George Gillerman
George Gillerman, who is conducting an excellent farm on section 22, Barton township, Worth county, was born near Chicago, Illinois, January 4, 1876, his birthplace being the farm of his parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Greashammer) Gillerman. Both the father and mother were natives of Germany and the former came to the United States with his parents when about six years of age, while the mother also came .to this country in early life. They were married in Illinois, where their respective parents followed farming throughout the entire period of their residence in the new world. Following his marriage, Henry Gillerman devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits in Illinois for some time, but in 1886 removed westward to Iowa, settling on section 22, Barton township, Worth county, the farm which is now in possession of his son George. He purchased one hundred and ten acres of land and with characteristic energy began its development and improvement. He erected substantial buildings on the place, built fences which divided the land into fields of convenient size and secured modern machinery to facilitate the task of plowing, planting and harvesting. He continued to reside upon the farm throughout his remaining days and in his later years his children took up the farm work, thus relieving the father of strenuous care. The mother passed away in 1909 and Mr. Gillerman survived for three years, his death occurring in the spring of 1912. Both he and his wife Were members of the German Lutheran church, in which faith they reared their family, and Mr. Gillerman was a democrat in his political views. They were highly esteemed people possessed of many sterling characteristics which won them warm regard.
George Gillerman spent his youthful days upon the old home farm in Illinois to the age of ten years and then came to Iowa with his parents, completing his education in the public schools. During vacation periods and after his textbooks were put aside he continued to assist his father in the work of the home farm, being thus engaged to the time of his marriage, when he began farming on his own account on the old homestead where he now lives. He has always carried on general agricultural pursuits, residing continuously on the original tract of land of one hundred and ten acres which his father purchased, and like his father he has done much for the development of the community.
In 1901 Mr. Gillerman was united in marriage to Miss Emma Brown, a daughter of William Brown. She was born in Iowa and the marriage was celebrated in Grafton, Union township, Worth county. Her parents are natives of Germany and came to the United States in early life, settling in Wisconsin.' They afterward removed to Iowa, where Mr. Brown followed farming, and they are now living retired, making their home in Grafton. They are members of the German Lutheran church and Mr. Brown votes with the democratic party. To Mr. and Mrs. Gillerman have been born four children: Mabel, Lloyd, Verna and Myrtle, all yet under the parental roof.Mr. Gillerman and his family are members of the German Lutheran church and he has followed in his father's political footsteps, giving his aid and allegiance to the democratic party. He has been a contributor to the Liberty Loan and is' a supporter of the Red Cross. Practically his entire life has been passed in Worth county, where he has now lived for almost a third of a century.
SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Pages 519 & 520
Transcription by Gordon Felland, 8/14/2006