Ed Gillman Pigeon shooting Champion 1876

I have been researching Ed Gillman of Detroit for many years he was the world champion live pigeon shooter in 1876. For many years they had the Gillman -Barnes Trophy. Does anyone know anything about Ed Gillman or the Gillman-Barnes Trophy? I also collect live Pigeon shooting trophies.

Regards Jim

 

Jim,

Do you have something specific you are looking for? I created a file on the Gillman-Barnes trophy some years back and each time I come across something about it, I add it.

If you've been researching Mr. Gillman for years, you must know that he and his brother had a shop in the early 1880's and sold frogs, spring chickens, shell oysters and little neck clams. He later became a book-keeper and had several businesses with his friend G. Howard Barnes. Together they hunted, fished, shot and even yachted together.

A group of businessmen purchased property on Fighting Island and built the Des-Chree-Shos-Ka Hotel & Casino in 1890 I believe. This is the place where the first International shooting tournament was held for the Gillman & Barnes medal in 1891. Each year it was contested at the Hotel and Casino and thus was sometimes referred to by the name of that place.

I have a list of of the winners but it's incomplete.

My records show that the medal was retired when Joseph M. McLaughlin, of Detroit won it for the 3rd time in 1919. That trophy had been in competition for about 28 years. At the time it was purchased it had a value of $150.

Both Howard D. Bates, Ridgetown, Ontario, CAN, and Rolla "Pop" Heikes won two legs on the medal and a lady who has long been overlooked, Mrs. Lou Vogel, of Detroit, won the medal once.

Ed H. Gillman was quite a character. Involved in everything from the Elks, Michigan State Trapshooting Association, shoot promoter, member of a yacht club, show dogs, etc. He devoted much time to the protection of fish and game, even working with legislators for better laws and creating a position for Michigan's first Game Warden. He even took up the project to obtain funding for the Game Warden's expenses.

They threw Keystone Targets at the first annual International Championship.

Enjoy Our History !

HB

 

HB here is a flyer for Des-Chree-Shos-Ka the only one I know of

 

Jim,

I always enjoy discussions with others who express their love for our trapshooting history. I really didn't have much in my files on Mr. Gillman since I was more interested in the trophy and its winners. I truly appreciate your information and the wonderful advertisement for the Hotel Casino. I knew it had to be magnificent and recall it was about a 38-minute boat ride to get to it and boats left every hour.

Mr. Gillman liked yachting also and while I knew he was a shooter, I didn't know he was an accomplished wingshot, only that he had won a few matches and trophies. I knew he liked to duck and deer hunt, often making trips with friends to Turtle Lake. Didn't he try to buy property there with a group of associates also?

He seemed to know everybody. He shot and managed shooting tournaments with Ira A. Paine, the great shooter who shot against Captain Bogardus. He also shot his team against a team captained by the great shootist Doc Carver.

I've never come across a description or picture of the Gillman & Barnes medal and would like it for my files. I sure hope the original did not get melted down as many old medals do. I rescued a medal a few years ago that was won by Charlie Hymer about 1915. The jeweler offered it to collectors at the value of gold at the time, before melting it down. I just could not let that happen.

Here's a picture of the gentleman who won and retired the medal in 1919.

Enjoy Our History ! ​

 

Yes they bought property Pte Mouillee Shooting Club had 2608 acres, from 1875 to 1945, The State of Michigan bought the club for a State Game Area. At Turtle Lake they now have about 25, 000 acres and that club is still going. Ed had lots of very wealthy friends. Ed spend his last years at Turtle Lake and is buried there. Ed was the State of Michigan live bird champion several times and the World Champion live bird shootter in 1876 in Eaton's book on trap shooting

 

Oh, and here's a little more about the Hotel Casino. I figured something must have happened with the resort because the contests for the medal moved away from the Island, the only place the Gillman & Barnes medal was to be contested for, and a notice that Mr. Gillman was going into a new business in 1892.

Enjoy Our History !
​

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Jim, can you point me to where he's named in Dave Eaton's Book? I'd like to read it.

 

HB

Thanks for your information, You are very good on Trap shooting history, I love the live pigeon shooting history.

 

Thanks for your information you are very good on trap shooting history, I love live pigeon shooting history, here are two early pigeon traps in my collection I love this stuff Ed is mention in the first few

 

Ed Gillman is mentioned in Eaton's trap shooting book in the first few pages about page 3 or 4. Eaton talks about Ed winning the world championship in 1876 he won from Bradford.

 

Jim,

I too love the history of live birds. It took me years to learn what was meant when talking about H & T Traps.

And I was amazed to learn of all the different birds they used. In my early days of research I only thought they used pigeons. Then I came across Mr. Hill, of Indiana and finally saw a W. T. Hill Sparrow Trap.

Mr. Gillman's International win in 1880.

 

Two early live bird traps from my collection sorry last try to post they were too big

 

A couple of my favorite early live-bird traps.

Enjoy Our History !​

 

I was elated when I just found a picture of the Gilman-Barnes medal in the Detroit Free Press of February 16, 1905.

​

While saving it, I saw a file called International Live Bird Badge. I went back and opened it and was elated two times in 5 minutes to see that for years I actually had a picture of the badge on file never realizing it. It's from an 1899 issue of Sportsmen's review and the quality is a bit better. Note the name of the Hotel-Casino "Des-Chree-Shos-Ka."

