California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


RUFUS GILMER. A pioneer of the state and one who has experienced the adversities and 
profits of the early mining days, Rufus Gilmer, of Visalia, Tulare county, stand's as a link between 
the prosperous present which is the outgrowth of the efforts of unselfish and courageous pio- 
neers, and a past replete with danger, hardships and privations. For fifteen years he has made his 
home in this city, enjoying in retirement the fruits of his early efforts, this home at No. 118 
West Willow street being presided over by his daughter. 

A native of Pope county, Ill., Rufus Gilmer was born in Golconda October 11, 1824, a son 
of Campbell Gilmer. The elder man was a native of Adair county, Ky., who came to Illinois 
in an early day, locating at Golconda, where he made his home until 1835, practicing medicine. 
In the last named year he removed to Fort Madison, Iowa, and continued the practice of his pro- 
fession until his death. His wife had died when Rufus Gilmer, the oldest in a family of two sons 
and two daughters, was quite young. This son is the only one now living. He received a rather 
limited education in the common schools in the vicinity of his home, remaining in the middle 
west until 1850. In that year he crossed the plains with horse-teams, and upon his safe ar- 
rival in California located in the mines at Georgetown, Eldorado county, but which was then 
known as the Eldorado country. For nine years he followed the occupation of miner, meeting 
with a success which justified his long continuance in the work. He was principally interested 
in placer mining. In 1859 he decided to withdraw from the work of a miner and accordingly 
came to Tulare county and near Visalia located with a herd of cattle. Following this he engaged 
for fifteen years in the stock business, upon the passing of the fence law disposing of his cattle, 
after which he engaged in farming. For two years he also conducted a livery stable in Por- 
tersville, Tulare county, at the same time that he was interested in farming. In 1889 he returned 
to Visalia and has since lived retired from the active cares of life. 

In Eldorado county, this state, Mr. Gilmer was united in marriage with Ann Harvey, a native of 
Kentucky, who died in Visalia in the early '80s. They became the parents of five children, namely : 
Kate, who married William Wright, an engineer on the Southern Pacific Railroad and whose home 
is at Portersville ; Jane, who married W. Cartnell, of Tulare; Guy, in the employ of the South- 
ern Pacific Railway ; Emma, who married A. Abby, of Portersville ; and Eleanor, who married 
John Cutler and now ,makes her home with her father. In his political affiliations Mr. Gilmer is 
a Democrat.