John Gilmore

 

AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Direct descendant is highlighted in red

John Gilmore   see FAMILY TREE                                   Immigrant Ancestor
Born: 15 Nov 1811  Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland.

Christened 15 Dec 1811 Queen Anne St. Burgher Associate, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Married 1st:  31 Oct 1836 Vermillion Co., IN Rebecca Jane Davidson, daughter of John Davidson, widow of Joseph L. Cloyd

Married 2nd:  07 Dec 1840 Vermillion Co., IN  Aurilla Church, widow of John Jaggers

Died: 04 Oct 1900 Vermillion Co., IN

Buried: 05 Oct 1900 Vermillion Chapel Cemetery, Vermillion Co., IN

FATHER

 George Gilmore

MOTHER

Margaret Cuddy or Cuddie

WIVES

1st: Rebecca Jane Davidson

 2nd: Aurilla Church

   
John Gilmore
  The photograph of John Gilmore was taken in 1875 at the age of 65
     

CHILDREN with Aurilla Church

1. Rebecca Jane Gilmore b. 1841

2. Richard F. Gilmore b. 1843

3. Rozilla (Rose) Gilmore b. 1846

4. Robert Gilmore b. 1848

5. Rowena Gilmore b. 1850

6. Etta Gilmore b. 1855

John Gilmore
by Susan Brooke
Jan 2023

The bible kept by John Gilmore says he was born 15 Nov 1810.  However, he was actually born 15 Nov 1811. (1) From the obituary found in the scrapbook of his grandson's wife, we learn, "his mother died when he was an infant; and when he was about 3 years old his father brought him to America and settled in Virginia. (2)
It is not known where they settled in Virginia, but as the obituary goes on to say, his father died when he was 10.  Somehow John Gilmore learned the tanners trade and about 1829, at the age of 18 came to Clinton, Vermillion, IN where he obtained employed with John Davidson.  Mr. Davidson's daughter, Rebecca Jane, married a Joseph Cloyd in 1832.  He died and John Gilmore at the age of 25  married the widow, Rebecca Jane Cloyd, on 1 Nov 1836. (3)  Rebecca Jane died shortly after their marriage and John Gilmore came down with something called, "Milk Sickness." (4) "In seeking relief from this ailment he visited old Dr. Church who had built a cabin on what is now known as the Hood farm; where for years he doctored the sick and preached to the well, being a Methodist minister as well as a doctor of medicine.  Dr. Church persuaded young Gilmore to study medicine which he did under his tutorage."  (2) It was there that he met and eventually married Aurellia Church, the doctor's daughter, on 7 Dec 1840. (5) She was a widow with two young children. 
John Gilmore prospered as a doctor and business man.  He appeared in the local papers at various time. (6)
In April of 1899 John Gilmore wrote his will. (7) He left nothing to his daughter Rose, since he had already given her four hundred acres of land in Edgar Co., IL in 1875.  His son-in-law, Sam White, still owed John Gilmore $6000.  The payment of this debt was transferred to the three children of Sam and Rose White. John's son, Richard Gilmore, had also been given 397 acres of land.  All debts on this land had previously been gifted to Richard.  
John Gilmore was living with his step-son, Harrison Jaggers, when he wrote this will.  He gifted $100 to Emily Jaggers for his care.  The land in Reno Co., Kansas was left to Richard Gilmore knowing that the land was in contest with his grandson, George Asbury laying claim to it.  If his grandson won the claim, then he was to inherit nothing more from John Gilmore; otherwise he was to receive $6000 with Richard Gilmore serving as trustee. After all bills were paid, the rest of his estate was to go to his son Richard.
John Gilmore died 4 Oct 1900. (7) After he died there must have been some squabble over his will.  On the page for Richard F. Gilmore there is a letter written by him to his nephew, Milo White about a Law Suit. 

Sources

(1) The bible record indicates John Gilmore was born Nov 15, 1810.  It was common in Scotland to say you were in your 11th years when you turned 10, etc, thus John Gilmore could have easily been incorrect about his date of birth by one year.

Family Bible of John Gilmore indicating date of birth was Nov 15, 1810

 












He carried a songbook that was inscribed "George Gilmore." It is assumed this songbook belonged to the father of John Gilmore and therefore the name of the father of John Gilmore was George Gilmore.
Songbook carried by John Gilmore

The songbook was a possession of John Gilmore.  It is inscribed "George Gilmore" who may have been the name of his  father. The second page is inscribed, "(page torn) Gilmore, his hand and pen he will be good but God knows when." with a different handwriting.  I suspect this second inscription was by John Gilmore after his father died.    Note that Etta named her first child George Gilmore Asbury.

