The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-04-17
OBITUARY..


Our people were greatly saddened, on Sunday
morning, to learn that the Hon. Charles II. Gil
man. one of our most eminent citizens. had met
with an accident so serious that it must tcrrnin.
ate IN his speedy death. The Judge, whose resi-
dence is on the east side had been in the bust
ness part Of the city late at night and his family
being out of town, instead of going home had re,
turned to his office in the second story Of Woods
Armory Block and laid down on lounge Late
| in the night-at about 4 O'Clock in the morning
in fact-feeling uneasy he got up in the dark,
and being doubtless but half awake and confused
IN mind, started to 20 out, and mislaking an
open window for the door stepped out and fell
heavily--h weight was nearly 200 fbs.-on the
sidewalk some twenty feet below. Now thor.
oughly awake, though stunned, he made shrill
police as well as the young man who sleeps in
Forbes e behring's drug store, besides one or
two others. Not knowing how the Judge had
got there, they picked him up and carried him to
his office, but on arriving at the door found it
locked on the inside. One of them cimed over
the transom and opened it, when the open win
dow ard the surroundings revealed the fact that
the Judge had fallen out of the window. However,
no bones appeared to be broken and the Judge
being conscious, he was left there until more ef.
hcient aid could reach him in the morning. Then,
however, 1t was soon revealed that though no
bones were broken he had received internal in
juries that must prove fatal. He was soon taken
to his home and made comfortable, receiving
every medical as well as Other care, but he knew
as well as his physicians that the END was at
hand, and met the grim monster not only with
out fear but almost cheerfully, regarding death
as but change from q lower to a higher and
better state of existence.
Judge Gilman was born at East Window, Conn.,,
in 1917. Receiving, as all Connecticut youths
do, a good high school education, he was en-
gagged in various occupations, such as farmn 2
and clerkng by turns, until 1910, when he turned
his face westward He first located in that year
at Peru, In this county, and soon afterwards
bought farm and went to work upon il in Troy
Grove, adjoining the village of Homer. Marry
Ing about that time the daughter Of the Hon.
Asa Mann, former prominent and well known
Pennsylvania politician but then resident OF
Troy Grove he settled down to farm work, hling
at The same time the office Of justice of the peace
and other local positions. Ten or twelve years
later he removed to Mendoza and commenced the
practice of law, for which he had been by years of
study preparing himself, and by 1869 his profess
sional ability became so well recognized that he
was elected to the important Office of county
Judge of La Sale county, the duties of which he
discharged with exceptional ability. Subsequent
lly he was also elected a member of the state
board of equalization from this congressional
;,l, h,, h;s nj
thoughtful, methodcal habits, he was peculiarly
fitted. Retiring from office, he formed a
partnership with the Hon. W. Bushnell in the
legal practice in this city, and subsequently with
his son in law, Mr. Cook, of which firm h e re-
msined the head until his death.
As lawyer, Judge Gilman was deeply read,
careful, methodical and in counsel always safe
Displaying no especial forensic ability, he was
| trusted more for his care and faultcss accuracy
in preparing his cases and especially his plead
iugs He despIsed all legal lodges and tricks
| his only care was to get at the exact facts and
Justice OF his case.
He was q man not only thorough in his legai
studies, but had II thinking. Flooding, pbiloso-
phical mind, which made him, aside from his le.
gal profession, a devoiee Of scientific studies. es
peciallv in tie direction OF geology, minerology
and anthropoogy.
| In his personal intercourse with his fellows he
was exceptionally social, genial and comTan-
ionahle-s man Of much dry, innocent humor,
fond of good story. and on festive and conviviai
occasions never failing 10 contribute his part
honored BY all trusted by all-the soul of recti.
tude, he had no enemy in the world saye-him-
self.
special car carried the remains, his family,
friends and members Of the La Sale county bar,
ON Yesterday morning, TO Mendoza, where he rs
laid to rest with ether deceased members Of his
family.