My Genealogy Hound

HENRY GILBERT, a retired resident of Pottsown, is a native of Gilbertsville, where he was born May 21, 1832. He is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Bickel) Gilbert.

Jacob Gilbert (father) was a farmer nearly all his life, and a resident of Montgomery county. In politics he was a Democrat. In religious faith he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. He died first, at the age of seventy years. She survived for several years, and died at the age of seventy-three years. Both were buried in the Pottstown cemetery.

Henry Gilbert attended school until he was sixteen years of age. After leaving school he engaged in farming some time, but became employed in canal boating for two years. He next turned his attention to learning the carpenter trade, which he followed for ten years, removing to Pottstown, where he has ever since resided. He married Elizabeth Geist, daughter of Nathan Geist. Her mother was a Miss Bickhart. The Geists lived in Montgomery county, where he was a farmer. They both died at a very advanced age. They had four children: Frank, John, Elizabeth (mother) and Mary, of whom only John survives.

The marriage of Henry Gilbert and Elizabeth Geist took place June 4, 1865. Mrs. Gilbert died in 1887, at the age of forty-nine years. They had five children, of whom two are living: Mary Esther, born January 12, 1866, died December 28, 1871; Jacob, born April 14, 1867, engaged in the bottling business in Pottstown, his father residing with him and his wife, who was Ellen Swinehart, daughter of John Swinehart. They have three children, Ralph, Paul, Raymond; Matthias, born May 6, 1865, died December 26, 1871; Henry, born January 15, 1871, died January 26, 1872; Elizabeth, born February 10, 1874, resides with her brother Jacob, is unmarried.

Mr. Gilbert is a Democrat in politics. He is a member of the Immanuel Lutheran church, of Pottstown. He is one of the most prominent citizens of the borough. He had a severe accident while working at the carpenter trade which interfered with his physical well being for several years. He owns considerable property in Pottstown.