From the 1881 History of Marshall County, Iowa


GILMAN.

The City of Gilman is located in Green Castle Township, a region finely watered by tributaries of Timber Creek and North Skunk, and containing excellent farming lands. Elias Hilsabeck was the oldest settler in this township, having come from Illinois in 1852, and entered his land. The village of Green Castle, which died of overweening ambition, since it aspired to be a second New York, or of discouragement when the Central Road showed a preference for its rival Gilman, was the first city that sprouted in this soil. Mr. Blakelcy Brush built a large, two-story house there, without wings, which bore the name of " The Castle." Later, this was metamorphosed into modern dwelling.
Gilman was the direct outgrowth of the Central Railroad of Iowa.
The territory in the immediate vicinity of Gilman, and the adjacent country first began to be settled in 1868. The settlers who were living thereat that period, or who came soon after were, F. F. Ingersoll. Amos Ingersoll, Lyman Farr, ______ Berry, George Pence. Jacob and John Pence, John Green, Arthur Hall, Lyman Hall, Moses Hall, H. Sutherland. Brayton Burtch, Isaac Mallet, Josiah Patterson, A. W. Patterson, W. J. Patterson, William Wenderling and Dr. Potter. There were others who come afterward, whose names did not occur to Mr. Patterson.
The railroad came through in the Fall of 1870. The town of Gilman was laid out in December, 1870. by Fred. Baum ____ Downer, Charles Hobart and F. F. Ingersoll. The town derived its name from President Gilman of the Central Road, now a resident of Eldora.

The people gave $10,000 and ten acres of land toward the construction of the railroad. The post office was established in April, 1871. F. F. Ingersoll was the first Postmaster. After the town was laid out, a Town Lot Company was formed, which purchased 100 acres of A. W. Patterson ; sixty acres of John Green ; eighty acres of C. Hobart; eighty acres of F. F. Ingersoll; thirty-seven acres of Dr. Potter. The Company then began to dispose of the lots, and still control the sale.
The first store in Gilman was built in 1871, by M. L. Rodgers; it stood on the corner, next to Mr. Patterson's warehouse, on the opposite side of the street and is occupied by Hartman & Cunningham. The second building was erected by A. W. Patterson in the same year. It stands on the corner of Main street, and now occupied by Milton Young. It was first used as a hardware store. After this period, the people began to come in so fast that building became rapid. Whiteline k Brothers built the third store. The first lumber yard was opened by L. G. Rinehart. Dr. Potter was the first physician. The first elevator was built in 1871, by A. W. Patterson. Mr. L. G. Rinehart built the first residence. Mr. Patterson opened the first hardware house. J. R. Wood was the first station agent.
The Union Mills were established in 1875 by Rigg & Emers. The milk* are now owned by Rigg k Brownlee. They are located north of the depot. The main building is 34x36, a three-story frame structure; the engine room is 16x40 feet in size. There are two runs of stone, but the proprietors are preparing to place another set in the mill. A Cooper engine, built at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, of fifty horse-power is used. All the modern improvements in milling machinery are in use in this mill. They have a capacity of 150 barrels per day.
There are three elevators: the old " Waggoner Elevator" is the property of G. E. Stokes. Rigg k Brownlee own and operate the small elevator that was built by A. W. Patterson. L. Q. Beal is the owner of a large steam elevator.
Gilman was incorporated in 1876. The first meeting of the Board, elected subject to the incorporation, was held July 31, 1876. The Mayor and Council were as follows: John Carney, Mayor; J. C. Gould, W. S. Horton, C. W. Waggoner, A W. Patterson, J. A. Hartman, Councilmen. The Recorder was II. II. Gregg, and the Marshal, Ira Elly. The above-named gentlemen held their respective offices until March, 1877, when a new election was held, at which the Mayor and all the old Councilmen were re-elected except Mr. Hartman. II. Sutherland being chosen in his stead. Messrs. Patterson and Gould resigned, and J. B. Pence, and H. W. Mundihank were elected to fill the vacancies. R. II. Achard was appointed Assessor, and J. H. Henriques, Treasurer. The latter-named gentleman resigned his office, and L. G. Seagar wa< the appointee in his place.
The city officers for 1878 are: R. II. Archard, Mayor; H. H. Gregg, Recorder; L. G. Seagar, Treasurer: D. A. Comstock, Assessor. Councilmen — II. Sutherland; \V. J. Ward, Irwin Peet, Dennis Beal, R. Sutton. Ira Elly, Marshal. There is no permanent or effective fire department, though the citizens contemplate the purchasing of an engine as a better protection against five. The town is at present provided with a number of hooks and ladders that are stored in convenient localities. Secret Societies.

Cyrus Lodge No. 338 A, F, & A. M. - A dispensation was granted this Lodge in 1874. First officers: C. H. Shaw, W. M. ; J. H. Wood, S. W. ; David Bowen, J. W.; C. W. Waggoner, Treasurer; J. H. Seagar, Secretary; W. J. Ward, S. D.; A. G. Ellis, Tiler. The charter was granted June 3, 1875. Present officers : W. J. Ward, W. M.; L. G. Seagar, S. W.; Dennis Beal, J. W.; C. W. Waggoner, Treasurer; E. Cunningham, Secretary; J. C. Gould, S. D.; John Pemberton, J. D.; R. H. Archard, S. S.; J. H. Vosburg, J. S.; H. S. Turner, Tiler. Organized with ten members; present membership, sixty-five.

