Gilbert - George W. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Among the honored old pioneers of Fayette County, Iowa the subject of this sketch occupies a conspicuous position. A life of good purposes and unimpeached integrity has won for him the unbounded confidence of all who know him and he is eminently entitled to representation in a work of this nature. Mr. Gilbert is a native of Western Canada where he was born on 28 Feb 1841 and is the son of William and Rebecca Gilbert. He is of stanch Irish stock, his grandfather Gilbert having come to America from the north of Ireland.

On the maternal side his ancestors were English, his maternal great grandfather having been born in that country as was his son, who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, later locating in Canada where his daughter, the subject's mother was born. The old Revolutionary veteran referred to was the father of 23 children and lived to the remarkable age of 93. He was 3 times married and the subject's mother was born to the first wife. The grandparents were all tillers of the soil and were energetic and enterprising people, standing high in their respective communities. William Gilbert was born in NY City, Feb 18, 1810 and his wife, Rebecca first saw the light of day in Canada Feb 11, 1821. The former died 1880 age 79 and the latter in 1862, age 41. William Gilbert lived in his native city until reached majority when he went to Canada where he married about 1838.

The family moved to Rockford, Ill about 1847 where they resided until 1864 whent hey came to Fayette County, Iowa and located at Eldorado. In the winter of the following year they moved to Charles City, this state where they lived 8 years. At the end of that time they went to northern Minnesota and took up a claim adjoining the Chippewa Indian reservation. When about 75, William Gilbert went to live with his daughter, Mrs. Lois Davis at Saginaw, Michigan where his death occured his remains being taken to Rockford, Illinois. After the death of his first wife, he was again married while residing at Rockford and by the 2nd union he had 2 sons, four children having been born to the first union, namely: the first born died in infancy; George W, of this sketch; Rebecca, who lives at Lansing, Michigan and Lois, now deceased. The children of the 2nd: Theodore, resident of Badora, MN; Henry at Detroit City, Minn. Their mother is now living in California. William Gilbert was an industrious and energetic man. He was by trade a carpenter, joiner and millwright. In political sentiment he was an abolitionist and took an active part in politics after the war. He was widely known and in whatever company he happened to be was perfectly at home, being himself somewhat of an entertainer. Through his energetic habits and wise management, he was always in fair pecuniary circumstances. In Church work he was active, being prominent in the Baptist Society and he was ever found in support of movements for the benefit of the community.

George W. Gilbert was reared in the paternal home and in his youth attended public schools of Rockford, Ill. His studies were interrupted, however by the sounds of impending conflict which was then about to burst over the nation, and when the President's call for volunteers was issued, he responded promptly, enlisting at Rockford at the age of 19 years in Co. D, 11th Regiment Ill Vol. Inf. The command first went into camp at Bird's Point, MO where they remained during the winter of 1861-62. Subsequently the regiment took part in the battles of Ft. Henry & Ft. Donelson followed by Shiloh these being the most important battles in the history of the regiment. During the battle of Shiloh, the subject was detailed to the boat "City of Memphis" to help care for the sounded and during the thickest of the fight he helped carry many dead and wounded soldiers from the field. General Grant designated him nurse on the boat mentioned which position he retained 4 or 5 weeks, then becoming steward of the boat. He had charge of about 50 nurses and the boat ws kept busily engaged transferring sick soldiers from the South, usually carrying 6-700 sick and wounded. After this he was detailed as cook in Cairo Hospital but soon afterwards was himself sick with smallpox and confined in the same hospital. On his recovery he was made chief cook, which he retained for some time. He then rejoined his Regiment and was discharged fromt he service because of physical disability.

When he entered the service, Mr. Gilbert was a strong and robust man, but when he left he weighed but 95 pounds. After the completion of his military service, Mr. Gilbert returned to his former home at Rockford, where he remained about a year and then came to Fayette Co, Iowa, June 1865, locating Auburn Twp.

During the following 10 years he was successfully engaged in tilling of soil but in 1876 he came to West Union where he has since lived. Being an expert mechanic, he was for a number of years kept busily employed but of recent years, he has been practically living retired from active labor. He is a man of splendid personal qualities and is well liked in the circles in which he moved.

On Feb 25, 1866, Mr. Gilbert was married to Elizabeth Dewey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dewey, her birth having occurred Nov 2, 1844 near New Richmond, Montgomery County, Indiana. The Dewey family was originally from Maryland, going from that state to Ohio and thence to Indiana. They were farming people and occupied a prominent position in their community. Of their 8 children, Mrs. Gilbert was 4th in order of birth, she being a twin to a brother who is now deceased. The Dewey family arrived in Fayette Co 1856 coming from Indiana with a four-yoke of oxen and two horse teams, locating near Eldorado. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have been born two children: Maude born Aug 28, 1871 became the wife of Earl Ostrander of this county and they have a boy, Jesse now 2; Olive, born May 19, 1877 wife of Carl Ostrander and they have one child, Edith Elizabeth, 3; Carl and Earl Ostrander are twins.

Mr. Gilbert is a stanch Republican in his political faith and has held several township offices, being at present a justice of the peace, in which he is giving eminently satisfactory service. He has long taken an active interest in agricultural matters, being a member of the Fayette Co. Fair Assoc. On the faiar grounds is a typical log cabin in which are kept many valuable and interesting relics of the early pioneer days and which is always the center of interest for visitors. This cabin Mr. Gilbert himself built and presented to the Old Settlers Association for the specific purpose to which it is devoted and he was apointed the superintendent of the building, a position he still retains.

Mr. Gilbert is the possessor of a number of interseting old relics one of them being an old map and railroad guide that was published in 1845 before the state of Iowa was admitted to the union. It is an interesting relic and by contrast emphasizes the wonderful development which has taken place in the state.

Mr Gilbert is also the owner of the celebrated cabin which was used during the first presidential campaign of Benjamin Harrison having been made for the Harrison Club of West Union. Several attempts have been made to destroy or steal the cabin it having been in all the towns of the county, but it is still intact and has been made use of a number of times by the Modern Woodmen and others.

Fraternally, Mr. Gilbert is a member of Post No. 48, Grand Army of the Republic, at West Union and was at one time commander of the Veterans' Association of Fayette Co.

Religiously he is Baptist, holding membership with the church of that denomination at West Union. He and his wife are living quietly and unostentatiously in their comfortable home at West Union and they enjoy the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. They give a cordial welcome to all who enter their home, the spirit of true hearted hospitality being ever in evidence.