SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Edward Gilmon, Page 195

EDWARD GILMON, a veteran of the late war for the Union, and an honored pioneer of the town of Greenbush, Sheboygan County, dating his arrival from 1847, is a native of Coburg, province of Ontario, Canada.  His birth occurred June 20, 1825, he being a son of Edmund Gilmon.  The parents were born in Ireland and emigrated to Canada in early life.

    The gentleman whose name heads this record was reared on a farm, and received his education at private schools. On the 16th of September, 1846, he was married in his native country to Dorinda E., a daughter of Isaac and Betsey Pettit.  Her parents were natives of the State of New York. Her father died in Canada, and the mother subsequently moved to Wisconsin, and died at her daughter's, Mrs. Gilmon's.

    Leaving his young wife, Mr. Gilmon came to Sheboygan County in the autumn of 1847, purchasing a claim on section 5, in the town of Greenbush, and the following October moved his family thither.  He erected a log house, as other pioneers did, chopped off the timber and made substantial improvements.  Subsequently, a good frame house was built, not far distant from the cabin.  The latter is still in existence, and in use for a hennery.

    To Mr. and Mrs. Gilmon six children were born, three sons and three daughters.  Martha, the eldest, is the wife of James Gibson, of Sioux City, Iowa.  William H. married Mary Hesler, and resides in Neillsville, Wis.  Henrietta D., who became the wife of E. M. Hagen, died May 27, 1886.  Giles married Julia Lamphear, who was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., a daughter of Elisha and Sarah Lamphear.  Giles Gilmon lives on the old homestead, where he operates the home farm.  He is the present Town Treasurer of Greenbush, and is now serving his sixth term in that office.  He and his wife are the parents of three children, two boys and one girl: Frederick E., Ethel M. and Ernest L. Libbie J., the next in order of the family of Edward Gilmon, wedded John S. Rowe, of Plymouth. George, who married Alta Andrews, died November 16, 1891.  The mother of this family died March 24, 1891.  She was a member of the Christian Church. and a woman possessed of many estimable qualities of mind and heart.

    Mr. Gilmon was one of those who responded promptly to the President's call for troops to defend the Union at the beginning of the Rebellion.  He enlisted on the 10th of September, 1861, as a member of Company H, Fourteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and after active service with his regiment during the winter of 1861-62, he participated in one of the most sanguinary battles of the war, that of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, where on the 7th of April he received a gunshot wound, the ball passing entirely through his body, from the right to the left side, through the lower part of the lungs.  At the time he was shot, he was standing sideways to the enemy, loading his gun.  On being taken from the field of battle, the surgeon pronounced him dead.  His name being published in the list of the killed, his wife believed him dead, and it was twelve days before she knew otherwise.  He was placed in the hospital and had his wound dressed, but the surgeon insisted on his recovery being hopeless.  Mr. Gilmon remained in the field hospital until the latter part of May following, when he was removed to Jefferson Barracks, at Jefferson, Mo., and a month later was sent home.  In November of that year he was required to report at Madison, Wis., where he was discharged against his will, and under protest.  He claimed a right to care and surgical treatment by the Government until convalescent.  He was thus forced to employ a surgeon at great personal expense, whose attendance for some time was required as often as four times a day.  The wound necessarily healed slowly, a full year elapsing after it was received before he was able to undertake even the lightest of work.  Eventually, he recovered so as to enable him to attend his farm, but the performance of his work was more or less difficult.  When he applied for a pension he received but $8 per month, and no back pay.  Afterward the Government showed a little more consideration for his injuries by increasing his pension, but considering his premature discharge while in so helpless a condition, and getting no back pay, it would seem that some representative of the Government had been cruel and unjust in the treatment of this case.

    Mr. Gilmon is a Republican and has held various local offices.  He was elected Treasurer of the town of Greenbush in 1869, and again in 1870.  He discharged the duties of the office with fidelity, and to the satisfaction of his fellow-townsmen, regardless of politics.  Socially, he is a member of H. C. Davidson, Post No. 212, G. A. R., of Plymouth.  Mr. Gilmon is an industrious, hardworking man, and the well-improved fields and substantial improvements on his farm constitute a permanent monument to his patient and persistent effort.  Where nearly a-half century ago he found a wilderness, he now possesses large, clear fields, that yield a good return for labor intelligently bestowed.  The facts just alluded to are of course common to many pioneers, but the writer wishes only to record the fact that his subject is one of that class who enjoyed the grand privilege of clearing up and improving the primeval forest, fitting the land for the hand of the husbandman for all future generations.

    Mr. Gilmon is a man of genial hospitality, upright and honorable in all the affairs of life, and enjoys, as he deserves, the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.