Eden Lodge, No. 316, I. 0. 0. F.—Organized June 9, 1875, with six members. The first meeting was held in the second story of the building now owned and occupied by W. D. Forbush. First officers: R. Andrews, N. G.; James Durrell, V. G. ; J. R. O'Neal, Secretary; E. R. Wilkinson, Treasurer. Present officers: Irwin Peet, N. G.; Dorr Graves, V. G.; B. P. Bennett, Secretary; R. Andrews, P. Secretary; H. W. Mundihank., Treasurer. Membership, thirty-eight.

Gilman Lodge, No. 157, A. 0. U. W.—This Lodge was organized April 6, 1878, with eighteen charter members. First officers: W. D. Forbush, P. M. W.; John Carney, M. W.; Dennis Beal, G. F.; C. H. Shaw, 0.; 0. P. Beal, G.; H. H. Gregg, R.; W. S. Horton, F.; C. W. Waggoner, R.; H. Alexander, I. W. ; John Ensinger, 0. W. Present officers same as above with the exception of Recorder, which office is held by C. W. Pinkerton. Membership, twenty.

SCHOOLS.
The first school house in Gilman, was the school building that was used in the district, and after the establishment of the town was moved within the limits. About thirty pupils were in attendance the first term. The present school building was built in 1873, and is a large two-story frame, containing three rooms, and was erected at a cost of $4,000.
The average attendance is about 135 ; number enrolled, 170. The present teachers are R. D. Jones, Principal; Miss E. Fletcher and Miss Kate Smalley, Assistants. The President and Board of Directors are as follows: President, W. S./Horton; Secretary, H. Sutherland; Treasurer, C. W. Waggoner; Directors, George Pence, William Weaverling, J. H. Scurr.

RELIGIOUS.

First Congregational Church.—This Church was organized March 29, 1870, with eight members. This being prior to the rise of Gilman, the organization was perfected in School House No. 3, Green Castle Township. The Church was given the name of the above township but was changed to that of Gilman. Services were held in the school house, until the year 1871, when a church building was erected at a cost of $3,148.
The first minister was the Rev. J. M. Chamberlain. He was succeeded, after a few months, by Prof. S. J. Buck. The Church has never been provided with a resident Pastor, until the present one, Rev. F. H. Magoon, who, having accepted an invitation to become such, entered upon his duties, July 21, 1878. In 1877, the church edifice was newly fitted up at a cost of $500, making it very pleasant for purposes of worship. The Church membership now numbers 74, and is constantly increasing. There is a flourishing Sabbath school connected with this society, with an average attendance of 60. Mr. John Carney is the Superintendent. He is assisted by an able corps of teachers.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Gilman was formed in the year 1872, by uniting two appointments of what was formerly the Le Grand Circuit of Upper Iowa Conference, and the Johnson and Middle'field Classes. The latter was organized in the year 1865, by Rev. J. Haymond, in a school house near the residence of Mr. L. G. Beale, of Gilman, and formed a part of the Le Grand charge until 1872, when the Gilman Circuit was formed, and the Rev. R. G. Hawn appointed its Pastor. He served the Church only about six months when he left it and went West, and then the Presiding Elder, J. Bowman, employed J. J. Caldwell to fill out the year. He succeeded during this half year in raising the funds to build a foundation for a church in the then new town of Gilman. The lot on which the residence of Mr. D. McDaniels now stands, on High street, was purchased and the foundation laid just as the Conference year closed. October, 1873, Rev. L. G. Woodford was appointed by the Conference to the charge, who thinking the foundation too small, persuaded the people to build larger. They finally abandoned both plan and location, and secured lots where the present church stands. This building was begun near the close of Woodford's first year, and was nearly inclosed at Conference time.
At the Annual Conference of 1874, L. C. Woodford was re-appointed to Gilman. The Chapel was finished and was dedicated by Rev. John Clinton, November 29th. The entire cost of the building was $3,871. September 27, 1875, E. D. Hos-kyns was appointed to the charge and served two years. October 7, 1877, L. S. Cooley was made the Pastor untii October 2, 1878. The present number of members on the records is 90.

The M. E. Church of Laurel, Jefferson Township, was organized in June, 1864, by the Rev. S. Dunton, and formed a part of what was then known as the Timber Creek Mission, embracing the following preaching places: Hazel Green, Illinois Grove, Story Grove, Bear Grove, Altic's School House and Jefferson School House. In the Fall of 1864, the Rev. J. A. Vananda was sent to the work and labored one year. In 1865, Rev. J. Haymond was appointed preacher, and the circuit was enlarged by the following appointments: Richart's, Le Grand, Marietta and State Centre. It was again enlarged at the Conference of 1866. Rev. Jacob Haymond was sent as Pastor, and R. M. Wade was sent as junior preacher. The latter was sent to fill a vacancy at Tama City, near the middle of the year, and Revs. J. Montgomery and Austin filled out the year. In 1867, Asa Critchfield was the minister, and in 1868, Rev. J. E. Baker, and J. F. Baker in 1869. The Conference of 1870 appointed G. M. Hall to the Le Grand charge, and during this year the chapel at Laurel was begun. R. G. Hawn was sent to the work in 1871. The chapel was finished and dedicated Oct. 30, and called Dunton Chapel, in honor of the founder of the society here. In 1872, Laurel became a part of the Gilman circuit, and R. G. Hawn was its Pastor about one-half of the year, when he left the charge for some part of the West.