Jerome Bonaparte Gilmore was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, in
1827, and came to Shreveport, La. in 1849. There is a strong possibility
that he was the son of J. Gilmore, of the firm J. Gilmore and Moses
Dickson, Gunmakers, of Louisville (1848-1860), as, according to the
census of 1840, J. Gilmore, Sr. had a son of about this age. J. B.
Gilmore worked for David Pobst, gunmaker, until about 1853 when young
Gilmore went into the gun business for himself. The 1850 census lists
both Pobst and Gilmore in the same recorders visit which usually means
that they were members of the same household, possibly roommates.
Advertisements for both Pobst and Gilmore appear in the Caddo Gazette in
1853, and seem to indicate that they are competitors. An ad in the Caddo
Gazette, 3 Feb., 1855 is as follows:
J. B. Gilmore, Gun Manufacturer,
Shreveport, La., two doors below the City Hotel on Texas St.
To my friends and customers. After an absence of four months, I am again
at my post, during which time I have visited the best Gun Manufacturers
of the West and South, that I might make myself acquainted with the more
recent and valuable improvements in gunnery. And can now assure my
customers that any work entrusted to me will be finished in the best
style, with such valuable improvements as have been made in the work. I
will keep constantly on hand Shot Guns, Pistols of all kinds, including
Colt’s celebrated repeaters of all sizes, Game and Shot bags, Powder
Flasks and Horns, Bullet bags, Capprimers, Tubes and tube wrenches,
Bullet-moulds, Gun Barrels, Locks, Triggers, Ribbs, Mounting, Baldwin &
Anderson’s Patent Wadding, Eley’s wire Cartridge, Cox & Eley’s caps,
also Colt’s metal lined for his repeating pistols, and a good assortment
of all other kinds. Hazard & Dupont’s powder, both keg and canister of
the finest quality. A few of the celebrated patent-muzzle Rifles for
long shooting, these guns are far ahead of all others that are made, on
account of the great distance as well as the accuracy with which they
can be fired. Rifles of all sizes and qualities made to order. All kinds
of guns and pistols repaired in the neatest manner, and shortest notice,
warranted to stand.
As Gilmore’s shop was located on the trail to Texas (highway 80 today),
it is likely that he furnished many settlers and frontiersmen with guns.
In 1860, Caddo Parish had 1153 registered voters. In 1860 Caddo Parish
sent 1500 men to war. On the 17th day of May 1861, J. B. Gilmore entered
the military service of the Confederate States of America as Captain of
“F” Company, Shreveport Rangers, 3rd Regiment, Louisiana Infantry. His
regiment was transported by the steamer “Grand Duke” to New Orleans and
then proceeded to Fort Smith, Ark., reporting to General Ben McCulloch,
commanding the Army of the West. He served with his command in all the
skermishes and fights including the battles of Oak Hills and Elk Horn in
Ark. and Mo. On the 1st of May 1862, his regiment arrived at Corinth,
Miss., where it was reorganized on the 8th of May. As a result of this
reorganization, Gilmore was elected Lt. Colonel. Lt. Colonel Gilmore
participated in the skermishes at Farmington and other points near
Corinth. Col. F. C. Armstrong was appointed a Brigadier General, and on
6 July took leave of the regiment. Soon after Gilmore was appointed to
full Colonel by President Davis and assumed command of the regiment. At
the battle of Iuka, Miss., on 19 Sept., 1862, Col. Gilmore was severely
wounded and, not being able to withdraw with his regiment, was captured.
He was paroled on the 23rd of Sept., and rejoined his regiment at
Snyder’s Bluff. He was with the regiment during their investment at
Vicksburg, Miss., but being very weak did not assume command. He
resigned his command on 7 July, 1863 and was paroled with his regiment
but never exchanged.
Upon his return from the war he joined a cotton firm as a buyer. It is
probable that his wound prevented him from carrying on his gun business.
In 1860 he had purchased three lots from Leroy M. Nutt for $2300, and in
1872 built a substantial residence on this site. The first City
Directory (1878) lists him as residing at 506 Cotton St.
Gilmore’s wife’s name was Emma and he had a son, Edwin Vincent. During
the carpetbagger era he was Mayor of Shreveport, and was known as a man
of fine character. He was a member of the “General LeRoy Stafford Camp
No. 3, United Confederate Veterans” and it was men from this camp that
served as pall bearers at his funeral in 1900. Jerome Bonaparte
Gilmore’s tombstone lies in lot 22, section 33 of the Greenwood
Cemetery, Shreveport, La., just 20 steps from the graves of his
Confederate comrades in arms.