California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


SAMUEL JONATHAN REYNOLDS GILBERT. The Gilbert family was once prominent 
in English history, the first American emigrant being a member of the bodyguard of the king. 
Through an entanglement which endangered his life he was forced to leave the country and chose 
as his safest location the American colonies. This was before the Revolutionary war, and since that 
time the family has nourished on American soil. The great-grandfather of Samuel J. R. Gilbert 
served valiantly in the Revolutionary war, in which he was taken prisoner, and returned to the 
country of his forefathers. 

J. R. Gilbert, born in Woodstock, Vt., in 1806, emigrated to Ohio in the early '40s and located 
in Akron. After the discovery of gold he crossed the plains to California in 1849, being captain 
of a large train which he organized. He engaged in mining in Shasta county for a short time, after 
which he took up the general merchandise business. In 1852 he returned east for his family, 
bringing them to California via the Nicaragua route. The remainder of his life was spent in 
this state, his death occurring in 1879. He is survived by his wife, formerly Dorcas Fillebrown, 
born in Boston, Mass., in 1816, and she now makes her home with her son, S. J. R. Gilbert, in 
Visalia, at the age of eighty-nine years. Of her three sons, one is deceased, while the other two. 
Frank W. and S. J. R., are engaged in business together in this city. 

Samuel Jonathan Reynolds Gilbert was born in Akron, Ohio, June 20, 1847, the second child 
in his parents' family. He was not quite six years old when he came to California, so the greater 
part of his education was received in the common schools of this state. In young manhood he en- 
gaged with his father in the general merchandise business in Shasta, afterward, in 1871, going to 
Redding, Shasta county, where he put up the first tents of the town, for a time thereafter act- 
ing as assistant railway agent. He then entered into the hardware and plumbing business and 
met with a success which justified his continuance for nearly twenty years. In the fall of 1891 
he went to Fresno and for four years was associated with the plumbing department of Kutner, 
Goldstein & Co. In August, 1900, he came to Visalia and engaged in the tinning and plumbing 
business, the style of the firm name being Gilbert & Son, the latter being his son Fred S. Gilbert. 
From a small beginning the business has grown to remunerative proportions and they now cater 
to an extensive and lucrative trade. 

In Shasta, Cal., Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage with Elizabeth Wilhelm, a native of New  
York and the descendant of an old German family. Born of this union were four sons and three 
daughters, of whom one daughter is deceased ; Mary Winifred is the wife of J. P. Eaton, a 
prominent business man of Redding, where he conducts a stationery store ; George W. is a den- 
tist of Fresno; Fred S. is in business with his father : Walter F. is located in Portland, Ore. ; 
Stella May became the wife of F. W. Velie, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of 
Portersville ; and J. R.. completes the family. Fraternally Mr. Gilbert is prominent as a Mason, 
having joined the organization in Redding, Cal., in 1880. He is past master of Blue Lodge No. 
303 of Portersville; belongs to Visalia Chapter No. 44, R. A. M. ; Visalia Commandery No. 26, 
K. T.; and Islam Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco. Politically he adheres to the prin- 
ciples advocated in the platform of the Republican party. Mr. Gilbert is a broad-minded, pub- 
lic-spirited citizen and has always given his best efforts to advance the general welfare in what- 
ever community he has made his home. While a resident of Redding, Cal., he was one of the 
prime movers in securing that city as the county seat and his aid was invaluable, as it was one of 
the hardest struggles in the history of that section. He acted as secretary of the immigration 
committee of that county and in every way made his own interests parallel with those of the city, 
county and state which he had made his own by adoption. Since his location in Visalia he 
has shown the same liberal and enterprising spirit and works with the same earnestness toward the 
progress and advancement of this city. He is a prominent social figure and occupies a position 
of importance in the business world, as well, enjoying to an unusual degree the esteem of all 
who know him.