Biography of James T. Gilmore (1823- )

JAMES T GILMORE, who was one of the earliest pioneers of Warren County, and one of the very few yet living who came as early as 1833, is the third son of Col. Robert and Maria (Pilgrim) Gilmore. He is in every sense a pioneer of the county, arriving here June 13, 1833, and here he was reared and was educated and has since lived. He was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, June 5, 1823. His father was born in Chester County, PA, Feb 2, 1783, and grew to manhood in his native county. He learned the trade of a tanner, serving an apprenticeship after he was 21 years of age. After acquiring an understanding of business, he went to Ohio, and there embarked in the tannery business extensively, especially for that period. He located at Cross Creek, in Jefferson County, and carried on the business until the outbreak of the second war with Great Britain. He then elisted and was made a Colonel of a regiment. He served under Harrison and was one of his staff officers. He was in the military service as long as there was any need of his assistance, and after the close of the contest he returned to his business. He was also the owner of a farm, which he putinto the management of a renter. In 1833, he sold all his interests in the Buckeye State and started for Illinois. His family then consisted of himself, his wife, and nine children. They traveled on the rivers, which at that period were the principal means of transfer to the West. One member of the family was stricken with cholera, which was prevalent in that year, but the attack did not prove fatal.

They landed at Oquawka, on the 13th of June, a day made memorable by the trial of the Indians who murdered William Martin the previous year. The eldest son of the family, Ephraim, started for Warren County on foot, and obtained a team, which consisted of three yokes of oxen and a wagon, and with its aid the family and household belongings were transported to Warren County. The father took a claim on Section 25 of Township 12, range 2, or who is now Spring Grove Township. He held his claim until the land came into market, when he made the customary effort to "prove up", but failing to do so and to secure a clear title, sold his right, and later bought the Southwest quarter of section 24, in the same Township. While on the first claim he built a log house of a good type, then called a double house. It was covered with split clapboards and had a puncheon floor. The chimney was built on the outside of the dwelling and was made of dirt and sticks. After buying the second place, he built a similar structure upon that, and made shingles for the roof and puncheon for the floor. He fenced and otherwise improved more than half the land of the claim and built a stable and a corn crib. He was a resident on that place until his death, which occurred, July 9, 1857. He was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth collins, who became the mother of six children: Ephraim, John, Arabella, Ann, Joseph C, and one who died in infancy. Mrs Gilmore died about the year 1821 or 1822. Col. Gilmore's second wife was Maria Pilgrim, and the record of their children is as follows: the eldest two died in infancy, James T (our subject) Thomas, Elizabeth C, Lawrence H, Rachel, George W, Benjamin Franklin and Robert, making 16 children born to Col. Gilmore. His second wife was born in Germany and came to America in her childhood. She died Aug 20, 1840. Ephraim was for many years a resident of Mercer County, and was the first County Clerk of that county, and also County Surveyor for eight or ten years. He afterwards started into the banking business. In 1883 he went to Paoli, KS. John died in Ohio; Arabella married Theodore Jennings and they live in Ford Co,IL; Ann is the wife of John Ritchie, of Harrison County, Ohio; Joseph G lives in Aledo, Mercer County; James T and Thomas are the next in order of birth; Elizabeth C married Sidney Lafferty of Mercer County; Lawrence H; Rachel is the wife of John Armstrong, of the same township of which her parents were pioneers; B Franklin resides in Hopkins, MO; Robert died in Kansas.

Mr Gilmore of this sketch was ten years old when he came with his parents to IL, and he grew to the estate of manhood in Warren County. He was reared under all the influences of the pioneer period and was a pupil in the pioneer log school house. At the age of 25 he commenced his life as an independent man of business, and purchased the farm on which he now lives. It had been improved to some extent and included a double log house, a stable and 30 acres of broken farming land. There were 410 acres that had not been under the plow, and the new proprietor made all possible haste to render his property a profitable investment. He erected a good class of buildings, which are a credit and an ornament to the farm, and of which a view is given in these pages. Mr Gilmore is the owner of 330 acres in Warren County and 160 acres in Mercer County. The entire amount of land is in cultivation.

Oct 26, 1848, his marriage to Mary Catherine Lair was celebrated. She was born in Warren County, KY, Oct 29, 1827. She was the daughter of William and Sarah Wallace Lair. Her father was a native of Warren Co, KY, and is said to have been the first white child born in that county. The date of his birth was Apr 3, 1796. His parents were consequently among the earliest pioneers of Kentucky. His wife, the mother of Mrs Gilmore, was also a native of Warren Co, KY. She was born May 8, 1808, and is of Scot-Irish parentage. Her husband was of German descent. They were married in 1826 and removed to ILL in 1832, and settled on a tract of land now embraced in Kelly Township, this county, where they improved a farm and lived respected and honored members of society. They had born to them a family of thirteen children, six of whom are yet living. Mr Lair died Apr 7, 1873. Politically he was a Democrat, and in his religious connections was a member of the Christian Church. His widow survives him, and resides with her son.