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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
(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
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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.
.