William Gilmore, one of the early merchants of Tipton but now retired for sixteen years, exemplifies in his life record, which is that of a self-made man, what can be accomplished by determined purpose and earnest effort. Prompted by laudable ambition he has labored untiringly to gain honorable success and his present rest from labor is certainly well merited.
He was born in Stafford, Tolland county, Connecticut, on the 8th of August, 1830, and is a representative of one of the old New England families. His parents were Nathaniel and Almira (Palmer) Gilmore. The mother died when the son was only two years of age, and the father afterward married again but his death occurred when William Gilmore was only twelve years of age. There was another son and daughter in the family. Several children were born of the father’s second marriage.
When left on orphan, William Gilmore removed with a family from his home neighborhood to Monson, Massachusetts, and later went to Hartford, Connecticut. He has been dependent upon his own resources for a living from the age of fourteen years, so that whatever success he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own labors. In 1848 he went to Xenia, Ohio, with an uncle and began clerking there in a clothing store. He remained there until 1850, when his uncle sent him to Bellefontaine, Ohio, to take charge of another clothing store which his uncle had opened in that place.
About two years before his removal to Iowa, Mr. Gilmore started in business on his own account in Ohio in connection with J. W. Cazad and together they came to Cedar county in 1856, arriving in Tipton in the month of September. Here they established a clothing store, which for twenty years they conducted under the firm style of Cazad & Gilmore. The partnership was continued with mutual pleasure and profit until, after acquiring a comfortable competency, Mr. Cazad retired from business. It was in 1857 that the store was opened at its present location, Mr. Gilmore purchasing the building, a two-story brick structure twenty by ninety feet. As the years passed on the store kept pace with the general trend of progress in commercial lines and the success of the enterprise was largely attributable to William Gilmore, whose close application, unfaltering energy and intelligently directed effort constituted strong factors in the success of the establishment. He continued active in its management until about sixteen years ago, when he retired, being succeeded by his son, William T. Gilmore. This was the first exclusive clothing store in Cedar county, although other merchants had handled clothing as a side line in the general stores.
In 1854, while a resident of Ohio, Mr. Gilmore was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia A. Thrift, who was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, March 1, 1836, and died in Tipton, Iowa, in August, 1898. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, putting forth earnest and effective effort for its upbuilding and the expansion of its interests. Her life was beautiful in its purity and uprightness, in its kindliness and generosity, and her loss was therefore deeply felt not only by her family but also by many friends. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore were born four children: Margaret, now the wife of E. T. Kingsbury, of Union Grove, Wisconsin; William T., who is his father’s successor in business; Ida, the wife of C. S. Neiman of Tipton; and M. C. Gilmore, an attorney of Ottumwa, Iowa.
Mr. Gilmore was one of the original directors of the Cedar County State Bank. Although he started out in life empty-handed when but fourteen years of age and had but little money when he came to Cedar county in 1856, he is now one of the substantial residents of the county, his well directed thrift and enterprise winning him a very desirable competency as the years have passed by. He belongs to Cedar Lodge, No. 11, A.F.& A.M., and is an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His record is a most creditable one because of his close conformity to commercial ethics and his fidelity and loyalty in citizenship. He came to Cedar county when the work of improvement and progress was scarcely begun and in all the years which have followed to the present time he has cast the weight of his influence for and has given his support to those movements and projects which have been of material benefit in the promotion of the business interests of the community.
