History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, 1887



Gilmore Family - WALTER C. GILMORE Biography

Walter C. Gilmore, of Williamsport, a leading member of the bar of Lycoming county, is a representative of that class of men who win success through well directed energy, steadfast purpose and indefatigable effort. He is a man of broad and comprehensive views, and his personality has been felt in the community among whom he has resided for so many years. A scholar of high attainments, he acquitted himself most creditably as an educator before he entered upon the legal profession, giving evidence that he would have risen to distinction in educational circles had he devoted himself to instruction as his life work.

A native of Lycoming county, he was born in Eldred township, November 26, 1859, son of John and Rachel (Willits) Gilmore, and descended from an honorable Scotch-Irish ancestry. The name Gillmore, or Gillsmore, is Scotch, and means shield-bearer. In the marriage certificate of John Gilmore, father of Walter C. Gilmore, the name is spelled Gillmore, and thus he kept the family record in his own handwriting until 1859, when some other hand took up the record, and the final " 1 " was dropped. It is safe to say that all the Gilmores in this ancestry are of Scotch or Scotch-Irish descent, whether the name is spelled with the single " 1 " or two. All no doubt spring from one common stock or clan, whether blood relations or not, the pibroch of whose chief was worth more than a thousand men.

The Gilmore family in America was planted by Thomas Gilmore, who was born in Belfast, Ireland, of Scotch parentage. Thomas Gil more came to America and settled in New Hampshire. In 1775, the first year of the Revolutionary war, he enlisted in the patriot army as a private in Captain Town's company, Colonel Gilman's regiment, for one year's service, and on the expiration of his term of enlistment at once enrolled himself for two years in Captain Fairwell's company in the same regiment, commanded in turn by Colonels James Reed and Joseph Tilley. He participated in the most eventful campaigns and hotly contested battles of that stirring period, including the engagement at Three Rivers, the battle of Trenton, the operations in New York which resulted in the surrender of Burgoyne, the historic battle of Monmouth, and General Sullivan's expedition. He acquitted himself with courage and fidelity and was honorably discharged, at Pompton, New Jersey, in the autumn of 1779. In the following year he settled at Berwick, Pennsylvania, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He married Rachel Young, a daughter of Nicholas and Rachel Young, her father being a German and her mother an English Quakeress. During the Revolution they lived near Lake Poponoming, Monroe county. The wife of Thomas Gilmore was born on the farm which her father, Nicholas Young, bought as early as 1753, and where John Young, a lineal descendant, still lives.

Thomas and Rachel (Young) Gilmore were the parents of five children : 1. George, who married and spent the greater part of his life at Sackets Harbor, New York, and who died there about 1830 or 1831, leaving a host of kindred who still live near there. 2. Daniel, who mar ried a Miss Houser, of Northampton county He followed farming, and lived near Northumberland, Pennsylvania. 3. John, who remained a bachelor, spending his latter days with Colonel Weaver in Rock River Valley, Illinois. He saw much of the world in his day. He was a ship carpenter by trade, a soldier in the war of 1812, and finally an undertaker in Illinois. There were also two daughters, one of whom married Andrew Appel, in 1807; the other, Margaret, married John Eckert, a farmer. Andrew Appel and John Eckert lived near each other in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and both left large families and numerous other kindred to survive them. Especially may it be said that the descendants of Andrew Appel fill a large place in the religious and professional life of Pennsylvania. Rev. Dr. Theodore Appel and Rev. Thomas Appel were for years connected with the work of the Reformed church at Lancaster, and with Franklin and Marshall College. They were sons of Andrew Appel. Many lawyers, doctors, ministers and bright men in other walks of life are of this family.

John Gilmore, father of Walter C. Gilmore, was born in 1814, near Northumberland, Pennsylvania. He was reared a farmer, and early learned the trade of hatter. When he had mastered the latter calling, with his two brothers he became a stage driver and followed that occupation until canal packets superseded the stage. About 1850 he bought a farm in Eldred township and moved upon it with his family, afterward moving to Hepburn township and to another farm, which he had purchased. His education was not from schools, but of his own gathering. He was a great reader, and kept abreast of the events of the day. He was a member of 'the Evangelical church, a Democrat in politics, and was often honored with local offices, such as school director, overseer, collector, etc. October 25, 1842, lie married Rachel Willits, who was born near Warrensville, Pennsylvania, in 1826. She was of English ancestry, of Revolutionary stock, having some Quaker forbears, and was of a decidedly intellectual turn. Her father taught school in the early twenties, and died at his school teacher's desk when but a young man, leaving a number of very small children. The three Gilmore brothers, Joseph, George and John, lived in or near Williamsport from the thirties, Joseph and George being residents of that city at their deaths. All their families have always been closely identified with the progress of the city.

Walter C. Gilmore was educated in the common schools of Lycoming county, at Lycoming Normal School at Muncy, Pennsylvania, and at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. At college he received the English prize, the Shakespeare Society prize, and was valedictorian of his class at graduation. He gave himself for some years to educational work, and with marked success. He taught one year (1884-85) in Lenox Academy, Lenox, Massachusetts, and was principal of the Williamsport High School for two years (1885-86). - He read law in the office of Hon. Robert P. Allen, and was admitted to the bar of Lycoming County, July 2, 1887, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, making a specialty of practice in the orphans' court. He was district attorney of Lycoming county, 18901893. He has always given his aid to all public measures having for their object the welfare of the community, and has ever given his influence in behalf of all its interests, material and moral. He is particularly interested in educational affairs, serving as a member of the school board in the eighth ward for three years, and now serving in his fifth year as solicitor of the board. Mr. Gilmore is staunch in his advocacy of the principles of Democracy, and for two years creditably and efficiently conducted the transactions of the Democratic county committee in the capacity of chairman. He has attained high rank in the Masonic fraternity, affiliated with Williamsport Lodge No. 106, F. and A. M., in which he is a past master; Lycoming Chapter, R. A. M.; Baldwin I Commandery. Knights Templar, in which he is captain-general ; and Adoniram Council-all of the York Rite; and with the Scottish Rite bodies up to and including the thirty-second degree; and is a member of Howard Club of Knights Templar, of which he has been secretary since 1902. In 1878-79 he was a member of Company D, Twelfth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania.

October 6, 1884, Mr. Gilmore married Miss Jennie Rentz, a daughter of Charles A. and Sarah Rentz. She was educated in the common schools and high school at Danville, Pennsylvania, and the Lycoming Normal School. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore were born three children 1. Charles Edmund, born July 2, 1885; he graduated from the Williamsport high school in 1904, and is now pursuing his studies in Lafayette College, class of 1908. 2. Anna, born November 24, 1887, who is attending the Williamsport high school, class of 1906. 3. Helen, born January 12, 1889, died March 18, 1903. The family are communicants of St. Paul's Lutheran church, taking an active part in the work connected therewith. Mr. Gilmore has for many years served as deacon, and was a delegate to the general synod at Mansfield, Ohio. Mrs. Gilmore is president of the Ladies Aid Society of the church, and is also filling her second year as president of the Ladies' Auxiliary of Baldwin I Commandery. The family of Mr. Gilmore enjoys the friendship of a wide circle of friends, and their home is known for its generous but unpretentious hospitality.


Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Lycoming County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1906.










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