Stewart Gilman

GILMAN, STEWART

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/5/2015 at 20:20:00

Northwestern Iowa
Its History and Traditions
1804 – 1926

The life history of Stewart Gilman has been closely identified with Sioux City, for he was born in the same quarter block in which he now lives. He is descended from a long line of sterling American ancestors, being of the ninth generation of the Gilman family in this country. The family was long prominent in the colonial life of New Hampshire and Nicholas Gilman, one of Stewart Gilman’s direct ancestors, was a signer of the Constitution. His maternal grandfather, William Stewart, was a member of Congress from the Mercer, Pennsylvania, district during the Civil War. His father, Daniel T. Gilman, came from New York City to Sioux City in 1868 and spent the remainder of his life here, becoming prominent and influential in the commercial and civic life of the city. He was identified with the real estate and banking business, in both of which he successfully engaged to the time of his death. He served at different times on the board of supervisors, was a member of the city council, and was the first president of the Sioux City Real Estate Association. He was president of the Hawkeye Club and was one of the organizations and the first president of the Sioux City Boat Club. He was active in many phases of civic affairs, in which he exerted a beneficent influence, and by all was conceded a place among the city’s foremost citizens. In 1871 he was married to Miss Mary Stewart, whom he had met after coming here, and to them were born two children, Stewart and Sarah Marshall Gilman, who became the wife of W.A. Jordan, a wholesale grocer of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mrs. Gilman was a leader in social affairs and the Gilman home, noted for its hospitality, was the scene of many of the city’s noted social functions. Daniel T. Gilman died in 1911, at the age of sixty-six years, and his widow passed away in 1922, at the age of seventy-four years.

Stewart Gilman received his elementary education in the Sioux City public schools, graduating from high school, after which he prepared for college at Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire. He then entered Yale University, where he was graduated in 1899, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was awarded membership in the Phi Beta Kappa for high scholarship. He then returned to Sioux City and engaged in the real estate business, with which he has been identified continuously since. He has other business connections of importance and is a director of the Security National Bank. He is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he has been president. IN 1924 Mr. Gilman was elected mayor of Sioux City by the largest vote and the largest majority ever accorded a candidate for that office, and after a strenuous campaign was reelected in 1926 by a large majority over Wallace M. Short, who had been elected mayor four different times. He bears the distinction of being the first native-born mayor of this city and is generally regarded as the most popular mayor the city has ever had. To the discharge of his official duties he is giving the same conscientious and painstaking attention that he gives to his private affairs and his administration has been marked by devotion to the public interest and the welfare of the people.

On June 6, 1900, at West Newton, Massachusetts, Mr. Gilman was married to Miss Marjorie King and to them have been born three children, namely; Florence King, who is the wife of Harry Flory, International News correspondent, now living in Paris, France; Daniel T. who is in college at Iowa City, and Henry King, who is in his father’s office. Mr. Gilman is a member of the Yale Club of New York City, the University Club of Chicago, of the board of the Sioux City Country Club, the Sioux City Boat Club, the Shore Acre Club, the Boys of Sixty-eight, and the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, both of Yale, and the Sons of the American Revolution. Fraternally he is a member of Tyrian Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Sioux City Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Columbian Commandery, Knights Templar; Sioux City Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; Isis Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star; Sioux City Lodge, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and Woodbury Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He has always been deeply interested in local education affairs, and was elected a member of the board of education in 1910, 1913, and 1916, serving as president during one term of this period. He and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal Church and Mrs. Gilman is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Gilman has always been interested in outdoor sports and is one of the best known tennis players of this section of the country, having won the Iowa amateur singles championship in 1908 and, with C. S. Carey, the Iowa amateur doubles championship in 1909 and 1910. He also won the chess championship of the state in 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1923. He has always stood ready to identify himself with his fellow citizens in advancing any measure for the betterment of the city in any way, and, because of his splendid public spirit, business ability and cordial manner, he has a host of warm and loyal friends among all classes in the community.