JAMES C. GILMER, Sr. 1851-1910

The Son of Archibald Gilmer and Margarett Valencia Jones Gilmer


To my chagrin I was successful at finding out who the children living with my 3G grandfathter John A. Jones in 1910 were. John’s first wife Selecia Ellen Crump Jones “Ellen Jones” is buried at Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery PHCPC next to John A. Jones “John Jones.” By 1910 John was married to Josephine Catherine Eatman Eatman (Kate) whose first marriage was to her first cousin Madison Eatman. Madison died after the 1880 census (1880 mortality schedule). 

Kate never had any children of her own. On the 1910 census the fields “mother of how many children” and “number of children living” are blank. She was age 66. I have not found where Kate is buried. 

Sallie F. Jones Gilmer
Sallie was the last child of Alfred Edward Jones and Harriet Baines Strickland Jones. She is John’s baby sister and the mother of the “neices & nephew” living with John & Kate.

According to Sally’s tombstone she was born Feb. 20, 1872 and died Feb. 14, 1904 (PHCPC location: 7/25). The June 05, 1900 Greene census shows her age as 30 and the June 05, 1880 census shows her as age 7. The 1890 census burned.

Sallie married James C. Gilmer December 03, 1895. Their children were:
#1 Velma Valencia 1900 census age 2 born OCT. 1897. April 15, 1910 census age 13. Her grandmother’s name is Margarett Valencia Jones Gilmer and she is buried as Margarett B. wife of Archey Gilmer born Jun. 23, 1823 died Feb. 26, 1892 (PHCPC location: 7/26). The “B” is a mystery! 
#2 Bessie 1900 census age 1 born DEC 1898. April 15, 1910 census age 11.
#3 Buried is an infant born Feb. 8, 1901 and died Feb. 8, 1901 (PHCPC location: 7/16). I suspect this baby is a twin to Sallie F. Jr. (below); the writing on the stone can no longer be read.
#4 Sallie F. Jr., 1910 census age 9, 1920 census age 17.
#5 James C. Jr., 1910 census age 6. His mother’s death date is pretty close to his birth date. 

1910 census Sallie is the mother of TWO children and TWO are living (Velma and Bessie.)

James C. Gilmer, Sr. [Gilmer/Gilmore/Gillmore varies on censuses]
James was the son of Margarett Valencia Jones Gilmer and Archibald Gilmer. He was born May 1851 and died 1910 after the May 10-11 census (PHPCC location: 7/24). 

Census entries for James C. Gilmer, Sr., are: August 17, 1860 census age 9; June 05, 1880 census age 29; June 05, 1900 census age 49 with his birth month as May, and year as 1851. 

The May 10-11, 1910 census James C. Gilmore is living in Mantua, lists himself as a widow age 54 living alone. Everything else matches previous censuses; but we are left wondering why he is alive and his children are living in his brother-in-laws’ house. 

James married first Molly A. Garrett at the residence of M. A. Eatman. (Greene Co. marriage certificate: 8 Dec 1886 Greene Co., AL). Molly was born Oct. 20, 1858 and died May 16, 1893 (PHCPC location: 7/12). Buried next to her are, “Infants of Mary A. and James C. Gilmer” (PHCPC location: 7/13) and , “Infant of J. C. and M. A. Jones born Oct. 10, 1899 died Oct. 10, 1899” (PHCPC location: 7/17); this stone is in error, Molly died 1893. I don’t believe any of Molly’s children survived.


MARRIAGE RECORDS AT ANCESTRY.COM for Jones/Gilmer marriages in Alabama: 
1. Miss Sallie F. Jones to James C. Gilmer 03-DEC-1895 in Pickens Co. by a MINISTER. Surety/Perf: A. J. Coleman, OS PAGE 100 Ancestry.com record #134406 

2. Miss Sallie F. Jones to James C. Gilmer, Pickens Co., AL Nov. 23, 1895 #132542

CENSUSES: 
1850 CENSUS PICKENS CO. 
Page 105A, house 1392 family 1434, in order lines 22-27:
GILMER, Archabale 46 born in SC 
Margarett V. 28 born NC
Nancy M. 15 born AL
Malissa 5 born AL
Robert H. 3 born AL
William J. 1 born AL