 

Birth and baptism record from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
showing date of birth of John Gilmore as Nov 15, 1811 to a George Gilmore

Dunfermline, baptismal record
DUNFERMLINE Baptism "George Gilmour, Weaver in Pittencrieff and Margaret Cuddie his wife have a son born 15th Nov baptism 15th of Dec named John: Witnesses: James Roy and William Walls, there."

The baptism was recorded at Dunfermline  lists the baptism of John Gilmore at Queen Anne St. Burgher Associate, Dunfermline.
 

 

(2) Obituary of John Gilmore found in scrapbook kept by Grace Shepard, mentioning John's father-in-law Asa Church



Obituary from The Hoosier State Wednesday, October 10, 1900
Obituary:
   Death of Dr. Gilmore. One by one, the sturdy pioneers who laid the foundation of society, subdued the wilderness, changing it into fruitful fields, are passing away. We look for them but they are nearly all gone. We feel lonesome without them.
   On Oct the 4th occurred the death of Dr. Gilmore at his old home 5 miles northeast of Dana. Dr. Gilmore was born in Scotland, Nov 15th 1810. His mother died when he was an infant; and when he was about 3 years old his father brought him to America and settled in Virginia. The father died when he was only 10 years old, thus leaving him at this early age among strangers dependent on his own resources for support.
   At the age of 18 years he came to Indiana which was then called the "Wild West," and settled at Clinton, Vermillion County. Having preciously learned the tanners trade he obtained employment of John Davidson to work at his trade. He afterward married a daughter of Mr. Davidson, his young wife died soon after their marriage. While in the vicinity of Clinton Mr. Gilmore contracted a disease known as milk sickness a disease then very prevalent in the country. In seeking relief from this ailment he visited old Dr. Church who had built a cabin on what is now known as the Hood farm, where for years he doctored the sick and preached to the well, being a Methodist minister as well as a doctor of medicine. Dr. Church persuaded young Gilmore to study medicine which he did under his tutorage. He afterward married his widowed daughter. To this union were born two sons and four daughters, only two of whom survive, Richard F. and Rose, the wife of Samuel White.
   Dr. Gilmore obtained a large and successful practice extending over most of Vermillion Co. and into Illinois, at a time too, when there were almost no roads and when he had to thread his way as best he could on horseback through almost impassable prairie marshes, often facing blinding snow storms. He passed through hardships that would have disheartened a man of less courage.
   Dr. Gilmore was a successful business man, and accumulated quite a good deal of property. He was a man of influence in the country and was esteemed by his neighbors as an honest man and a good citizen, always kind and considerate to the poor.
   At the time of his death he only lacked one month and twenty days of being 90 years of age. And now like a weary traveler at the end of a long journey his body has lain down to rest.
   A funeral service was held at 3 p.m. after which he was buried in the Vermillion Cemetery beside his wife. A large concourse of people were present out of respect to his memory.
   Rev. Wright officiated at the funeral. Dr. Gilmore and Rev. Wright being warm personal friends for 39 years. J. E. W.
 

 

(3) Marriage of John Gilmore to Rebecca Jane Cloyd

(4) Milk Sickness

Milk Sickness

 

(5) Marriage to Aurellia Church, widow of John Jaggers

(Interestingly, John Gilmore, the immigrant, and just married Aurellia Church, a descendant of the Mayflower.)

(6) Newspaper Articles

From the Hoosier State May 6, 1875
"Dr. John Gilmore purchased two fine gold watches of W. E. Lindsey, last week, to present to his two daughters, Mrs. S. R. White and Mrs. Wm Eggleston."

From the Hoosier State out of Newport, Ind. July 6, 1887
"Dr. Gilmore has returned from Kansas where he has been about three months looking after his real estate interest in that State of wind."

In 1870 John Gilmore was awarded $200 for a public road that ran through his land.

 

(7)  Will of John Gilmore
Page one of will of John Gilmore

Vermillion County, IN Will Record Book 3 pgs 564-566

Page two of will of John Gilmore

Page three of will of John Gilmore

 

(8) Died: 04 Oct 1900 Vermillion Co., IN
 
 
Buried: 05 Oct 1900 Vermillion Chapel Cemetery, Vermillion Co., IN

 

Death Certificate says born in Scotland, died at age 89 yr, 11 mo, 19 days of Paralysis. Certified by G. O. Newton, MD

 

 

 

Modern Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline.  John was probably born in a dwelling much like these.  His sister, Helen, and Margaret Cuddie's sister, Jean, were both still on Pittencrieff Street in later years.

 

 

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