My Genealogy Hound

DAVID GILMORE, retired, post office Bridgeville, was born in Fayette (now South Fayette) township, in 1819. James Gilmore, his grandfather, came from the north of Ireland to America previous to the revolutionary war, and settled in Chester county, Pa.; he married Elizabeth Lawhead, daughter of Robert Lawhead, a wealthy farmer of Lancaster county, and soon after marriage, which was against the wishes of Mr. Lawhead, Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore came to Fayette township, this county, and purchased three hundred acres of land, here remaining until his death, which occurred when he was eighty years of age. Three sons and five daughters were born to him. William, the eldest, was born in 1783, and died about 1826. He was a miller, and owned a whisky distillery, which he successfully operated until 1812, when he purchased a farm of one hundred and eighty acres. He married Mary, daughter of William Denniston, of Ireland, and five sons and two daughters were born to them. David, the fourth child, is now the only surviving member of this family. He was educated at the common schools, and remained on his father’s farm until he was twenty-one years old, when he purchased the home farm from his father’s heirs, and afterward engaged in the milling business, which he successfully carried on for twenty years, operating the Allegheny City Flouring mills from 1861 to 1877. For five years of that period he was also extensively engaged in the brewing business in Allegheny City. Mr. Gilmore married, in 1846, Sarah Johnson, daughter of Robert and Jennie Moss. Mr. Gilmore returned to Bridgeville in 1878, and purchased his present home, where he and his wife have since resided. He was a director and vice-president of the Anchor Savings Bank, of Pittsburgh, for several years, was a member, of the common and select councils of that city; was director of the Armenia Insurance company, Allegheny City; justice of the peace in South Fayette township; treasurer of school board, and is a member of the Second U. P. Church of Allegheny.