1860 CENSUS enum. August 17, 1860 PICKENS CO, MANTUA southern division
Pages 99-100 lines 36-40 & pages 845-846 lines 1-4; ancestry.com image #347
HOUSE/FAMILY 821/718 
GILMORE Archibald 55 M farmer $1,800/$15,000 SC
Margarett V. 38 F housewife NC
Melissa 15 F AL attended school this year 
Robert H. 13 M AL attended school this year
William J. 11 M AL attended school this year
James C. 9 M AL (exact match)
Elizabeth 6 F AL 
John A. 5 M AL 
Thomas J. 2 M AL 

1870 CENSUS enum. July 18, 1870 GREENE CO. MANTUA
Gillmore, R, W M 23 farming born AL
M, W F 49 widow born NC
J, W M 21 born AL (William J.)
James, W M 19 born AL (exact match)
John, W M age 17 born AL
E, W F age 14 born AL

1880 CENSUS enumerated June 05, 1880 GREENE CO., Pleasant Ridge
Page 318B, lines 33-41 house 57 family 57: (everybody can read/write except Alfred)
JONES, Alf. E. W M 51 married farmer cannot read/write NC NC NC
JANE W F 46 wife married at home born AL SC SC
George W M 21 son single farmer born in Arkansas NC NC
James W M 18 son single farmer born AL NC NC
William W M 14 son single at school born AL NC NC
Harriet W F 11 daughter single at school born AL NC NC
SALLIE W F 7 daughter single at school born AL NC NC
CRUMP George W M 24 son single farmer born AL AL AL
CRUMP Susmira W F 20 daughter single at home born AL AL AL

1880 CENSUS enum. June 17, 1880 GREENE CO. PLEASANT RIDGE district 86
Gillmore Jas. C. W M 29 single farmer can read/write AL SC NC 
M, W F 56 widow ?occupation, can read / cannot write NC SC NC 
Rob't. H. W M 33 son single ?occupation can read/write AL SC NC 
NOTE: I cannot read the occupation line 2 and 3. They are STRANGE MARKINGS.

1890 Census burned.

1900 CENSUS enumerated June 05, 1900 GREENE CO. MANTUA district 38 
Page 183A sheet 4A (page #7 of 29 at Ancestry.com), lines 28-31, house 59, family 63:
GILMER, James C. W M May 1851 49 married 4 years AL SC NC FARMER can read/write/speak English, owns a farm FREE (no mortgage) and filed schedule 56
SALLIE F. wife W F Feb. 1870 age 30 married 4 years 2 children, 2 living, AL AL AL
Velma V. daughter W F Oct. 1897 2 AL AL AL
Bessie daughter W F Dec. 1898 1 AL AL AL

1910 CENSUS May 10 & 11, MANTUA, district 31
James C. Gillmore age 54 born AL MOM/NC DAD/SC, Widow, farming, lives alone.

1910 CENSUS enumerated April 15, 1910 GREENE CO. CLINTON, district 28 
Page 1A, lines 13-21 house 3 family 3, in order lines 13-21
JONES, John head W M 56 M2 married 15 years, born in AL parents also AL, farmer EMP can read/write, filed schedule 5.
Kate Jones wife F W 66 M2 married 15 years AL AL AL can read/write 
NOTE: 1900 census they are married 7 years, so 1910 should be 17 years.
Newton C. son M W 20 Single AL AL AL (cannot read occupation) EMP can read/write 
Gilmer, Selecia Velencia niece F W 13 single AL AL AL can read/write 
Gilmer, Bessie, niece F W 11 single AL AL AL can read/write 
Gilmer, Sallie, niece F W 9 single AL AL AL can read/write 
Gilmer, James, nephew M W 6 single AL AL AL 
Rosasa? Henderson SERVANT M black 47 Married AL AL AL cannot read/write 
---Clarris? SERVANT F black 40 married AL AL AL cannot read/write 

