The Gilbert Family of Muscatine County, Iowa

SAMUEL GILBERT, deceased, is numbered among the honored pioneers of Muscatine County. He crossed the great river into Iowa in 1836, and entered land in Sweetland Township. The then village of Bloomington, now the prosperous city of Muscatine, consisted of but two or three cabins, the land was entirely un cultivated and covered with a thick growth of wild grass, which often grew to the height of a man; the trees of the forests were yet uncut, deer and all kinds of wild game abounded. White persons were not the only inhabitants in those days, for large bands of Indians were often seen. Mr. Gilbert was a native of Virginia, and a son of Mordecai and Melinda (Organ) Gilbert, who were the parents of seven children, namely: Priscilla, Charlotte, Samuel, Hiram, Sarah, Enoch and Esther. Think ing that the West would furnish a better field for his future labors, in 1836 our subject emigrated to Iowa, which then formed a part of the Territory of Wisconsin, locating on a farm in what is now Sweetland Township. He immediately began the cultivation and development of the wild land, and from the prairie developed one of the best homes of the community. In 1841 he was united in marriage with Mary Ann Chinn, their union being celebrated in this county. This lady is a daughter of Thomas and Susan (Smith) Chinn, who are numbered among the pioneers of 1839. She is descended from illustrious families on both sides. Her father, who was an Englishman by birth, was an own cousin of Sir Walter Scott, and after his emigration to this country became one of the warm friends of George Washington, in fact Gen. Washington was the administrator of his estate and guardian of his Children. Mrs. Chinn, who is yet living at the ripe old age of ninety-three years, was born in Kentucky, and Mrs. Gilbert is a daughter of the illustrious Sir Thomas Chinn of En land. She is the eldest in a family of four children: R. W., the second child, is married and resides in Dumont, Colo.; Ilezekiah is living in Cowley County, Kan., and Henry is now deceased.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert eight children have been born, seven of whom are now living: Martha is the wife of George Stiles, a farmer of Sweetland Township, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; A. J., a resident of Ar kansas City, Kau., wedded Sarah Lorin, daughter of A. T. Lorin; Alice M., who is now deceased; Irena, wife of Rudolph Huffmaster, a resident of Muscatine; Rowley is the husband of Melvina Gordon, and resides in Muscatine; Mary C. is the wife of Howard Chandler, whose home is in Mer cer County, Ill.; Douglas is a farmer residing in Hall County, Neb.; and Samuel, a resident of Sweetland Township, married Gertrude Lamp, a native of Prussia, and is employed as the engineer at the tile works. A friend to the cause of education, Mr. Gilbert provided his children with good

4- educational advantages, such as would fit them for the practical duties of this life, lie was a man of progressive ideas, always ready to take a step in advance, and always did everything in his power to promote any enterprise for the public good. His death occurred while he was in Indian Territory in 1873. Thus one more of the pioneers passed away, and there are now hut few to tell the story of frontier life as enacted in the early days of this county. Mrs. Gilbert is still living on the old homestead in Sweetland Township, where she is surrounded by many warm friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

, nee Chinn, far., Sec. 19; P. O. Muscatine; born in Indianapolis March 5, 1824; her father, Thomas Chinn, came to Indianapolis in 1820; Mr. Gilbert was of Pnglish and Scotch descent; they were connections of Sir Walter Scott. Miss Mary A. Chinn married Samuel Gilbert in 1841; born in Virginia May 16, 1815; removed to Muscatine Co. in 1835, where he died Dec. 8, 1873; Mr. Gilbert was an honest, upright and energetic man, and ever generous; he leaves a family of eight children — Martha J. (now Mrs. Styles), Andrew J., Alice (now Mrs. Millet), Irene (now Mrs. Huffmastcr), Rollin, Mary C. (now Mis. Chandler), Douglas and Samuel V., and three deceased in infancy. Mr. Gilbert was a a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the M. E. Church. Came to this county without any means, and left his family in good circumstances.

