ILLIAM A. GILMER, who, with his family, resides on section 8, in North Okaw
Township, has been a resident of this
county for the last seventeen years. His first
recollections are of Russell County, Va., where his
birth took place April 22, 1843. His father and
grandfather had always been residents of that
region, where both were born. The latter spent
his entire life in Russell County engaged in farming
pursuits, and departed this life the same year that
our subject was born. He was three times married.
The first wife became the mother of six children,
and after her death, Grandfather Gilmer made a
division of his land among his four sons, giving
the daughters their portion of the property in hard
cash. He was at that, time the owner of 1,440
acres of land and a large number of slaves. Of
his second marriage there were born five children,
and at the death of his second wife he made
another division of his property, thus wisely settling
his estate so there could be nothing for his heirs to
quarrel over. Of his third marriage there were no
children. His son William, by the first wife, became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Isaac, the third child, became the father
of our subject.
Isaac Gilmer was born in Russell County, Va.,
in December, 1800. He was educated in the subscription schools of his native county and remained
under the parental roof until the death of his
mother. He received for his share of the property
the home farm, the father removing to another
part of the county. Isaac Gilmer did not marry
until forty years of age, and then took for his wife
Miss Mary Hendricks, their wedding taking place
in the spring of 1840. Mrs. Gilmer was also born
in Russell County, Va., and was the daughter of
Anderson and Elizabeth (Scott) Hendricks. Isaac
Gilmer spent his entire life on the homestead where
he was born, his death taking place in 1876. The
mother still lives and occupies the old homestead.
She is now well advanced in years and has retained
her mental faculties remarkably. For many years
she has been an active and devoted member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. The twelve children
born of the parental union were: Martha, William A., of our sketch; Elizabeth; James K. P., who
died when nine years of age; Anderson, Thomas,
Mary, Rebecca, Isaac A., Annie, George and Carrie.
All are residents of the Old Dominion with the exception of our subject and his sister Mary; the
latter is the wife of McCagha Philips, and resides
in Kansas. Three of the daughters are at home
with their mother.
Our subject was educated in the common schools
of his native county and remained with his parents
until eighteen years of age. Then, upon the out-
break of the Rebellion, he enlisted in Co. G, 29th
Va. Vol. Inf., under command of Gen. Longstreet,
serving three years and until the close of the war.
Afterward he returned to his father’s house and
assisted in the farm work on the homestead until
the fall of 1867. He then turned his steps north-westward, and taking up his residence in North
Okaw Township, this county, worked one year by
the month. He was married in September, 1870,
to Mrs. Emeline Stewart, who was born in this
county, Nov. 28, 1838, and is the daughter of
Henry and Jane (Jesse) Fuller. Her parents were
born in Russell County, Va., her father April 1,
1792, and her mother April 19, 1796. They were
reared in their native county and married there
Jan. 20, 1814. Eighteen years later they emigrated to this State, and taking up their residence
in North Okaw Township, continued here the remainder of their days.
Mr. and Mrs. Fuller were people who enjoyed
the highest respects of the community and were
among the warmest supporters of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Henry Fuller was Justice of
the Peace for several years, and took a genuine interest in the various enterprises having for their
object the welfare and progress of the people at
large. The household circle included eleven children, namely, Samuel, Rebecca, Mary, Abraham,
Catherine, Nancy, Archer, Wilson V., Leah, David
H. and Emeline. With the exception of Mrs.
Gilmer, all were born in Virginia. All lived to
years of maturity, but only three are now living
Nancy, Leah and Emeline. At the time of her
marriage with our subject Mrs. Gilmer owned
ninety acres of land and a set of farm buildings
which she occupied, and which had been the
property of her second husband and her father’s
estate. She was first married to Milton Jackson,
of Coles County, and became the mother of four
children Henry B., Samuel J., William W. and
Milton M. Her second husband was Anderson
Stewart; of this union there were no children.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gilmer presents a
picture of plenty and comfort. The residence,
which is a substantial frame structure, and a view
of which is presented in this work, stands back
from the road in the midst of a fine natural grove,
which affords delightful shade in the summer and a
shelter from the cold winds of winter. The household has been brightened by the birth of five children, as follows: Mary J., was born July 19,
1872; Nancy C., Feb. 14, 1874; Charles H., born
Oct. 21, 1876, died Jan. 9,1879; Emma M. was
born Nov. 2, 1878, and Albert R. A., Nov. 10,
1883. Mr. Gilmer is a stanch adherent to the
Democratic party, has represented his township in
the County Board of Supervisors two terms, has
been Assessor one term, and School Director for
the last twelve years.
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