Valentine Gilman is an energetic and prosperous farmer living on section 15, in Erin Township. Whatever success he has achieved he has made himself. Possessing determination of character, much industry and frugality, he has risen in the world, and has amassed a competence. But this has not been gained without hard and unremitting struggles. His parents were Daniel and Catharine (Linn) Gilman, both natives of Pennsylvania. They came from Union County, Pa., to Stephenson County, Ill., in the spring of 1840, and rented a farm in West Point Township, where they lived for two years and then came to Erin Township, where they resided till their death. The mother died in 1854 and the father in 1857. They had five girls and three boys.

Our subject, the fifth child, was born Aug. 7, 1829, in Union County, Pa., and came to Stephenson County with his parents when a lad of about eleven years. As a boy he saw the privations and hardships of the early pioneers in this State, and their resolution and force of character was a good lesson to him. He has been a resident of Stephenson County since the date named. He was about twenty-five years old when he left home to do for himself, and then settled on the farm which he now owns and occupies, and which consists of 210 acres, a large part of which is improved. By frugality and industry he has accumulated enough money to erect good and substantial buildings on his farm.

Mr. G. was married, in Elreoy, March 15, 1855, to Miss Elmira Ruthrauff, daughter of Solomon and Lydia (Hubler) Ruthrauff, who were natives of Centre County, Pa. They settled in Stephenson County in 1847, locating in Waddams Township, where the father died in May, 1879. The mother died in Erin Township in November, 1886. Mrs. Gilman was born in Centre County, Pa., Dec. 16, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Gilman are the parents of seven children, of whom the four living are Alta V., Miriam A., Eugene L. and Claude A. The deceased children were named Emma I., Cora L. and Clarence M. Alta is the wife of F. L. Jones, and resides in California; Emma was the wife of Rev. R. A. Harwood, and died in Nora, Ill., leaving one child - Miriam.

Mr. Gilman has held some of the school offices of the township, and Mrs. Gilman is a member of the Methodist Church.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 574, 576

Photo by "Shiver" at Find-A-Grave