At the right is William C. Gardner and his daughter Mrs. William Naden holding her baby son. At the left is Mr. Gardner's Grandfather William Gilman. And the second from the left is Capt. C.F. Gardner, father of William C.

The most interesting member of the above group is the little old gentleman whose presence marks it as distinctive. He is Wm. Gilman aged 92, and proud of it. He came to Mitchell County in 1854 and about a year later was appointed postmaster of a newly established post office at Gilmantown which was located on what is now the Frank Penney farm, southwest of Orchard. Mr. Gilman lived on the farm until recently, owned by Lee Loveless two miles directly south of Orchard.

In 1856 Mr. Gilman returned to Utica N.Y. his birth place, and remained a year, the post office at Gilmantown having been abandoned.

After a year, however he returned to Mitchell County and established himself in a store at what was known as "The Old Ford" at the mouth of Rock Creek in Floyd County. He returned east a second time, but came back after another year. He assisted in establishing the first Sunday School on the Cedar River in the northern part of the state, bringing a library for its use from McGregor.

Mr. Gilman built the Eaton house at the corner of Main and 6th streets and lived in it for a number of years. His grandson, William C. Gardner was born there 46 years ago. For a long time Mr. Gilman was engaged in the lumber business here. He left Osage nearly 30 years ago, to go to Chamberlain S.D., and later moving to California.

He made the trip from California to Dubuque where his daughter lives alone and he says that he enjoyed the entire journey. He plans now to stay at the home of his grandson, William Gardner, the little remaining years of his life. His little great-great grandchild lives under the same roof as him and takes lively interest in his venerable forebear.

 

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Transcribed by Kathy Pike; from an Osage News article circa 1915: diary of Josie (Tubbs) Galley.