AncestryHouse
Janis Walker Gilmore ~ Janis.Gilmore@gmail.com
First Name:  Last Name: 
[Advanced Search]  [Surnames]
Thomas Melvin Gilmore

Thomas Melvin Gilmore

Male 1875 - 1953  (77 years)

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Sources    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Thomas Melvin Gilmore  [1, 2
    • Tom's marriage record gives middle initial "N."
    NEWS 11 Oct 1805  Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    "George and Thomas Gilmore are at the county fair at Benkleman, Nebraska, this week. They have their running horses with them and expect to 'do' them all." 
    Born 15 Jun 1875  Smith County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 4
    Gender Male 
    Census 9 Jun 1880  Center township, Smith County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    1. Gilmore, George, white, male, 37, married, farmer, Canada, Canada, Canada
    2. _____, Vienna, white, female, 30, wife, married, Canada, Canada, Canada
    3. _____, Alice, white, female, 9, daughter, Illinois, Canada, Canada
    4. _____, George, white, male, 6, son, Illinois, Canada, Canada
    5. _____, Thomas, white, male, 4, son, Kansas, Canada, Canada  
    Census 1885  Atwood township, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    1. Gillmore [Gilmore], George, 39, male, white, widower, farmer, born Canada, moved to Kansas from Illinois, yes (military volunteer), volunteered in Illinois, Co. H, 67th reft, infantry
    2. Jones, D. E., 40, female, white, widowed, born Massachussetts, moved to Kansas from Iowa
    3. Gillmore, George, 12, male, white, single, born Kansas, Kansas
    4. _____, Thomas, 9, male, white, single, born Kansas, Kansas  
    Census 15 Jun 1900  Centralia township, Marion County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    1. Gillmore [Gilmore], George W., head, white, male, June 1840, 59, married 1 year, Canada E, Canada, Canada, immigrated in 1857, in this country 43 years, naturalized, farmer, can read and write, owns farm with mortgage, farm schedule 183
    2. _____, Etta, wife, white, female, December 1854, 45, married 1 year, 4 children 4 living, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois, can read and write
    3. _____, Alvin, son, white, male, March 1887, 13, Illinois, Canada, Illinois, attending school, can read and write
    4. _____, Verna, son, white, male, October 1890, 9, Illinois, Canada, Illinois, attending school, can read and write
    5. _____, Edward, son, white, male, March 1898, 2, Nebraska, Canada, Illinois
    6. _____, Thomas, son, white, male, June 1875, 24, married [2 months?], Kansas, Canada, New York, can read and write
    7. _____, Edith A., daughter in law, white, female, March 1878, 22, married, [2 months?], 0 children, Iowa, Pennsylvania, New York, can read and write  
    Residence Before 1902  Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Married in 1900 in Marion County, Illinois, the couple had returned to Atwood by 1902. 
    Occupation 1902  Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    When he returned to Atwood, Tom was employed by the Dewey Ranch. The family story is that he was asked to participate in the "Dewey-Berry" feud, one of the last great cattle feuds, but he refused to carry a gun. 
    Census 1905  Atwood township, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    1. Gilmore, T. M., 29, male, owns farm with mortgage, born in Kansas, moved from Kansas, farmer
    2. _____, Edith, 27, female, born in Iowa, moved from Iowa
    3. _____, Effie, 4, female, born in Illinois, moved from Illinois
    4. _____, Georgie, 2, male, born in Kansas, moved from Kansas
    5. _____, Allice [Alice], 1, female, born in Kansas, moved from Kansas
    6. Davis, John, 32, male, born in England, moved from Nebraska, farmer  
    Census 11 May 1910  Atwood township, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    1. Gilmore, Tom M., head, male, white, 31, first marriage, married 10 years, Kansas, Canada, New York, farmer, general farm, employee, can read and write, owns farm, free of mortgage, farm schedule no. 39
    2. _____, Edith, wife, female, white, 31, first marriage, married 10 years, 6 children 5 living, Iowa, Pennsylvania, New York, can read and write
    3. _____, Effie, daughter, female, white, 9, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, attending school
    4. _____, George, son, male, white, 7, Kansas, Kansas Iowa, attending school
    5. _____, Alice, daughter, female, white, 6, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa, attending school
    6. _____, Lucy, daughter, female, white, 4, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa
    7. _____, Tommy, son, male, white, 1, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa 
    NEWS 10 Aug 1911  Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    The Republican Citizen, Atwood, Kansas:
    "Tom Gilmore returned last Thursday from northern Nebraska, where he had been looking over the country. Tom says he saw some fine land and contemplates getting a 640 acre homestead in that country."

