Ira Gilbert

Ira Gilbert, one of the honored pioneers of Monroe County, now lives on section 35, township 4, range 9 west. From and early day he has been identified with the history of this community. He has seen it in its primitive condition, when the land was wild and when wolves howled around the cabin door. He has borne his part in the work of transformation and development, and therefore well deserves representation in this volume.

Mr. Gilbert was born in Chittenden County, Vt., March 4, 1810, and is a son of Eli and Susan (Gale) Gilbert. When he was four years of age his parents removed to New York, locating first in Seneca, and afterward in Geneva, where the father worked at this trade of clothier for about two years. He then took his family to Ohio, and spent the succeeding ten years of his life in Washington County. There he bought some school land, and Ira Gilbert also entered a tract of eight acres. In 1839 the family removed to Jefferson County, Ill., where land was purchased and entered, and there the father spent his remaining days. His death occurred October 7, 1879. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susanna Gilbert, and was born October 13, 1792, died July 11, 1865. They had a family of seventeen children, of who six sons and a daughter are yet living. Mr. Gilbert became one of the extensive farmers of Jefferson County, Ill. In politics he was first a Whig, and afterward a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Universalist Church, and were highly respected citizens.

Our subject accompanied his parents on their various removals, and aided his father in the line of work in which he was engaged. At the age of eighteen years he entered the eighty-acre tract above mentioned, this being during the administration of Andrew Jackson. He was then working for O. R. Loring, of Belpre, Ohio, receiving a salary of $10 per month. In November, 1880, he married Salome Dils, a native of Parkersburg, W. Va., and a daughter of John Dils, who was a saddler by trade. In 1838 Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert came to Illinois an took up their residence in Monroe County, where he entered from the Government one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, upon which he yet resides, although the improved farm of to-day bears little resemblance to the uncultivated tract of that time. Altogether he has entered about two hundred and ninety acres. He has led a busy and useful live, and success has crowned his efforts. At one time he owned three hundred and sixty-five acres of valuable land, but recently sold one hundred and ten acres.

In 1889 Mr. Gilbert was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 13th of June. She was a most estimable lady, and was held in high regard by all. They were the parents of five children, four of whom are yet living: Lavina, wife of Andrew Netzel, of Nebraska; Mary, wife of Eli Roy, of Mt. Vernon, Ill Diantha, wife of Sylvester Haynes, a resident of California; and Affa, wife of William Dinan. They reside with her father.

Mr. Gilbert has followed farming and stockraising, and is also engaged in the manufacture of cheese. The success of his life has been achieved through his own efforts, and his labors in former years now enable him to be surrounded by comforts and luxuries. He belongs to the Universalist Church, as did his wife. In politics he is a stalwart Republican. His career has been an upright, honorable one, and he has the confidence and good will of all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. His example is indeed worthy of emulation.