Having lost his father by an accident in his native country of England, John J. Gilmore was brought to America when a child by his grandmother, who located in St. Louis. After reaching man-hood, he became identified with the Pullman Palace Car Company and spent his whole business life in Missouri, but he died at Fort Worth, Texas, in 1891.

He married Harriet Ann Jackson, born near Knoxville, Tennessee, who, two years subsequent to the death of her husband, removed to Mount Vernon and purchased the property now known as the Mahaffy Hotel, which she conducted until October 18, 1898, when she also joined the great majority.

In March, 1893, she contracted a second marriage with John F. Mahaffy.

By her first union she had two children: John J., who died in 1890, and Wilbur H., who was born in St. Louis, October 10, 1879, and who came with his mother at the time of her removal from Missouri. He received his primary education in the schools of the last mentioned city, at Fort Worth and Mount Vernon. After a course in the high school here he entered the Universitv at Lincoln, Illinois, and remained there one year. In the fall of 1899 he matriculated in the University of Michigan for a course in the medical department, to which he devoted two years. After this he entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia and was graduated in 1903 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

Locating first at Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, he associated himself with Dr. W. F. Beyer for a while but on January 1, 1905, removed to Mount Vernon, where he formed a partnership with Dr. J. W. Hamilton, which has continued up to the present time. Previous to his graduation he had studied medicine with his subsequent partner during the summers of 1900-01-02.

Doctor Gilmore is recognized as a surgeon of unusual ability and has met with success in all his work in that line. He is of pleasing address, of good family and possesses an excellent general education. He has deserved and received well merited recognition in the line of his profession. He is a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, in which he holds the position of secretary and treasurer. He also holds membership in the Illinois State Medical Society and the Southern Illinois Medical Society, the Surgeon's Club of Rochester, Minnesota, also member of American Association of Railway Surgeons. His recognized ability has brought him employment as physician of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad and examining surgeon for the Illinois Commercial Association.

He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

December 21, 1904, he was married to Beatrice, daughter of Dr. S. S. Hamilton, of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and his wife also enjoys the distinction of a medical degree. Their only child was born April 21, 1907, and was christened John Hamilton Gilmore. The family is quite popular in the social circles of Mount Vernon and the doctor enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout the state.

SOURCE: Walls History of Jefferson Co., Ill. 1909, p.573.