Enjoy Our History !​

 

The Des-Chree-Shos-Ka medal is GREAT NEVER SEEN ONE, I sure would like to find one
I have a Jack Parker Trophy from the Monroe Gun Club 1910 and it is in great shape and Sterling

 

HB, I`m thinking Fred Gilbert was one of the winners of the Des-Chree-Shos-Ka medal? Looks like the medal he is wearing in this photo...
Trap3

 

I couldn't find Gilbert's win of the Des-Chree-Shos-Ka medal in Sporting Life, but this is interesting
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1895/VOL_25_NO_15/SL2515024.pdf
Des-Chree-Shos-Ka Jack Parker ran the 1895 NY State Ass. Tournament in 1895

Jack Parker's Detroit Tournament 1895. Lots of big names but I don't see Gilbert listed
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1895/VOL_25_NO_26/SL2526018.pdf

 

1896 still no Gilbert
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1896/VOL_27_NO_22/SL2722018.pdf

 

It could have been awarded at one of the St. Thomas' tournaments. Gilbert looks to be c. 1896 in that picture.
1898
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1898/VOL_32_NO_14/SL3214016.pdf

 

Drew Hause,

I want to say how much I appreciate your adding additional information to the many topics on this history forum. Hopefully others will read with interest about the early days of our great sport.

Fred Gilbert did win the Gilman-Barnes medal in 1902.

Last week was a good one for live bird records. At Detroit, Sept. 19, Fred Gilbert and H. D. Bates had a great shoot-off for the Gilman-Barnes International live bird medal. Gilbert won by killing 95 straight, Bates missing on the 95th round. Gilbert stood at 32 yards and Bates 31 yards. Had the latter won this time the medal, valued at $250, would have become his property as he already had two wins to his credit.
[ SPORTING LIFE, September 27, 1902, page 22 ]

IN MICHIGAN
JOHN PARKER’S ANNUAL MEET AT DETROIT
Gilbert Leads in Flying Target Events From 20-Yards – Trimble Second Best – Lang Won Handicap Trophy – Woods Took Expert Trophy, Etc.​

Detroit, Mich. Sept 20. Jack Parker’s annual shoot closed at the Rusch House grounds, this city today. There were many crack shots present and they rolled up some hot scores, even with the distance handicap against them.


Owing to the rain on Friday the final day’s programme was postponed until Saturday, Sept 20, at which time the Gilman-Barnes International trophy was shot for. Beginning shortly before noon with a good field of starters the race continued until, one by one all the experts and professionals, had dropped from the list and only Fred Gilbert and H. D. Bates, of Ridgetown, Can., and Jack Parker himself remained. On the 57th bird Parker fell out, leaving Gilbert and Bates to fight it out. There was an unusual interest in this competition as Bates had already won the trophy twice, and if he won this time the prize became his personal property. The two cracks continued to kill bird after bird, no matter how speedy they left the trap, until the 95th round, when Bates drew a low driver, which he hit with the first barrel but could not get the second in the right place and it sailed over the bounds. Gilbert killed his bird and carried the prize home, but will come back in the spring to defend it in another open shoot.
[ SPORTING LIFE, October 4, 1902, page 19 ]


Winchester Advertisement

Two New World’s Records Made, and Two More Trophies Won with

WINCHESTER FACTORY LOADED SHELLS​

In Detroit, Mich., September 20th, Mr. Fred Gilbert, shooting Winchester “Leader” Factory Loaded Shells won the Gilman & Barnes International Trophy, killing 95 straight from the 32-yard mark, a record never before equaled.

In Kansas City, Mo., September 19th, Mr. W. R. Crosby, shooting Winchester “Leader” Factory Loaded Shells, won the Hazard Powder Co.’s Trophy and made a new world’s record by killing 61 pigeons from the 33-yard mark. Six of the seven straight men in this contest used Winchester “Leader” Factory Loaded Shells.
[ SPORTING LIFE, October 11, 1902, page 16 ]

Enjoy Our History !

HB

 

Your are most welcome, and we are all owe you and Randy our gratitude for graciously documented the history of the sport we all care deeply about.

Fred gained some weight between 1902 and 1904.

c. 1903



c. 1904 from Field and Stream, March 1937



"The Phantom of Spirit Lake" started with a Smith, then for the 1899 GAH switched to a Parker. Order Book No. 41 records BH SN 83855 placed into stock in January, 1896 consigned to Fred Gilbert. The stock book lists a D5 hammerless, 0 extras, straight stock,12 gauge, 30" barrels, Gun count 482, Damascus barrels.

Toward the end of 1901, Gilbert received his new Parker DH SN 103649; no dolls head, no ejectors, 32” barrels, ordered by Russell Klein, Gilbert’s brother-in-law and a trapshooter, also from Spirit Lake
https://books.google.com/books?id=rkgcAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1012&lpg
Klein competed at the 1903 GAH
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1903/VOL_41_NO_06/SL4106017.pdf
He and John Burmister operated a club in Spirit Lake
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1902/VOL_40_NO_08/SL4008011.pdf
The gun was returned to Parker Brothers in 1903 to be refurbished.

Both Parkers are in private hands. I've not been able to find his Smith. It might be in the Dickinson County, Iowa museum. It's not in the Spirit Lake library.
ANY NW IOWA FOLKS HERE WHO COULD CHECK IT OUT?

 

HB...Drew... Short story about Gilbert and his trophies. At the Grand one year I was having a conversation with Dick Baldwin
about Gilbert and he asks If I had seen the medals and trophies in the museum. Remarkable collection...Tells me the story that he had located them in Overland Park, Kansas at the home of Gilbert`s grandson. I couldn`t believe it... all of Gilbert`s trophies 20 minutes from where I live...

Trap3

 

Unbelievable! We were out in Cedar Creek 1990-2002, then in Prairie Village before moving to AZ in 2004.

 

I Know!!! Probably stored away in boxes... HB could probably tell us what year they were acquired.

Trap3

 

I believe all of Mr. Gilberts collection (trophies, medals, etc.) were donated by Thomas Gilbert in early 2002.

HB

 

Thanks...HB

Trap3