Gilman, E. M. 1839 - 1907

GILMAN, CONVERSE

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 12/5/2006 at 11:47:07

From the Scrapbook of Newspaper Articles by Mrs. Lillian Wheeler

The people here were shocked Friday evening by the sudden death of E. M. Gilman, an old resident and respected citizen as well as the most prominent man in the town. He had apparently been in the best of health and while about his evening chores he fell dead in the dooryard from heart trouble. Mr. Gilman was born in Stowe, Vermont, May 25, 1839, and was therefore nearly 68 years old. When a young man he came to this township in 1856 and after remining awhile went to Illinois where he enlisted in 1862 and served in the civil war until the close. He returned to Wayne township in 1865 and has lived in this and Oak Dale township, Howard county, ever since. He was married to Miss Hulda Converse in 1866. To them were born five children,four of whom with the wife survive. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at the Congregational church and was with one exception the largest funeral ever held here. The two lodges of which he was a member, the Masonic and Odd Fellows, and G. A. R. post attended in numbers, many coming from Riceville and other places. The burial took place in the home cemetery.