    [Note from Debra J. Brannon: Tom Gilmore and family moved to McPherson County, Nebraska in 1912, where Tom & Edith (Holcomb) Gilmore filed for a 640-acre Kinkaid homestead. They lived on their homestead until 1939.] 
    Newspaper Article 10 Aug 1916  Tryon, McPherson County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Tryon Graphic:
    Mr. and Mrs. Tom Gilmore and friends are mourning the loss of the farmers [sic] little boy age 2 years and 7 months, who died last Tuesday from what appears [sic] to be infantile paralysis. 
    World War I Draft Registration 12 Sep 1918  Paxton, Keith County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Registered for the draft in Logan, McPherson County, but stated his permanent address as Paxton in Keith County. 
    Census 21 Jan 1920  Cottonwood Precinct, McPherson County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [11
    1. Gilmore, Thomas M., head, owns with mortgage, male, white, 44, married, can read and write, Kansas, Canada, Pennsylvania, farmer, general farm, own account, farm schedule no. 17
    2. _____, Edith A., wife, female, white, 41, married, can read and write, Iowa, Pennsylvania, New York
    3. _____, Effie M., daughter, female, white, 19, single, can read and write, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, school teacher, rural school
    4. _____, George D., son, male, white, 17, attending school, can read and write, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa
    5. _____, Alice M., daughter, female, white, 15, attending school, can read and write, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa
    6. _____, Lucy E., daughter, female, white, 14, attending school, can read and write, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa
    7. _____, Thomas R., son, male, white, 10, attending school, can read and write, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa
    8. _____, Marion E., son, male, white, 8, attending school, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa
    9._____, Benjamin E., son, male, white, 3 5/12, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa
    10. _____, Thelma E., daughter, female, white 2 2/12, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa
    11. _____, William L., son, male, white, 3/12, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa 
    Census 16 Apr 1930  Cottonwood Precinct, McPherson County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [12
    1. Gilmore, Thomas M., head, owns, farm, male,w hite, 54, first married age 24, can read and write, Kansas, Canada, New York, farmer, farm, not a veteran, farm schedule no. 46
    2. _____, Edith A., wife, female, white, 42, married, first married age 22, can read and write, Iowa, Pennsylvania, New York
    3. _____, George A., son, male, white, 27, single, can read and write, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa, laborer, farm
    4. _____, Lucy E., daughter, female, white, 24, single, can read and write, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa, teacher, public school
    5. _____, Thomas R., son, male, white, 21, single, can read and write, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa, laborer, farm
    6. _____, Marion E., son, male, white, 18, single, attending school, can read and write, Kansas, Kansas, Iowa
    7. _____, Bennie E., son, male, white, 13, single, attending school, can read and write, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa
    8. _____, Thelma F., daughter, female, white, 12, attending school, can read and write, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa
    9. _____, William L., son, male, white, 1o, attending school, can read and write, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa
    10. Hale, Elsie L., boarder, female, white, 21, single, can read and write, Nebraska, Nebraska, Missouri, teacher, public school 
    Census 24 Apr 1940  Cottonwood precinct, McPherson County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [13
    1. Gilmore, Thos. M., head, male, white, 64, married, completed grade 8, Kansas, same place in 1935, employed, worked 56 hours, farming, farm, own account, worked 52 weeks, other source of income, farm schedule no. 1
    2. _____, Edith A., wife, female, white, married, completed grade 8, Iowa, same place 
    Physical Description As a boy, while at school in Smith County, one of Tom's eyes was shot out. He disliked handguns from that time.  [4
    Narrative Written by Thomas M. Gilmore, in his hand, 1944
    "A HAPPY EXPERIENCE
    March 1902
    Experience of Thomas M. Gilmore [Written in his hand]

    My most happiest experience happened on the C. P. Dewey Cattle Ranch, in the S.W. corner of Rawlins Co., Kansas, in year March 1902. I was employed as ranch hand and lived in one of the ranch houses about 2 1/2 miles east off the ranch headquarters. I was at headquarters. It was snowing and blowing-what was known as the Kansas Blizzard.

    The wind was coming from the N.E. to S.W. Chauncy Dewey, the foreman of the ranch at that time proposed we all of us men available at that time, saddle up our horses and go out S.W. and look for new born calves. Some of the old cowhands; namely, Al Winds, Jr.; Jake Johanson; Ed Hubbert; John O'Neal and myself thought it wasn't safe to go out in the storm, but Chauncey insisted we go as the calves were in danger. But the boys said all right, if he would go along. So he said O.K., and we got our horses out.

