Pauperism caused by the family being "desertedby husband and father." 3/1874 She was discharged from the almshouse and admitted to theasylum at age 48. 5/11/1879 She was returned from the "asylym" and readmitted to thealmshouse. 1880 Shelby Co, IL. Gilly and daughter, Sarah, were listed in thecensus in the almshouse as "paupers." The other two children hadjoined relatives elsewhere. |
| Her daughter Sarah Louise was also an inmate there at the time of herdeath. |