KELSEY GILLMORE. Kelsey Gillmore has been a resident of Newton County all his life, his birth occurring here in 1834, has identified himself with the interests of his section, has won numerous friends, and has built up a reputation for honesty and fair dealing that is in every way merited.
His father, Levi Gillmore, was a native Vermonter, and in that State grew to mature years and secured a fair education. When a young man he started West, and stopped in the Hoosier State, where he met and married Miss Sallie Lindsey. Later he removed to Missouri, where he followed rafting on the Gasconade River a number of years, and then moved to Newton County, Arkansas There he located on Cave Creek, was one of the first settlers, but subsequently moved to Big Creek, where he improved a good farm, and remained until a few years before the war. From there he moved to Texas, and died in that State in 1862. Of him it may be said that he was truly a pioneer of Newton County, for he located here when most of the inhabitants were Indians. For the most part he followed agricultural pursuits, but on account of exposure in early life was blind for about twenty years. He was a Baptist in his religious views, and was the only one of his family who came to Arkansas. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. Gillmore was twice married, but no children were born to his last union. Nine children were the fruits of the first union, as follows: Miranda, deceased, was the wife of John Flood; Asa, died in Texas; Jane, widow of John Tennesseeison; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Green Davidson; Salina, died single; Alabama, died in Arkansas; Clarinda died in Fayetteville during the war (she was the wife of G. P. Ewing); Sallie died when quite young; and Lovina, deceased, was the wife of L. R. Jones.
Our subject was fifth in order of birth of the above-mentioned children, and was about nine years of age when his mother died. He was reared on Big Creek with but very little schooling; and in 1854, when about twenty years of age, he married Miss Emily Maberry, a native of Tennessee. Her father, David Maberry, came from Tennessee to this county at an early day, but subsequently moved to Texas, where his career ended. Mrs. Maberry died in Newton County. To our subject and wife were born the following children: Asa; George, David, deceased; Miranda, wife of Harman Cooper; Mary Isabel, wife of Moses Boatman; Levina died young; Louisa is the wife of W. A. Ewing; John; Albert Monroe, who died when five years of age; and several died in infancy. Mr. Gillmore has resided in Newton County all his life, and is one of the leading farmers and millers of Big Creek, owning a good steam grist, saw mill and gin. For six years after the war he sold goods on Big Piney, but aside from that he was engaged in farming almost exclusively until recently. During the last two years of the war he served in Company D, Second Arkansas Cavalry, Union Army, and served in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee, participating in many skirmishes. He was discharged at Memphis, Tennessee, August 20, 1865, and soon after returned to his home. Mr. Gillmore is a member of Red Rock Lodge, and is a member of the Chapter at Jasper. He is also a member of the G. A. R., and he and wife are members in good standing in the Christian Church. Mr. Gillmore belongs to one of the oldest families of Newton County, and is one of its wealthiest, honorable and industrious citizens. He well remembers pioneer days, and the privations endured by the early settlers.