Thomas N. Gilman Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1043-1044 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				THOMAS N. GILMAN.  

	Thomas N. Gilman resides on section 32, Mellette township, Spink 
county. His farm of three hundred and twenty acres extends also over 
the dividing line on section 5. For three decades Mr. Gilman has 
resided in this state and throughout the entire period has borne an 
active and helpful part in the work of general improvement, his labors 
being a potent force in bringing about the present agricultural 
advancement of his county. A native of Maine, he was born near 
Farmington on the 20th of November, 1875. The Gilman family is of 
English lineage and has been represented on the American continent 
since early colonial days. Some of its members fought for independence 
in the Revolutionary war. James Nelson Gilman, father of Thomas N. 
Gilman, spent his life in New England until 1884, when he brought his 
family to the northwest. He had married Susan E. Chase and their 
children were also born in Maine. After reaching South Dakota he 
secured a claim of one hundred and sixty acres and purchased an 
adjoining tract of one hundred and sixty acres. With characteristic 
energy he began the arduous task of breaking the sod and preparing the 
land for cultivation, but in course of time good crops rewarded his 
efforts and he continued the development and improvement of his place 
until he passed away in 1889, at the age of fifty-two years. His wife 
survived him for almost a quarter of a century, dying October 23, 1913, 
at the age of sixty-six years. Their remains are interred in the 
Mellette cemetery. They were the parents of four children who reached 
adult age and they lost a little daughter, May, who died at the age of 
two years, while the family were still residents of Maine. The others 
are: Thomas N.; Edwin, a farmer residing a mile north of the old 
homestead in Spink county; William, a farmer who makes a specialty of 
the raising of fruit and vegetables, his home being in Medford, Oregon; 
and George, also residing at Medford, Oregon.  

	Thomas N. Gilman was a lad of but eight years when the family 
came to South Dakota. His education, begun in the schools of Maine, was 
continued in the Ford district school of Spink county, which he 
attended to the age of fifteen years. During that period he also 
received training in farm work, assisting in the development of the 
fields through the summer months, and later he concentrated his 
energies upon the further cultivation of the old homestead. Ultimately 
he took over the management of the farm and at length purchased the 
interests of the other heirs in the property. A month before his 
mother's death he bought her share and is now sole owner of a farm of 
three hundred and twenty acres, pleasantly located on sections 5 and 
32, Mellette township. He annually harvests good crops, for his methods 
are practical. He follows crop rotation and every feature of his farm 
work is conducted according to the advanced ideas of the present day. 
He has upon his place a number of head of cattle, ten horses and about 
forty hogs. His home is a large and attractive residence, which he 
erected. It is built in modern style of architecture, is comfortably 
furnished and is the abode of warmhearted hospitality. Mr. Gilman also 
built the barns and made other improvements upon his place, and modern 
machinery is utilized to facilitate the work of the fields.  

	On the 28th of February, 1913, Mr. Gilman was married, in 
Cherokee, Iowa, to Mrs. Nellie M. Brown, a daughter of William and 
Hansi (Butler) Like. Her father died and was buried near Cherokee. Mrs. 
Gilman has two children by her former marriage: Harvey H., who is now 
assisting on the farm; and Lila May. Mr. Gilman belongs to the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen and politically he is independent, voting for 
men and measures rather than for party. He and his wife have become 
widely and favorably known in Spink county and have a large and growing 
circle of friends, almost coextensive with the circle of their 
acquaintance.