Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1893 — Senator Gilman and His Red-Headed Barn. [ARTICLE]

Senator Gilman and His Red-Headed Barn.

Indianapolis Sun. One of the most pleasing characters in the senate is Senator Gilman, of Goodland. He looks to be very old, but is barely past 58 years. His hair and beard are white, which is a peculiarity of his family on his mother’s side. His mother’s brother was white haired at 28. The senator looks as solemn as a quaker minister, but upon acquaintance one sees a merry twinkle ia his eye and he loves a good story. “You want something about me, do you?” he said to The Sun, Monday morning. “Well, I am a new Yorker by birth, have always been under petticoat government and find it a first class thing. When I was three years of age jny parents took me visiting to Essex county, New York. I met a 2-vear-old girl with hair as red as a fox’s tail and eyes as black as could be. I imniediately_fell in love with her and wanted to take her with me. My parents wanted to substitute a rag doll, but that did’nt work. After promising her that I should return to see her soon I went back home. At the age of 171 saw her again. Her head was still red, her

eyes were still black and I still loved her. Before I was 21 we were married and came west at once. We lived in Minnesota seven years, in Illinois two years and have been in Indiana ever since. We live on 140 acres of land near Goodland and have plenty to eat and wear. I never said a word to my wife about her red hair until after we were married. She declared it was'nt red, but auburn. I had my barn painted as near the color as possible, and it is known all over the county now as the “auburn barn.” Senator Gilman began his political career as township trustee, then clerk of the circuit court, and has been in the legislature since ’79.