Spanish American Soldiers - Private Frank A. Gilmore, Musician

 

#1 Frank A. Gilmore, Musician

# 1  Frank A. Gilmore, Musician

Frank Gilmore enlisted at 37 to join the 6th Regiment as a musician for the company. At enrollment, he gave Defiance as his residence. Born in Edgerton, Ohio, to William R. (called Robert) and Margaret Ellen (Myser) Gilmore on March 5, 1861, he was already married by the time he joined the Army in 1898.

On April 14, 1881, he wed Mary McCool, the daughter of Robert and Hannah (Dolly) McCool. Frank was 27 and Mary just 19. After his term in the war, they moved to Angola, Steuben County, Indiana, where he owned a grain elevator. They had one daughter, Florence. In the Federal Census of 1900, they were enumerated with Frank working in the manufacturing of lumber. Mary's sister, Rosamond, single and unemployed, lived with them.

Rosamond died three years later, in 1903.

In 1911, Frank's mother, Margaret, died. She and her husband were early settlers of Williams County. Her obituary appeared in the Angola Herald on September 27, 1911: 

"Death of Mrs. Gilmore

Mrs. Margaret Ellen Myser Gilmore, widow of the late Robert Gilmore, and mother of Frank and Otis Gilmore, died Saturday morning, Sept. 23, at the home of the latter, 500 south Superior Street, after an illness of about two weeks. Her age was 71 years, 1 month, 12 days.

Mrs. Gilmore and husband were among the early settlers of Williams county, Ohio and Steuben county, having settled in Richland Township (IN) in the woods, when the nearest neighbor was two miles away. She was born in Stark county, Ohio August 11, 1840. The funeral took place at 9:00 a.m. Monday from the home, after which the remains were taken to the Farmer cemetery, near Edgerton, Ohio, for burial beside her deceased husband and other family relatives."

In 1906, the Gilmore brothers had a narrow escape in a car accident near Pleasant Lake, Indiana. The Steuben Republican reported on Feb. 10, 1926:

"AUTO CRASHED INTO LOAD LOGS.

Otis Gilmore Narrowly Escaped Terrible Death

Now Recovering From Severe Injury in Which Blood Loss Weakened Him Greatly.

Frank and Otis Gilmore had a very narrow escape from death in an automobile accident Saturday evening. They were driving towards Angola, just south of Pleasant Lake, shortly after 5 o'clock when the Dodge coupe driven by Frank Gilmore crashed into a load of logs standing on the east side of the road. Otis Gilmore who was on the east side of the car, saw the crash coming the leaned over toward his brother, and engaged the full impact of the blow of the log which crashed through the windshield and struck him on the side of the neck. He was badly bruised up, and the machine was put out of commission.

Mrs. Evangeline Fischer, county treasurer, was returning to Pleasant Lake and loaned her automobile to the Gilmores, and Frank rushed home with his brother, and a physician was summoned. After they reached home, an artery in the neck gave way, and the injured man bled profusely, and was considerably weakened by the loss of blood. He is recovering now, and it is thought he will have no permanent result from the injury.

The evening was dark and misty, and they were traveling at a low rate of speed to avoid collision, and the accident came as a sudden blow."

Frank's wife, Mary, died suddenly in November 1934. Her obituary in the Angola Herald, November 9, 1934, described the situation:

"Mary McCool Died Suddenly at Home of a Heart Ailment

Mrs. Frank Gilmore, 65, died at her home on West Maumee street Friday evening after an illness of less than two hours. Heart ailment was stated as the cause of death by Dr. Swatusie, who was called as soon as her illness became serious. With Mrs. Gilmore was her husband and her near neighbors, Professor and Mrs. W.A. Fox.

Mrs. Gilmore had been in good health, never having complained of sickness or discomfort. During the day she went with her husband to their Lake James cottage to attend to some work, and then returned about 4:30 o'clock. She said she felt tired and laid down, and then complained of some distress in the chest. Mr. Gilmore soon thereafter called the physician who recognized the gravity of the condition, and administered stimulants without response. She gradually sank away without much apparent suffering.

The day previous, Mrs. Gilmore had spent with her daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon McKenzie at Middlebury, Indiana, and all enjoyed the occasion without any suspicious of impending sorrow. Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie came at once after the news reached them of her serious illness and later of her death. There are no other members of the immediate family.

Mrs. Gilmore was the daughter of Robert McCool and was born in Otsego Township. There are surviving brothers, John and Jay, and her sister, Mrs. Sarah Dirrim. She was married to Frank Gilmore on April 14, 1888 and to them was born one child, now Mrs. Gordon McKenzie. Mr.and Mrs. Gilmore have lived in Angola for the past thirty years.

The funeral was held from the late home on Monday afternoon...with the burial in Circle Hill Cemetery.

The deceased was held in high esteem by the neighborhood and by all who know her for her many kindly deeds."

Sometime around 1936 Frank moved in with his daughter and family in Middlebury, Indiana, where he was enumerated in the Federal Census of 1940. His son-in-law was a merchant who had his own general store, where Frank had worked earlier, daughter Florence was a homemaker, and one grandson, Gordon, age 9, was still home. Grandfather Frank died that same year on August 10, 1940,. at the age of 79.

The Angola Herald reported his death on Friday, August 16, 1940 on page 1:

"Frank Gilmore Died Saturday

Frank Gilmore passed away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon McKenzie in Middlebury last Saturday, following a stroke of apoplexy. Mr. Gilmore had been in failing health since June 1939 when he had a very critical attack of illness. His body was brought to the Klink Funeral Home where funeral services were held Monday forenoon...and burial was in Circle Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Gilmore was born in Edgerton, Ohio, March 5, 1881, and was seventy-nine years old last March... Mr. Gilmore grew to manhood on a farm near Hamilton (IN) near Richland township. He was a charter member of the K. of P. lodge of Hamilton, and since moving to Angola, was active in the different Masonic bodies and kept his Master Mason degrees active until his death.

Upon his coming to Angola, he engaged in the timber and piling business, continuing for many years, and for a time, was associated with F. E. Jackson in the Angola Nursery Company.  He was a member of the board of directors of the Angola State Bank since it was chartered in 1929.

Mr. Gilmore was held in high esteem by all of his acquaintances with a very good reputation built on integrity and friendliness, and his departure is mourned by a great many friends.

Strangely, his participation in music was never again mentioned.

Dianne Kline, Researcher