We learned much of the history of Gilbert Cemetery through a letter written by Mrs. Orlo James Allen:

5 March 1968
Muscatine County Recorder
Muscatine, Iowa
        RE: Location and Record of Gilbert Family Cemetery, Sweetland Twp., Muscatine Co., Iowa. Please forward to Office in charge.

Dear Sir:
        Last Spring, two of my Cousins stopped at the Muscatine County Court House, to inquire about the location of the Gilbert Family Cemetery. The person or persons to whom they spoke, knew nothing about the Cemetery, but wanted any information available, for the County Records.
        On October 11, 1959, my Father and step-Mother, Mr. & Mrs. Benefiel Vincent Gilbert, and my Husband, our son, and I, canvassed the Gilbert Family Cemetery. This Canvass or Survey, was combined with a previous survey, done before vandals desecrated the Cemetery for the second time within ten years.
        Enclosed is s a list of 32 names and date, which I copied from my records, for your County Records. Possibly the reason that the County had no Records of it, is that it could be a Private Cemetery.
        We have been “Canvassing” Cemeteries for years, for Genealogical purposes, and as the Secretary of our Genealogical Society, I type them in quadruplicate, using the form I used for your copy. These Records also, are Historically valuable. As you know, Iowa Territory was opened to the permanent Settlers in 1833. However, neither the Territory nor the State, was required to keep Records until the 1880’s or 1890’s- so there is a blank, of about fifty years in our Iowa History. Many Family Bibles and Records were lost or destroyed, so the tomb-stones are often the only Records proving that some people existed.
        My Great Grandfather, Hiram Gilbert, was listed as the 8th Pioneer to arrive in Muscatine County in 1836, and the 17th to enter the County after the Territory was opened in 1833. His Father, Mordecai Gilbert, arrived in 1839. Both Mordecai and Hiram bought their land at the 1839 Burlington Land Sale - Hiram settling in Bloomington Twp., and Mordecai in Sweetland Twp.
        The Cemetery is in Sweetland Twp., and since Mordecai’s Wife, Malinda (Orgen) Gilbert, is the first burial in the Cemetery (1849), I presume that it was once a part of his land. Only close relatives or descendants of Mordecai & Malinda (Orgen) Gilbert, are buried there - and it is still in use after 119 years. The Gilbert Family Cemetery land abuts the Jewish Cemetery land, with a fence separating the two. It may help you to know that in 1952, Andrew Grimm was Chairman of the Sweetland Twp. Board, and that Abe Leiflander was Caretaker of the Jewish Cemetery.

       Yours truly,
       Mrs. Orlo James Allen
       939 East Fifth Street, Spencer, Iowa

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Muscatine County Book of Lands No. 18, pg. 381
From Stiles to Gilbert et all

Filed for Record 16th day of June A.D. 1879 at 10 1/2 o’clock A.M.
W.M. Kennedy Recorder

This Deed of Bargain and Sale, made and executed this seventh day of April A.D. 1879 by and between Martha Jane Stiles and George H. Stiles, of the County of Muscatine, State of Iowa of the first part and The heirs of Samuel Gilbert, Hiram Gilbert and his heirs and Samuel Bamford and his heirs of the second part, Witnesseth, that the party of the first part, for in consideration of the sum of Ten Dollars, in hand paid by the parties of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, has granted and sold, and does by these presents, Grant, Bargain, Sell, Convey and Confirm unto the said second parties, their heirs and assigns forever, the following Real Estate, lying and being situated in the County of Muscatine and State of Iowa, to wit:

A lot of one half acre for a cemetery or Burying yard, situated in a lot of land which the said M. J. Stiles inherit from her father Samuel Gilbert, bring a part of the East Half of the South West quarter of Section No. 19, Township 77, Range One West, and bounded as follows, From the quarter post between sections 19 and 30, thence west eighteen 6/100 (18.6) chains, thence north six 75/100 (6.75) chains to the south east corner of said cemetery, thence north ten rods, thence west eight rods thence south ten rods, thence east eight rods to the place of beginning, containing one half acre, and the said grantors do hereby grant the right of a carriage way to and from said cemetery forever.

The intention being to convey hereby An Absolute Title in Fee to said Real Estate, including any Right of Homestead had therin.

To Have and to Hold The premises above described, with all the appurtenances thereto belonging, unto the said second parties their heirs and assigns forever. The said M.J. Stiles and G.H. Stiles hereby covenanting for themselves their heirs, executors and administrators, that the above described premises are free from any incumbrances they will Warrant and Defend the Title unto the said second parties, their heirs and assigns, against the claims of all persons whomsoever lawfully claiming the same, And the said George H. Stiles does hereby release and relinquish all his right of Dower in and to the foregoing described premises with all other rights thereto.

In Witness Whereof, The said party of the first part has herunto set their hands and seals the day and year first herein written

Martha Jane Stiles ~ seal
Geo. H. Stiles ~ seal

State of Iowa, Muscatine County, ss:
Be it Remembered, that on this 14th day of June A.D. 1879, before the undersigned a Notary Public in and for said County, personally appeared Martha Jane Stiles and Geo. H. Stiles to me personally known to be the identical persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing Deed as grantors acknowledged the instrument to be their voluntary act and deed, and that they executed the same for the purpose therein mentioned.
Witness my hand & Seal Notarial the day and year last above written

W.B. Saugnider Notory Public