My Genealogy Hound

ELIAS H. GILBERT, the genial proprietor of the Merchants’ Hotel at Pottstown, is one of the best-known citizens of that borough. He was born in Berks county, February 10, 1861, being the son of Elias and Rebecca (Wartman) Gilbert, both natives of Montgomery county. The couple had four sons and four daughters, six of whom are now living, as follows: Sarah, wife of C. W. B. Todd, and John W., both of Reading; Ellen, wife of N. K. Gery, of Tioga, Philadelphia; Elias H., of Pottstown; Emma, wife of W. M. Stauffer, of New Holland, Lancaster county; and Howard, of Pottstown.

Elias Gilbert (father) was a blacksmith in early life, and later became a hotel proprietor in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties. He was landlord of the Merchants’ Hotel, Pottstown, for ten years, and died there four years later, in 1899, aged seventy-four years. His, wife died in March, 1901, aged sixty-eight years. Both were Lutherans in religious faith.

John Gilbert (grandfather) was a native of Montgomery county. He was also a blacksmith most of his life. His first wife was Miss Yerger and his second wife Miss Bickel. He had two sets of children, his son Elias being his only child by the first marriage.
The origin of the Gilbert family has been traced. Their ancestor was one of the five brothers who came to this country from Germany and located in Falkner’s Swamp in Montgomery county, being among the early settlers.

Elias H. Gilbert was reared in Montgomery county, his boyhood days being spent partly in Berks and Lehigh counties, and since 1881 he has lived in Pottstown. His early schooling was obtained in Berks and Lehigh counties, and he later attended the Perkiomen Seminary at Pennsburg. He taught three terms in the district schools. He engaged in mercantile business four years before entering the employ of his father, whose successor he became as proprietor of the Merchants’ Hotel, the largest in Pottstown, and one of the oldest established inns in that section of the county.

For three years Mr. Gilbert was deputy during the term of county treasurer Isaac Fegely, before taking the hotel. During this time he retained his residence in Pottstown, making daily trips to Norristown.

Mr. Gilbert married Miss Ida Moll, daughter of Benjamin and Anna Maria (Keiser) Moll. They have had four children: Charles S., Anna, John and Sarah, all living except John, who died at the age of twenty months. Mr. Gilbert is a Lutheran. His wife is a member of the German Reformed church.

Mr. Gilbert is a member of Stitchter Lodge, No. 254, Free and Accepted Masons; of Washington Camp, No. 92, Patriotic Order Sons of America; of the Protective Order of Elks, No. 814, and of the Heptasophs. Politically he is a Democrat.

In addition to his hotel interests in Pottstown, he owns a one half interest in the Merchants’ Hotel at Reading, in partnership with his sister, Mrs. Todd. Mr. Gilbert is an ideal hotel-keeper, attentive to the comfort of his guests and watchful of every detail of his business. Few men in his community are so well-known or so popular as he.