Gilman Land Company

The Gilman Land Company was incorporated on July 26, 1907, under Chapter 176 of the General Laws of the State of Rhode Island by Robert H. I. Goddard (1837-1916), his son, R. H. Ives Goddard (1880-1959) and Brown family trustees, George W. R. Matteson (1833-1908) and his son, Frank W. Matteson (1869-1933). The principal corporate objectives and purposes set forth in its charter were to purchase, acquire, take, hold, manage, improve, lease, mortgage and sell real estate. Upon its incorporation the company's total authorized capital stock was $67,200 (672 shares at $100) with original stockholders and the apportionment of stocks at the time of incorporation as follows: William Goddard (64), u/w Charlotte R. Goddard for Moses B. I. Goddard (48), Robert H. I. Goddard (64), Elizabeth A. Shepard (64), u/w Moses B. I. Goddard (16), u/w Henry L. Goddard (24), Horace Binney (28), Hope Ives Powel (14), George F. Tyler (7), Hope Binney Tyler Montgomery (7) and Brown Land Company (336). The Mattesons controlled the 336 shares of Brown Land Company holdings and Brown & Ives represented the interests of the remaining ten stockholders.

President Robert H. I. Goddard was elected at the first stockholder's meeting on July 30, 1907, and he guided the first and only real estate purchase of the newly formed company - the Gilman Block located in Sioux City, Iowa. Previous to Gilman Land Company's purchase of this commercial site, this property was jointly owned by Brown Land Company and numerous heirs of Charlotte R. Goddard: u/w Charlotte R. Goddard for Moses B. I. Goddard, u/w Moses B. I. Goddard, Rhode Island Hospital Trust, Estate of Henry L. Goddard, Horace Binney, Hope Ives Powel, George F. Tyler and Hope Binney Tyler Montgomery. By taking this property out of the hands of individual ownership and creating an incorporated holding company, financial liability passed to Gilman Land Company.

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