Joseph George Gilbert

ARBAGAST, GILBERT, HOUSEWERTH, SWARTZ

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/12/2005 at 16:18:39

J. G. Gilbert, well known in Penn township as a successful farmer, was born in Berrien county, Michigan, in September, 1851, a son of John and Annie (Swartz) Gilbert, natives of Pennsylvania, who were among the early settlers of the Wolverine state. The father was farming at the outbreak of the Civil war, but put aside all business interests and entered the Union army. Three months after he went to the front he was killed in action. His widow was left with seven children, the oldest of whom was fourteen years old and the youngest an infant of one year. She bravely kept the family together and gave the children a good education, manifesting courage and determination of a high order. She also proved an excellent business woman and farmed the homestead until her demise, which occurred on the 11th of February, 1909.

J. G. Gilbert was reared and educated in Michigan and remained with his mother until he was twelve years of age. He then started out to earn his own living and thus relieve his mother of the necessity of providing for his support. He worked as a farm hand for twelve years in Michigan and then came to Iowa, where he continued in that occupation for a year. In 1876 he arrived in Madison county and rented land, which he operated for five years. At the end of that time his industry and thrift had enabled him to save enough to buy eighty acres of land, and, removing to his farm, devoted his attention to its cultivation.

He bought more land and is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres on sections n, 12 and 13, Penn township, which is known as Hickory Grove Farm. He has made many improvements upon the place, which has two sets of buildings. He is a wide-awake, progressive and very successful farmer, and has accumulated more than a competence.

Mr. Gilbert married Miss Elizabeth Housewerth, who was born .on the 17th of September, 1863, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Arbagast) Housewerth, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father farmed in Michigan for seven years, but in 1873 came to this county, buying the land now in possession of our subject, and he farmed that place until his death, which occurred in 1898. He had survived his wife for a number of years, as her demise occurred in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have three children: Frank, who is farming land belonging to his father; Ray, at home; and Loyal, also operating land belonging to his father.

Mr. Gilbert is an adherent of the republican party and has served acceptably as school director of his district. A member of the Evangelical church, he conforms his life to the teachings of Christianity and does all in his power to promote the moral betterment of his community. Hickory Grove Farm is one of the excellently improved places in the county, and Mr. Gilbert takes just pride in his prosperity, because it has come as a reward of assiduous and well managed labor.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.