Reverend John Gilmore

Giles County native John Smith Gilmore used his bravery and intellect to better his community. Born into slavery in 1848, he became a soldier, leader and preacher. He overcame challenges and climbed the leadership ladder, achieving milestones and earning respect every step of the way.

John’s father, Thomas Smith, was a Methodist preacher ministering to an enslaved congregation. John was taught to be a porter and waiter from an early age and learned to read, a skill which triggered his curiosity and laid a foundation for his future.

John and his family were among 74 people enslaved on the farm of David Reynolds. John was 12 when the Civil War began. In January of 1864, when John was only 15, he enlisted in the United States Colored Infantry Regiment. According to Corporal Lucious Witt, John “preferred to carry a musket rather than blow a fife. He…was one of the best drilled and bravest soldiers of the regiment, who was often on the detail as an independent scout.”

In 1865, John’s regiment was transferred to Murfreesboro and tasked with uncovering mass graves and reburying the soldiers from the Battle of Stones River. During this time, John attended school under his regimental chaplain and was awarded top scholar in his company for 1865 and 1866. Because of his intelligence and experience, John earned a promotion to the position of Orderly. He held the Orderly position until his discharge in 1866.

After the war, John returned to Giles County to work as a farmer at the plantation of his former owner, David Reynolds. Driven by desire for knowledge, John attended Union Freedmen School, founded and operated by Reuben Clark and his wife, Edwina. Clark, who had also been born into slavery in Tennessee, escaped with his family to Ohio. When the Civil War began, Clark joined the 44th USCT regiment. After the war, he and his wife moved to Pulaski to open the Union Freedmen School. More than 100 students attended the school, which was funded entirely by freedmen. Union Freedmen School also had a Sunday School, serving nearly 240 students.

In 1869, John married Amanda Reynolds, and their daughter, Ella, was born. The following year, John enrolled at the Nashville Baptist College in Nashville, where he received training as a Baptist preacher and teacher. Completing his education in 1872, John returned to Giles County to teach. His education and communication skills prepared him to become a leader. He began preaching at Old Round Hill Baptist Church and Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church. In 1872, the Richland Creek Missionary Baptist Association held its annual meeting at Old Round Hill and John was elected to represent his church at the meeting. Earning attention and respect, he was chosen to represent Richland Creek Missionary Baptist Association at the association’s statewide meeting.  

In 1873, the association elected John to serve as moderator. John and his family moved to Athens, Alabama, where John became pastor of Saint Luke’s Baptist Church, while continuing to preach at Round Hill. Under his leadership, Round Hill grew a large membership, bought land, and built a new house of worship.

A year after moving to Athens, John and his wife Amanda divorced. While in Athens, John met and married Frances Anderson Gilmore. They married in 1879. While John was enjoying great professional success, he endured personal sorrow. Frances died in September of 1881. In 1884, John’s daughter, Ella, died at the age of 14.

John had led Richland Creek Missionary Baptist Association for 11 years, when he was offered to become pastor of Mount Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church in Columbia, Tennessee. The church was a member of a different association, the Duck River Missionary Baptist Association. After John moved to Columbia, the church decided to join Richland Creek Missionary Baptist Association, which was so well managed under John’s leadership.

John was also known as a mechanic and architect and was skilled in working with wood, stone and brick. He oversaw the construction of new church buildings in Columbia.

In 1885, John married Sarah Jane King Gilmore. Their son, Lucious Gilmore, was born in 1889.

Having settled down in Columbia, John continued to be involved with Richland Creek Missionary Baptist Association. He served as moderator for more than 40 years. Under his leadership, the association developed new congregations and new buildings. In 1907, John compiled a thorough history of the association, including biographies of its prominent preachers.

John instilled in his son a passion for learning and service. Lucious attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville and became a physician. In 1917, Dr. Lucious Gilmore volunteered for the United States Army Medical Reserve Corps. He passed the exams with an exceptionally high grade. He served in France in the 365th Infantry Regiment of the 92nd Division. Dr. Lucious Gilmore received recognition for bravery while on the front lines in France.

John left a legacy of accomplishments, strong character and words of wisdom. In his 1899 address to the Missionary Baptist Convention, John said, “Don’t compromise your character while you are young, build it up, for when you are old you will have a foundation to live on. Now, my brethren, while you are forming this, the most important factor in your lives, let your character be spotless, for we only pass this way once.”

The information for this story comes from The Giles County Historical Society Bulletin. Special thanks to Kelly Hamlin, editor of the bulletin, who researched the topic and provided the information.