Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Catherine McLeod was born about 1810 in Caithness, Scotland, she married John Gillies, an egg merchant, and they had six children, two who died in infancy.
The family emigrated to Otago on the Strathallan in 1858 and they settled in Hampden, North Otago.
John died there in 1873, he is buried in the Herbert Cemetery.
About six years later Catherine and her family moved to Tapanui where she signed the suffrage petition.
She moved to Gore about 1897 and died there on 12 August 1899.
She is buried in the Tapanui Cemetery. She was 'a fine example of a devout Christian, and was respected by all who knew her'.
Sources
Clutha District Council https://www.cluthadc.govt.nz
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
NZ Yesteryears http://www.yesteryears.co.nz
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Waitaki District Council https://www.waitaki.govt.nz
