History of Guilford County North Carolina United States of America

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John Adams Gilmer, representative, was born in Guilford county, N.C., Nov. 4, 1805; son of Capt. Robert Shaw and Anna (Forbis) Gilmer. He received a good education, taught school, studied law and in 1833 was admitted to the bar and practised in Greensboro, N.C. He was a state senator, 1847-56, when he resigned to accept the Whig nomination for governor of North Carolina, but was defeated by Thomas Bragg, then serving as governor, by 12,628 votes. He was a Whig representative in the 35th and 36th congresses, 1857-61, serving in the 36th congress as chairman of the committee on elections. He was prominently named as a suitable southern representative for a seat in the cabinet of Mr. Lincoln, but when North Carolina withdrew from the Union, May 20, 1861, Mr. Gilmer cast his fortunes with his state and was a representative in the 1st and 2d Confederate States congresses, 1862-65. When the Confederate congress adjourned, March 16, 1865, Mr. Gilmer returned to North Carolina and with Mr. Graham favored an interview between Governor Vance and General Sherman, looking to an arrangement for peace. The question of the right of the state to act was in consideration when Sherman received the surrender of Johnston's army near Durham Station, and closed the incident. Mr. Gilmer died in Greensboro, N.C., May 14, 1868.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Jeremy Forbis Gilmer, soldier, was born in Guilford county, N.C., Feb. 23, 1818; son of Capt. Robert Shaw and Anna (Forbis) Gilmer; and brother of John Adams Gilmer. He was graduated at the U.S. military academy in 1839, high in his class. He was assigned to the engineer corps, was promoted 1st lieutenant and captain and was on duty at the engineers' bureau, Washington. D.C., under General Totten at the outbreak of the Mexican war. He was attached to the expedition under Col. A. W. Doniphan which marched from Santa F? by way of Chihuahua to Saltillo, Mexico, reaching that place May 21, 1847, after the capitulation of the city of Mexico. He was then employed in charge of works on the coast of Georgia, 1847-57, and at San Francisco harbor, Cal., 1857-61. He resigned from the army on the secession of his state and being detained while awaiting the arrival of his successor, he did not reach the Confederate capital till September, 1861, when he was commissioned major of engineers and made chief engineer on the staff of Gen. A. S. Johnston in Kentucky. He was present at the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh. He was severely wounded at the battle of Shiloh while in charge of the engineer corps and on his recovery was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general and made chief engineer of the Confederate States army with headquarters at Richmond. He strengthened the fortifications at Charleston, S.C., 1863-64, and made them practically invulnerable against them combined naval force of the United States. He was promoted to the rank of major-general, but declined to supersede Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in command of the Confederate army in Georgia in June, 1864, and returned to Richmond, resuming charge of the engineering bureau. After the surrender he engaged in commercial enterprises in Savannah, Ga., and was a director and for a time acting president of the Central Railroad and Ranking company of Georgia. He was married to Louisa, daughter of Gen. E. P. Alexander of Washington, Ga. He died at Savannah, Ga., Dec. 1, 1883.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Joseph Flavius McCulloch, educator, was born in Guilford county, N.C., June 24, 1856; son of Joseph and Sarah (Julian) McCulloch and grandson of Thomas and Rebecca (Dobson) McCulloch, and of Robert and ??? (Brower) Julian. He was graduated at Adrian college, Mich., A.B., 1883, Ph.B., 1884, A.M., 1889; was instructor in Adrian college, 1883-84; Hopkins scholar at Johns Hopkins university, 1884-85; assistant professor of mathematics, Adrian college, 1885-87; instructor in mathematics, University of Michigan, 1887-88; acting professor of psychology and logic, Adrian college, 1888-89; fellow in mathematics, Clark university, Worcester, Mass., 1889-90; president of Adrian college and professor of psychology, logic and history of philosophy, 1890-93; pastor of the Methodist Protestant church, Fairmount, W. Va., 1893-94, and in 1894 became editor and publisher of Our Church Record, Greensboro, N.C. He was married in 1883 to Mary Elizabeth Barrow, of Blissfield, Mich. He is the author of "Mathematical Theorems with Demonstrations," in Annals of Mathematics, University of Virginia. (1888).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Solomon Meredith, soldier, was born in Guilford county, N.C., May 29, 1810. He removed to Wayne county, Ind., in 1829, where he engaged as a farm laborer, and at intervals attended the district school. He was sheriff of Wayne county, 1834-88, and engaged in mercantile business in Milton and in Cambridge City, Ind., 1838-43. He removed to Oakland Farm in 1843, and engaged in farming and in importing and raising live stock. He represented Wayne county in the Indiana legislature, 1846-48 and 1854-56; was U.S. marshal for the district of Indiana, 1849-53; a director and financial agent of the Indiana Central railroad, 1854-59, and subsequently president of the Cincinnati and Chicago railroad company. He was clerk of the courts of Wayne county, 1859-61, was colonel of the 19th Indiana volunteers 1861-62, and was wounded at Second Bull Run, where he commanded his regiment. He also commanded his regiment at Sharpsburg and Antietam, was promoted brigadier-general, Oct. 6, 1862, and commanded the "Iron Brigade" at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was severely wounded at Gettysburg, and on his return to the field in November, 1863, was assigned to the command of the 1st division, 1st army corps, but was soon forced to abandon it on account of failing health. He commanded the military post of Cairo, Ill., 1864, and the district of Western Kentucky, 1864-65, being honorably mustered out, May 28, 1865. He was brevetted major-general of volunteers, Aug. 14, 1865; was U.S. assessor of internal revenue for his district, 1866-67; surveyor-general of Montana Territory, 1867-69, and then retired to his farm. He was a delegate to the Whig national conventions of 1840 and 1848, and to the Republican national conventions of 1856 and 1860. He was president of the state agricultural board, vice-president of the Agricultural society of Wayne county, a trustee of Cambridge seminary, and a member of the board of directors of Whitewater canal. He was married, March 17, 1835, to Anna Hannah, of Brownsville, Pa. Their three sons, Samuel H., David M. and Henry C. Meredith, served in the Union army during the civil war, and the twelder lost their lives in the service. He died in Cambridge City, Ind., Oct. 21, 1875.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Guilford County North Carolina

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