Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 777
THOMAS M. GILMORE

For the past twenty years Thomas M. GILMORE has been engaged in the grocery business in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Previous to locating in that city he was engaged in the restaurant business for several years; fired a locomotive for awhile and also was a traveling salesman for a grocery firm for a year or two. Since locating in Missouri Valley Mr. GILMORE has been very successful in business and now not only has one of the best-paying grocery stores in the city, but also owns one of the best brick business blocks in the city. He has been an active participant in the life of his home city and has served with credit on the city council for several years. In all respects Mr. GILMORE has been an excellent citizen and has directed his energies in such a manner as to merit the high esteem in which he is universally held.

Thomas M. GILMORE, the son of A. J. and Sarah (MCKENNA) GILMORE, was born in Jackson county, Iowa, ten miles south of Dubuque, on a farm, August 15, 1864. His father was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and his mother in Quebec, Canada. A. J. GILMORE came to America with his parents, John and Katherine GILMORE, when he was only one year old, and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In 1849 the GILMORE family removed to Dubuque, Iowa, and in that city A. J. GILMORE engaged in the grain business until 1870, in which year he moved to LaGrange township, Harrison county, Iowa, and farmed until 1892, when he moved to Missouri Valley. He was on the county board of supervisors for many years and died in Missouri Valley May 23, 1913, at the age of seventy-eight years and seven months. His wife died in LaGrange township, this county, July 10, 1890. Nine children were born to A. J. GILMORE and wife, twins, who died in infancy; John, who is in Alaska; Arthur, deceased; Thomas M., of Missouri Valley; Mary, the wife of J. N. Tamisiea, of Missouri Valley; Katherine, the wife of Joseph O'Connor, a farmer of Taylor township; Sarah, the wife of F. W. Schwertley, a farmer of Taylor township, and James, of Wyoming.

Thomas M. GILMORE was reared on his father's farm and in Missouri Valley. He completed his elementary education in the schools of Missouri Valley, took his higher education in Ames Agricultural College and Bayless Business College at Dubuque, Iowa. After leaving college he went to Waterloo, Iowa, and operated a railroad eating house under the firm name of Mulgrew & GILMORE. He remained at Waterloo for six years and then retired from the firm and engaged in the restaurant business in that city alone for two years and a half. The next two years he spent as a locomotive fireman on the Illinois Central Railroad, after which he acted as a traveling salesman for two and a half years, selling groceries. On November 12, 1895, Mr. GILMORE arrived in Missouri Valley, and opened a grocery store and has since been engaged in this line of business in that city. He has built up a large trade and each year has found him more prosperous.

Mr. GILMORE was married November 16, 1887, to Theresa CASGROVE, of Davenport, Iowa.

Mr. GILMORE is a Democrat and has served on the city council for about seven years. He is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security and the Knights of Columbus. Mr. GILMORE is a quiet and unassuming man and by correct ideals of life he has so conducted himself as to win a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county.

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