    As I was not a regular rider, I was given an extra horse that was rode down, but had been a high-spirited horse. So we started right after dinner and went south across the Creek Bridge, then S.W. across the Creek bottom to the hill or raise over to the first canyon; then S. about 1 1/2 or 2 miles and found no cattle in this canyon.

    The storm was furious, but by going with it, we could go, but to face it was a problem. So Dewey proposed if we could go out over the Divide to the West we could hit another canyon and go down it to the Creek. So we started our horses the best we could, but suddenly we came to the head of a canyon. Supposed it was the other big canyon, so we took down, but after we bucked the storm for a mile or two, our horses took us back in the same canyon we had started from. So Dewey says, "Say, I think we had better make it back for home."

    It was blizzarding so hard we could not see part of the time. We had to go over a Prairie Dog Town, snow about 1 or 2 ft. deep. It was dangerous so we had to rely on our horses. Johnson & Hurlbert turned their horses and started on the run with their heads down. I tried to keep up with them but my horse stepped into a hole and fell. I tried to get out of the way. I lot all holts loose and thought I was clear as I could not see. But when the horse got up my foot was in the stirrup. It was my left foot. I rolled over on my hand so I could hold my head up. With the other, I could keep the snow off my face so I could breath[e]. As Dewey and O'Neal were behind, I called to them to catch my horse [as] I was throwed and hanging in the stirrup. No one showed up. I kept on yelling. Finally, O'Neal heard me.

    After I was drug some 3 or 4 hundred yards, he succeeded in getting up to me, but was unable to get his horse close enough to catch mine as he was on the side I was, and I was in danger of being tramped on by his horse. So he stopped his horse and took another run on the other side and succeeded in catching my horse, but when I tried to get up on my other foot, I would scare my horse and he would jump over against the other horse and jerk me down. So I had to stay there until Dewey rode up, got off and pulled my foot out to free me.

    I think this is one of my happiest times in my life and experience of 69 years.
    (s) Thomas M. Gilmore"
    [This story was handwritten in 1944]
      [4
    Parents
    Tom's marriage record identifies his parents as "G. W. Gilmore" and "V. Pratt."  [1
    Died 12 Feb 1953  North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Person ID I138  Gilmore-Donald
    Last Modified 19 Sep 2016 

    Father George W. Gilmore,   b. 25 Jun 1837, County Sligo, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Nov 1910, Lanton, Howell County, MIssouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Mother Vienna Arthusa Pratt,   b. 27 Mar 1847, Niagara County, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Oct 1917, [County Poor Farm], Smith County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years) 
    Married 22 Mar 1863  Waddams Grove, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [14
    Family ID F31  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Edith Addie Holcomb,   b. 14 Apr 1878, Northboro, Page County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Feb 1975, North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 96 years) 
    Married 28 Mar 1900  Marion County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Children 
    +1. Effie Vianna Gilmore,   b. 2 Jan 1901, Marion County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Oct 1987, North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 86 years)
     2. George Dewey Gilmore,   b. 24 May 1902, Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Feb 1952, Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 49 years)
    +3. Alice Mary Gilmore,   b. 19 Sep 1903, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Jan 1974, Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
    +4. Lucy Elizabeth Gilmore,   b. 1 Oct 1905, Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Mar 1984, Loup City, Sherwood County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)
     5. Rosy Viola Gilmore,   b. 15 Oct 1907, Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Oct 1907, Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
     6. Thomas Roy Gilmore,   b. 15 Apr 1909, Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 May 1940, North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 31 years)
    +7. Marion Ellsworth Gilmore,   b. 4 Aug 1911, Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Feb 1987, Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years)
     8. Charlie Gilmore,   b. 2 Jan 1914, Valyrang, McPherson County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Aug 1916, McPherson County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 2 years)
     9. Benjamin Ernest Gilmore,   b. 25 Jul 1916, Valyrang, McPherson County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Mar 2004  (Age 87 years)
    +10. Thelma Mae Gilmore,   b. 12 Sep 1917, Valyrang, McPherson County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Apr 2005, Lancaster, Los Angeles County, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years)
    +11. William Leroy "Bill" Gilmore,   b. 19 Sep 1919, Valyrang, McPherson County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Feb 2015, Carmichael, Sacramento County, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 95 years)
    Last Modified 8 Aug 2015 
    Family ID F38  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Documents
    George W. and Vienna (Pratt) Gilmore, 1880 Smith County, Kansas, census
    George W. and Vienna (Pratt) Gilmore, 1880 Smith County, Kansas, census
    1880 U. S. census, Smith County, Kansas, population schedule, Center township, enumeration district (ED) 310, p. 12 (penned), p. 478a (stamped), dwelling 9, family 9, George Gilmore household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 June 2015); citing NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 397.
    1900 Marion County, Illinois, census, George W. Gilmore and wife Etta Matteson
    1900 Marion County, Illinois, census, George W. Gilmore and wife Etta Matteson
    1900 U.S. census, Marion County, Illinois, population schedule Centralia township, enumeration district (ED) 18, sheet 11B, p. 33b (stamped), dwelling 214, family 222, George W. Gillmore [Gilmore] household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 June 2015); citing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 327.

