Jerome B. Gilmore facts for kids

Jerome Boneparte Gilmore was born in 1827 in Kentucky. He grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and worked in his brother's well-known shop that sold guns and fishing gear. In 1849, Jerome moved to Shreveport, Louisiana. There, he worked and lived with another gunsmith named David Pobst.

In 1853, Gilmore started his own gunsmith business. He was one of only a few people in the country who sold the famous Deringer pistols. Sometimes, the barrels of his pistols were hand-engraved with "J. B. Gilmore, Shreveport, La.", while others were stamped. A very rare set of dueling pistols with his markings is known to exist. Today, all pistols marked by Jerome B. Gilmore are highly valued by collectors.

Family Life and New Beginnings

Around 1857, Jerome married Emma. By 1860, they had a daughter named Emma M. Gilmore. Their son, William F. F. Gilmore, was born in 1861.

Serving in the Civil War

When the American Civil War began, Gilmore joined the 3rd Louisiana Infantry. He started as a captain. Later, he was hurt in a battle. He left the military as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Life After the War

After the Civil War ended, Jerome Gilmore stopped being a gunsmith. He became a merchant, which means he bought and sold goods, in Shreveport. In 1869, his son Henry Gilmore was born. That same year, during a time called Reconstruction, the U.S. government chose him to be the mayor of Shreveport. He served as mayor until 1871. By 1880, Gilmore was working as a cotton buyer.

Later Years and Legacy

Jerome's wife, Emma, passed away in Shreveport in 1895. Jerome Boneparte Gilmore died in 1900. Both of them are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Shreveport.