1920 CENSUS enumerated January 07, 1920 JEFFERSON CO. BIRMINGHAM 
Roll T625-23 Ancestry.com image #100, SHEET 8B lines 65-71 house 27 family 39.
Pitts, Gideon HEAD1 rents M W 43 married can read/write AL AL AL Foreman 
Nannie wife F W 39 married can read/write AL AL AL none (2nd child of John & Ellen Jones)
Gilmer, Sallie lodger F W 17 single no school this year can read/write AL AL AL employed as an inspector 
Near: 
House 27 family 40, lines 68-71 (Nannie’s brother):
JONES, Newton C. HEAD2 rents M W 31 married can read/write AL AL AL Salesman 
Lizzie F. wife F W 24 married can read/write AL AL AL none 
John F. son M W 3 single cannot read/write AL AL AL none 
Bowman, Fred brother-in-law, M W 27 single can read/write AL AL AL mechanic

SUMMARY:
1851-May James C. Gilmer born in Greene County
1858-Oct. 20 Mary (Molly) A. Garrett is born in Greene County
1860 census age 9 (James)
1870 census age 19 (James)
1872-Feb. 20 Sallie F. Jones is born in Greene County
1880 census age James 29 / Sallie Jones age 7
1886-Dec-03 marries Molly Garrett in Greene County
1889-Oct. 16 Infants (twins) of M. A. & J. C. Gilmer buried at Pleasant Hill (7/13)
1892-Feb. 26 Mother Margarett B. Jones Gilmer dies and is buried at Pleasant Hill (7/26)
1899-Oct. 10 STONE ERROR: infant buried at Pleasant Hill (of M. A. & J. C. Gilmer) (7/17)
1893-May 16 (Molly dies and is buried at Pleasant Hill) (7/12)
1895-Dec. 03 married Sallie F. Jones
1897-Oct. Velma Valencia is born (1900 census age 2; 1910 census age 13)
1898-Dec. Bessie is born (1900 census age 1; 1910 census age 11)
1901-Feb. 8 Sallie F. Jr., is born (1910 census age 9, 1920 census age 17)
1901-Feb. 8 infant is buried at Pleasant Hill (of S. F. & J. C. Gilmer) (7/16)
1904 James C. Jr., is born (1910 census age 6)
1904-Feb 14th Sallie F. Jones Gilmer dies and is buried at Pleasant Hill (7/25)
1900 census James age 42
1910-April 15th James’ children are living with John & Kate Jones
1910-May 10 & 11 census James age 54
1910 after MAY died and was buried at Pleasant Hill (7/24)

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Where is Archibald Gilmer buried? He died before his wife Margarett.

In 1867 the Pickens County land south of the Sipsey River was given to Greene County, and all Greene County land east of the Black Warrior River was given to form HALE County.

Archibald Gilmer’s property abuts Littleberry and Molsey Kings’ property (east side), per 1858 V. Gayles Snedecor map. Also, the following people were involved in the settlement of LITTLEBERRY KING’S estate: F. Medlin (Ferril Medlin), A. Gillmore (Archibald Gilmer), H. G. (Henry) Jones, Drury Jones, and R. C. Jones (most likely Riley C. Jones).

James C. Gilmers’ siblings: (Archibald & Margarett married Jan. 30, 1844)
GILMER, Nancy M. Birth: Abt 1835 AL (age 15 on 1850 census – not Margarett’s child)
GILMER, Malissa Birth: Abt 1845, AL (age 5 on 1850 census)
GILMER, Robert H. Birth: Abt 1847, AL (age 3 on 1850 census)
GILMER, William J. Birth: Abt 1849, AL (age 1 on 1850 census)
GILMER, James C. Birth: 1851, AL (age 9 on 1860 census)
GILMER, Elizabeth (Bettie) Birth: Abt 1854, AL (age 6 on 1860 census)
GILMER, John A. Birth: Abt 1855, AL (age 5 on 1860 census)
GILMER, Thomas J. Birth: Abt 1858, AL (age 2 on 1860 census)

Unconfirmed war record for Archibald H. Gilmer:
Civil War Service: Gilmer, Archibald H. B 20 Alabama Infantry Private.
Confederate War of 1812 GILMER, ARCHIBALD AUSTIN'S REG'T, SC MILITIA. PRIVATE