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12/9/2009 - Gilsinger History Timeline

Indiana's Oldest John Deere Dealer

John Shank and Joseph Gilsinger began the business in October of 1899 in Pulaski County, Indiana.  In July of 1901 Shanks and Gilsinger sold 10 Deering binders and 7 mowers.  In 1902 the company suffered a fire and lost all of the stock in the Watts building.  By July of that year, Shank and Gilsinger assembled Deering corn harvestoers.  A new business partner, Frank Miller joined the business in 1903.  In 1912 the company moves buildings again and begins to sell hand and horse drawn equipment, plows, cultivators, buggies and wagons.  In 1930 J.P. Gilsinger Co. sells its first John Deere D tractor. 

Like many businesses of that era, Gilsinger's was owned and operated by family members.  J.P.'s first two sons pursued thier own business endevours.  J.P. later married Rosa Shank.  Their marriage produced five children.  Marcella, J.P. Gilsinger's daughter began a long term stint with the business until she retired in 1988.  Their daughter Corinne found work outside the business as a nurse and director of the Pulaski County Welfare Department.  In the 1940's J.P.'s 3 sons, Max, Basil and E.Paul joined the military in WWII.  They later joined their father in various ways with the business.   

Between 1958 and 1960 much change took place.  In 1958 John Deere persuaded Gilsinger to move to Winamac.  They moved to what is known as the old Kain building and was managed by J.P.'s children.  The implement business' new location was in the old Kain building on the south edge of town.  A year later, 1959,  J.P. passed away.  In 1960, Max sold the company's first "New Generation" tractor, a model 3010.

Over the past 30 years, Gilsinger's has steadily grown into a market leader.  In 1975, following graduation from the University of Notre Dame, Paul's son Paul returned to Winamac where he became a full partner with the two remaining owners, Marcella and Basil.  In 1978, the business moved to its new facility south of Winamac on U.S. 35.  Basil retired in 1985 and Marcella retired in 1987.  More growth began in the 90's as Paul bought the Knox Implement Company from the Tonner Brothers.  Then in 1993 the family aquired both the Plymouth and Warsaw(Leesburg IN) Farm Centers from the Graham's.  With this acquisition, Gilsinger's became a 60 employee business.  The business now served most of the north-central Indiana area.  Finally in 2004, Paul's son Matt joined the business following his graduation from Notre Dame.  Matt started working as an ag salesman out of the Leesburg store.  In 2008 Matt became the store manager of the Plymouth store.  To this day Gilsinger Implement Company remains dedicated to area agricultural producers, governmental agencies, professional landscapers and contractors and residential customers.