James H. Fillmore

James Henry Fillmore was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 1, 1849. He is the eldest of a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters. The parents of this musical family were Rev. A. D. Fillmore, a minister of the Christian Church, and a musical author and publisher of note in his day, and Hannah M. Fillmore (nee Lockwood), a singer of considerable fame in her time.

Three of the sons, J. H., Charles M., and Fred. A., have made their mark as composers, and have been a part of the Fillmore Brothers’ music firm since young manhood. Frank has taught music classes, but at present is a farmer in Oklahoma. Aden L., the youngest, has made a reputation as an evangelistic singer, and for several years has taught music in the public schools in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, also conducting large chorus choirs in churches.

J. H. Fillmore, after going through the public schools of Cincinnati, learned the printing trade — typesetting, including music printing. At the time J. H. was twenty-one his father died, leaving the family on a small farm near Cincinnati. The father left also a little estate consisting of one or two church music books that were selling pretty ^vell. J. H. decided to quit the printing-office and devote himself to teaching church congregational singing, using the books that his father had published.

He made a success of music teaching and music book selling, thereby supporting the family and educating, the younger children. He soon revised the latest church music book of his deceased father, adding to it many of the later popular pieces, with some of his own writing, thereby greatly increasing its sale.

His first song book was “Songs of Glory,” for Sunday-schools. He had invented a notation with figures in the notes. This book became very popular. Its large sales enabled him and his brother Frank to launch the firm of Fillmore Brothers, music publishers, which is now so well known. ” Songs of Glory ” was issued in 1874 and was followed by “Hours of Song” for singing schools which sold largely, and, surprising as it may seem, is still having a good sale.

From this beginning grew one of the most influential music publishing houses in the country. In the lines of church and Sunday-school music, gospel songs, day-school songs, anthems, choruses, temperance and prohibition songs and general sheet music, the firm has for years occupied a foremost position. Several years ago a monthly music journal, called The Musical Messenger and edited by Chas. M. and J. H. Fillmore, was published by the firm. It was the most popular magazine of its day with teachers and amateurs. The Musical Messenger has, in recent years, been changed to a band and orchestra journal, with a large circulation.

While Mr. Fillmore has been all these years at the head of the Fillmore Brothers’ Music House, he has also written music voluminously. The books that he has edited and helped edit run up into the hundreds, both large and small. In addition he has kept up an annual issue of services or concert exercises for Sunday-schools for Christmas, Easter, Children’s Day and other special occasions.

He has always been an active church and Sunday-school worker, leading the music and serving as a church officer in his home congregation. He has also been a prominent figure in the national gatherings of his denomination, often leading the music at its conventions, and has been honored by his brethren with positions on their missionary boards.

Mr. Fillmore was one of the founders of The Protestant Home for Working Boys in Cincinnati, an institution for taking care of orphan boys. It was started in 1899 and is still in a flourishing condition, having graduated into honorable manhood many boys who might otherwise have perished. From the beginning of the Home Mr. Fillmore has been an honored trustee and the active treasurer of the institution. He has also been a liberal contributor to the Home as well as to many other worthy benevolences. In fact, much of the money that Mr. Fillmore has earned has found its way into the various departments of church activities and other benevolent institutions.

While Mr. Fillmore has never been a politician in the popular sense of the term, he, feeling his responsibility as a citizen, has always been deeply interested in good government ; and has ever been active and persistent in his earnest advocacy of all moral reforms. In his conscientious views of righteous government he has not always been ” the stronger on the stronger side,” but has never yielded his convictions nor his persistence. Though singularly without malice or partisan bias, he has ever had the courage of his convictions, and has never feared nor failed to lift his voice and use his pen in behalf of what he conscientiously felt to be right in political, social or religious matters.

Mr. Fillmore’s health was never robust. He has been rather a delicate and overworked man, and has passed through some financial and physical trials that have hindered him for a time ; but now, in his sixty-second year, his health is better than it ever was, and he is doing more and better work than at any period of his life. He does not seem to know that there is such a thing as a ” dead line ” this side of the tomb. Every one who knows him expects him to live as long as Gladstone or Fanny Crosby, and to be just as virile as the former, and as unfading and unfailing as the latter, to the last.

Personally, Mr. Fillmore is congenial, liberal and companionable. He is well beloved by all who know him. He is not rich in this world’s goods because he has been generous. He has handled a good deal of money in his time, and much that he has personally earned has been banked in heaven where he hopes some day to find it.

This sketch would not be complete without mention of the home-life of Mr. Fillmore. To him the precincts of home have ever been sacred, and here in the bosom of his interesting family he has found inspiration, encouragement, happiness and rest. Here he is cherished, honored and loved. His home calls out his utmost fidelity and devotion, his loyalty and love.

He was happily married thirty-one years ago. He and his wife before their marriage were teachers in the Sunday-school together. It has always been a question ol” debate as to which is the most popular of the two. Their home has been the hospitable abiding place of preachers, missionaries and prominent people of their church, as well as the stopping place for their large circle of relatives and friends. In other words, they have always been entertainers in their home. Tliey have four living children. The oldest, Henry Fillmore, is a band and orchestra musician and composer. He is now associated with The Fillmore Music House, having an office in the building. His special work is writing and arranging band and orchestra music, both sacred and secular. He writes not only under his own name, but under a nom cU jpUi^me or two, and it is not an exaggeration to say that his band and orchestra music is as popular as any published. His special band instrument is the slide trombone. He has written some trombone humoresques that are standard concert numbers. Their daughter Mary is married to Mr. S. C. Shipley, a professor in the University of Minnesota. They live in their own home in Minneapolis. Freddie, the second daughter, named after her uncle, Fred. A., is a fine pianist and singer. The baby daughter, Annie Louise, graduated from the Norwood (Cincinnati) High School, June, 1911. She is a talented, all-round musician as w^ell as a popular teacher and leader among her set.

This world has been made happier and better because James H. Fillmore lived in it. The sunshine of his nature has scattered many a cloud, and made radiant many a face, and gladdened many a heart. His beautiful songs have been sung over all this fair land of ours, and their sweet strains still echo and will re-echo clown the ages. His songs have been sung and are sung to-day in stately cathedral, village church and humble cottage home with equal fervor, pleasure and profit. Because of his songs many a church is richer in grace and spirituality ; and many an individual has a firmer grasp upon God and His promises, and upon purity and the sweeter and better things of life. Many have heard in these gospel songs the sweet invitation of Jesus, and turned from a life of sin to find peace and the Saviour’s pardoning love. Countless throngs of the young have sung Fillmore’s matchless children’s songs. How these bright and beautiful songs for the children have enriched the music of our Sunday-schools and gladdened youthful hearts on Children’s Day! How these songs have thrilled us all and helped us all to help others !

Mr. Fillmore has edited and published two church hymnals that compare favorably w^ith the best in the land. His musical compositions are always practical, singable, and most of them possess a merit that gives them long life. Some of his most popular gospel songs are : “I am Resolved,” ” I Know that My Redeemer Liveth,” “Tell It To-day,” “Purer in Heart,” “Only Waiting,” ” Victory Ours Shall Be,” ” The Victory May Depend on You,” “Going Down the Valley,” ” I’ve Wandered Oft,” ” He Stands So Near,” or ” He A\^aits for Thee,” ” Would You Have the Joy Bells?” ” Calling Me Over the Tide,” ” No More Good-Byes,” etc.

“Sing unto the Lord, bless His name;
show forth His salvation from day to day.”