WIIiLIAM HALLIXG, farmer, Sec. 2; P. 0. Melpine; born in Prussia May 12, 1814; came to St. Louis in 1849, where he worked three years by the day, and, in 1852, came to Muscatine, where he worked as a day laborer until he got money enough to buy eighty acres of land; then worked till he had money to buy things to enable him to move on his farm, where he remained till 1868, then removed where he now owns 500 acres. Married Miss Rika Niamaire in March, 1849; born in Prussia Dec. 25, 1825; they have nine children — Lewis, William, Christian, Henry, Mary, Louisa, George, Eddie and Fred. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the Lutheran Church; Mr. H. is a Democrat.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HIRAM GILBERT, deceased. Among the early pioneers who have aided largely in the growth and development of Muscatine County none deserve more praise for unceasing labor and untiring zeal in her behalf than he whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Gilbert was born in Breckinridge County, Ky., May 27, 1817, and was a son of Mordecai and Melinda (Orgen) Gilbert, who were natives of Virginia, but emigrated to Kentucky in 1816, being among the early settlers of the community in which they re side. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in the spring of 1839 came to Muscatine County, Iowa, where he purchased a farm, engaging in its cultivation and improvement until his death, which occurred in 1864, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. His wife preceded her husband to the better land, dying in 1852.

In the district schools of Kentucky and Indiana our subject received his education, and was reared to farm life in the former State. At the age of twenty years he resolved to try his fortune in the then Far West, and located in Muscatine County, Iowa, in 1837, entering Government land, which he purchased at the land sale held in Burlington in 1839. As time passed he was enabled to add to his original tract, and at one time owned 300 acres, highly cultivated. In Louisa County, Iowa, on the 13th of February, 1842, he was united in marriage with Eliza Benefiel, a native of Wayne County, Ind., and a daughter of Robert and Mary (Montgomery) Benefiel, the former born in Kentucky, and the latter in Philadelphia, Pa. Their union was celebrated in Wayne County, Ind., and in 1839 they went to Louisa County, taking up their residence in Grandview Township. The father was a wheelwright by trade, but also engaged in farming, and his death occurred in 1859, when sixty-eight years of age. His wife departed this life in 1845, at the age of fifty-two years. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert nine children have been born, all of whom are living, namely: Austin B., who married Lucy A. Daly, is Probate Judge of Hodgeman County, Kan.; Esther C., wife of E. G. Cotes, is engaged in teaching in Kansas; Win field Scott, husband of Amanda C. Banford, is also a resident of that State; Mary Melinda, now Mrs. Kniffen, resides in Kansas, and is a widow; Millard Wiley wedded Ella Roberts, and resides in Rock Island County, Ill.; Martha II., wife of William Longstreth, resides on the home farm; William II., who wedded Jennie Sanford, is living in Rome, Ga.; Ida, now Mrs. McGaughy, is living in Bloomington Township; Amanda is the wife of A. M. Sanford, a Methodist minister of the Upper Iowa Conference, now located at LaGrande.

Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert began their domestic life upon the farm where the lady yet resides. He there engaged in general farming, stock-raising and fruit growing, and being an energetic and able business man was quite successful and accumulated a comfortable competence. In his political sentiments he supported the Republican party, and was a strong advocate of any enterprise which had for its object the destruction or suppression of the liquor traffic. A man well known in the community for his adherence to principles of right and justice, honorable and upright in every walk of life, he won the confidence and love of all with whom business or

V pleasure brought him in contact. In the early days of the county he was mediator or referee for many in times of trouble, an honor awarded to but few. He was an honored and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sweetland, served as Class-Leader and Steward for a number of years, and also actor as Church Trustee. He was called to his final home March 4, 1887, when nearly seventy years of age. In his death the county lost one of its best citizens; his neighbors, a kind and accommodating friend; his family, a kind husband and indulgent father.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.