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         MILTON GILMORE, one of the early settlers of Louisa County, now residing in Morning Sun, was born in Boone County, Ky., March 2, 1822, and is a son of Rev. James L. Gilmore, born March 5, 1792, of Scotch descent, his father being Robert Gilmore, who came from Scotland. James was a soldier in the War of 1812, and March 5, 1818, was united in marriage with Sarah Willis, who was born in Virginia, Feb. 16, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore were the parents of seven children, four of whom are living, two are not known to be dead, and one brother, if yet living, probably resides in Oregon.

In 1831 Rev. Gilmore removed with his family from Kentucky to Rush County, Ind., where he developed a farm from the unbroken timber. When eighteen years of age he was converted to the Baptist faith, joining that church, and at the age of twenty-one was ordained, being instrumental in forming a congregation and erecting a comfortable church at Rushville, where he was known as a pioneer preacher. In 1834 he came to Des Moines County, Iowa, where he was pastor of a church, and made a claim. In 1836 the family moved to that county, settling in Franklin Township, where Mr. Gilmore organized a Baptist congregation, and subsequently assisted in building a stone church, which is still standing. It was the first church built in the county. The death of Mrs. Gilmore occurred in Des Moines County, March 9, 1862, and Rev. Gilmore died in Kentucky in October, 1865.

The subject of this sketch went with his parents to Rush County, Ind., when ten years old, and there grew to manhood. In 1836 he came to Des Moines County, Iowa, assisting in developing a farm and helping to haul the material from which the first church in that county was built. Mr. Gilmore was united in marriage with Miss Polly Hunt, a daughter of Charles Hunt, and four children were born of their union: James, John and Jonathan, who are residents of Taylor county, Iowa, and Sarah, wife of Oliver Dotson, of this county. Mrs. Gilmore died Feb. 5, 1864, and he subsequently married Matilda Bucher, of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of one child, Thomas, now a resident of Nebraska. After a short married life of four years she was called to her final home, and Mr. Gilmore was a third time married, Ann Slade becoming his wife, but she died shortly after, and he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Hamilton, a native of Ohio.

In 1852 Mr. Gilmore purchased a farm in Louisa County, upon which he resided until 1882, and then removed to Morning sun. Politically, he is a Republican. He is, financially, a self-made man, having by hard work and economy accumulated a comfortable competency, and to-day is enjoying the fruits of his hard labor, living a retired life in Morning Sun.