  • Sources 
    1. [S1584] "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 17 June 2013), Marion County, [1900]: 87, for Thomas N. Gilmore-Edith Holcomb, 28 March 1900; FHL film no. 965,419; citing original records of Marion County, Salem.

    2. [S710] "World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 August 2016), Thomas Melvin Gilmore, serial no. 60, order no. 191, McPherson County, Nebraska ; citing World War I Selective Service system Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918), NARA microfilm publication M1509, roll 1711704.

    3. [S1664] "Blakeman News," The Republican Citizen (Atwood, Kan.), 11 October 1895, p. 3, col. 4, item for Georg and Tomas Gilmore; digital image Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : accessed 10 January 2021).

    4. [S287] Debra J. Brannon (djbrnnn@aol.com), "Gilmore Ancestry of Thomas Melvin Gilmore (1875-1952)," register report from genealogical software, containing no sources. Sent from Ms. Brannon to Janis Walker Gilmore as an email attachment, June 2015. Ms. Brannon is a direct descendant of Thomas M. Gilmore and Edith Holcomb through their daughter Effie Vianna Gilmore.

    5. [S247] 1880 U. S. census, Smith County, Kansas, population schedule, Centre township, enumeration district [ED] 310, p. 12 (penned), p. 478 (stamped), dwelling 9, family 9, George Gilmore household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 January 2008); citing NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 397.

    6. [S249] 1885 Kansas State census, Rawlins County, population schedule, Atwood, p. 19 (penned, top left), dwelling 67, family 67, George Gillmore [Gilmore] household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : downloaded 11 May 2015); citing 1885 Kansas State Census, roll KS1885_110, Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka.

    7. [S250] 1900 U.S. census, Marion County, Illinois, population schedule Centralia township, enumeration district (ED) 18, sheet 11B, p. 33b (stamped), dwelling 214, family 222, George W. Gillmore [Gilmore] household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 June 2015); citing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 327.

    8. [S720] 1905 Kansas State census, Rawlins County, population schedule, Atwood township, pp. 9-10, dwelling 18, family 18, T. M. Gilmore household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 September 2016); citing 1905 Kansas State Census, roll KS1905_127, Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka.

    9. [S291] 1910 U.S. census, Rawlins County, Kansas, population schedule, Atwood township, enumeration district (ED) 153, sheet 11B (penned) [2B crossed through], p. 151b (stamped), dwelling 40, family 41, Tom M. Gilmore household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 August 2015); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 453. .

    10. [S732] News item, Tyron Graphic (Tyron, Neb.), 10 August 1916, p. 1, col. 4; microfilm 071 T78g, no. 2, Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln.

    11. [S292] 1920 U.S. census, McPherson County, Nebraska, population schedule, Cottonwood precinct, enumeration district (ED) 204, sheet 1B (penned), p. 273b (stamped), dwelling 17, family 17, Thomas M. Gilmore household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : downloaded 9 August 2015); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 994.

    12. [S293] 1930 U.S. census, McPherson County, Nebraska, population schedule, Cottonwood precinct, enumeration district (ED) 59-1, sheet 2B-3A, p. 24b-25a, dwelling 49, family 49, Thomas M. Gilmore household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : downloaded 9 August 2015); citing NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1287.

    13. [S294] 1940 U.S. census, McPherson County, Nebraska, population schedule, Cottonwood precinct, enumeration district (ED) 59-1, sheet 1A (penned), p. 1a (stamped), household 1, Thos. M. Gilmore; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : downloaded 9 August 2015); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2256.

    14. [S411] Stephenson County, Illinois, Marriages, vol. 4:731, Gilmore-Pratt (1863), County Clerk, Freeport, Illinois.