My Genealogy Hound

MAURICE E. GILBERT, proprietor of the Mansion House, Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was born in Pottstown, September 22, 1861. He is the son of Eli and Elizabeth (Renninger) Gilbert.

Eli Gilbert (father) was born in Montgomery county, and he and his wife had the following children; Maurice E., William and Lillian (twins), Lillian having married Harlan Reifsnyder, of Brooklyn, New York, formerly of Pottstown. Mrs. Eli Gilbert was also born in Montgomery county. Mr. Gilbert was a carpenter and lived in Montgomery county all his life, dying June 25, 1897, at the age of sixty-five years, one month and four days. After leaving the business of carpenter he engaged in the bakery business for twelve years and then lived retired until his death. He served in the office of borough tax collector for one term. In politics he was a staunch Democrat.

Jacob Gilbert (grandfather) was born in Montgomery county and lived there all his life. He was a farmer and later lived retired in Pottstown, where he died. He was of German descent.

George Renninger (maternal grandfather) was a native of Pennsylvania and followed the trade of carpet-weaver most of his life. He died in Pottstown at the age of nearly ninety years. They had two children: a son and a daughter, the son, John H., being a resident of Pottstown.

Maurice E. Gilbert has lived in Pottstown all his life and attended the public schools in that borough. At the age of sixteen years he began to learn telegraphy with the Western Union Telegraph Company and was with them about four years. He was then employed in the nail factory and later in the Colfrode & Saylor Bridge Works until he took charge of his father’s bread business. He next engaged in the hotel business, which he has followed since 1891.

On June 15, 1892, Mr. Gilbert married Miss Sarah Todd, daughter of Dr. John and Sarah (Heller) Todd. They have had two children, John and Marion. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert are Lutherans in religious faith. Mr. Gilbert belongs to the Patriotic Order Sons of America; to the Foresters of America; to the Knights of the Golden Eagle; to the Improved Order of Red Men and to the Heptasophs. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the town council of Pottstown, having been elected in 1895, and re-elected successively, although residing in a strong Republican ward.

Dr. John Todd, father of Mrs. Gilbert, is one of the most successful physicians of the county. He is a son of John and Christiana (Boughman) Todd, and was born at Freeland, now Collegeville, April 25, 1830. Dr. Todd’s grandfather, Andrew Todd, bought from the Penns a large tract of land in Upper Providence, which remained in the family until 1884. Andrew Todd was a man of great ability. He was one of the founders of Lower Providence Presbyterian church, and was the first justice of the peace appointed by Governor McKean. He held the office until his death, which occurred in 1834. Andrew Todd married Hannah Boyer and their children were John; W. T., who went west; Isabella, who married Samuel Hamil, a Norristown merchant, who died in 1850; and Hannah, wife of Samuel McClintock, of Northumberland county.

John Todd, grandfather of Mrs. Gilbert, was born in 1776 and died in 1863. He was sheriff one term and two terms county treasurer. He was twice married-first to Miss Campbell, and after her death to Christiana Boughman. By the second marriage he had six children: Dr. John (father), William T., Samuel M., Charles, Christiana and Emily.

Dr. John Todd practiced in early life at Boyertown, after having studied medicine with Drs. Keeler and Groff, of Harleysville, and graduating from a medical college in 1857. Dr. Todd married, in 1857, Ida Amanda Smith, who died leaving one child, and he married (second wife), in 1864, Sarah M. Heller, daughter of Daniel Heller, of Boyertown. They have five children: Blanche, wife of J. G. Kulp, a Philadelphia merchant; Bertha C. married Lyman Byers, a Pottstown electrician; Sarah, wife of Mr. Gilbert; Mary and John. Dr. Todd was the candidate of his party for Congress in 1894 and is a director of the Bringhurst Fund, Pottstown.