The Gilliland Cemetery receives its name from the fact that it is situated on a portion of the John W. Gilliland Donation Land Claim. It is in Section 34, Township 13 South of Range 1 East of Willamette Meridian in Linn County. The cemetery lies in the northwest quarter of the section.

The cemetery is located at 301 50th Ave, Sweet Home, OR 97386. To reach the cemetery, travel east out of Sweet Home on US Highway 20. Turn right on 49th avenue. At the stop sign, turn left on Airport Road, which becomes 50th avenue. The cemetery entrance is on the left.

The first recorded burial in this tract is that of a child, William F. Gilliland (1852-1854), presumably a son of the original claim holder. Following this single burial sixteen years seem to have elapsed before the second one – that of Samule Farmer, ages 33 years, who died November 25, 1870. Next follows the burial of a boy of thirteen – Henry W., Son of M. W. & G. Miller who died October 7, 1871. The fourth burial of record is that of another daughter of the original claim holder, evidently a young married woman – R. Jennett Harris, Dau. of J. & M. Gilliland who died on March 25, 1874 at the age of just under twenty years.

The oldest birth date recorded here is that of Elizabeth Sittle, June 18, 1805.