My Genealogy Hound

D. H. GILBERT, of D. H. Gilbert & Co., Joplin paint and oil mills, was born in Rush, Livingston county, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1835. His parents, Eralsmond and Keziah Gilbert, were also natives of the Empire State. The former died in November, 1877. The latter is now living in Evanston, Ill. Our subject was raised principally on a farm and received a liberal education in the common schools and the Bethany, N. Y., Academy. When about sixteen years of age he came west to Buffalo, N. Y., and engaged in steamboating about one year, after which he went to Fredonia, same state, and taught writing school for several months. His next move was to St. Louis, where he taught writing and drawing for a time and then commenced to learn the painters trade. Continued in that business for a few months, then went to Leavenworth, Kan., and started out on an expedition as far as Cottonwood Springs, when the command divided and our subject, with others, returned to Leavenworth. In the fall of 1856 he went to Ft. Smith, Ark., and engaged with a surveying party on a route from Neosho, Mo., to the Colorado River. The party proceeded to Santa Fe, N. M. then to Ft. Stanton, and thence to Ft. Filmore on the Rio Grande. Subject then returned to the states and engaged at trade in Leavenworth, St Louis, Memphis, Natchez, New Orleans, and Indianapolis, each a short time. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Bracken Rangers, and served three years. Participated in battles of Cheat Mountain, Green River, Elk Water, Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Wilderness, Gettysburgh, Fredericksburgh, Cold Harbor, besides others of minor importance. Was mustered out in front of Petersburgh in July, 1865, and shortly after discharged at Indianapolis, Ind. Engaged there at trade for a while, then, came west to Kansas, locating in Cherokee county, where he engaged in stock-raising. Came to Joplin in the spring of 1876 and has since engaged at trade. Mr. Gilbert was married in this city Oct. 2, 1876, to Miss Anna, daughter of C. C. Emerson, now of Panacea Springs, Mo. Mrs. Gilbert is a native of Wisconsin, born in 1857, and is a member of the Congregational Church.