G. GALE GILBERT 
As a lawyer and public official, G. Gale Gilbert, of Mount Vernon, ranks
with the distinguished citizens of Jefferson county and occupies a conspicuous
place among the leading men of his pro fession in Southern Illinois. No
other resident of the community is more actively identified with its development
and progress and none has so indelibly impressed his personality upon the
city of his residence or exercised a stronger influence in directing enterprises
which tend to the advancement of its business interests. The Gilbert family
is among the oldest in this part of the state, its history and the history
of Jefferson county, being very closely interwoven ever since the pioneer
period. The first of the name of which anything definite is known, appears
to have been one Eli Gilbert, a native of Maine and a representative of
one of the old English families of that commonwealth. He migrated to Ohio
many years ago, in which state his son, Philo Gilbert, grandfather of the
subject, was born and reared. Shortly aftei Southern Illinois was opened
for settlement, Philo Gilbert moved to Jefferson county, purchased a tract
of govemment land in what is now McClellan township and in due time developed
a good farm and became one of the leading citizens of the community. He
was among the first settlers of the above township, took an active part
in opening the county's resources and as an enterprising man of affairs,
wedded a wide influence and was universally respected. Among his children
was a son by the name of James Eli Gilbert, whose birth occurred on the
family homestead in McClellan township and who also became a tiller of
the soil and a citizen of much more than average intelligence and influence.
A successful farmer and stock raiser, he was also an active participant
in public affairs, having served the people of his township in various
official positions, including among others that of School Treasurer and
Tax Collector and some time in the "eighties" he was the Republican nominee
for County Treasurer, but failed of election by reason of the overwhelming
strength of the opposition. He was a man of strong character, honorable
in all of his dealings and was always held in the highest esteem by his
neighbors and fellow citizens. He spent his entire life near the place
of his birth and was called from earth August 28, 1889. 
Susan Ford, wife of James E. Gilbert, was born in Jefferson county,
Illinois, and departed this life in the year 1880. Her father, Solomon
Ford, a native of North Carolina, moved his family to Jefferson county
in an early day and here spent the remainder of his life, living to an
advanced age. The reputation of his family is second to that of no other
in the county. James E. and Susan Gilbert were the parents of five children,
the subject of this sketch being the oldest of the family. The others are:
Mrs. Eunice S. Louth, of Mount Vernon; John P. Gilbert, a professor in
the State University at Urbana; Mrs. Hattie C. Schaffer, of Princeton,
Indiana; and Menzis E. Gilbert, a druggist, of Jacksonville, this state.
Some time after the death of the mother of these children, Mr. Gilbert
married Emily A. Gillett, of Saline county, Illinois, who bore him three
children, namely: Arthur, of Centralia, and Mrs. Gertrude Farris and Glen
Gilbert, of Mount Vernon. 
G. Gale Gilbert, whose birth occurred in McClellan township La the 27th
of November, 1867, spent his early life on the family homestead and while
still a lad became familiar with the rugged duties of the faun. Reared
under wholesome home influences, he early acquired habits of industry and
grew up with a proper appreciation of the dignity of honest toil. At the
proper age he attended the public schools of his neighborhood and later
took a high school course in Mount Vernon, the discipline thus received
being afterwards supplemented by a more thorough training in the Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale, where he made commendable progress in
his studies and earned an honorable record as a diligent and enterprising
student. 
Having decided to make the legal profession his life work, Mr. Gilbert.
shortly after finishing his scholastic education, entered the office of
N. H. Moss, of Mount Vernon, under whose able in struction he continued
until his admission to the bar on May 7, 1891, since which date he has
forged rapidly to the front as a capable lawyer and judicious practitioner,
being at this time recognized as one of the leading members of his profession
in the field to which his talents are principally confined. His career
presents a series of continued successes such as few men of his age and
experience atpin and during the last ten years, few important cases have
been tried in the courts of Jefferson county in which he has not appeared
as counsel, besides being interested in a large and growing legal business
in neighboring counties. 
Mr. Gilbert has never ceased being a student, and his aim has been to
become a good lawyer and stand as near as possible in the very front ranks
of his profession. To this end he keeps in close touch with the trend of
current legal thought and familiar with the leading authorities, this with
his knowledge of the basic principles of jurisprudence and the ability
to apply the same to practice, enabling him to cope with the ablest of
opposing counsel and in the majority of cases to gain verdicts for his
clients. He is careful and methodical in the preparation of legal papers
and their presentation to the court are very thorough in the matters of
detail as well as in the general principles of his cases, while his ability
as an advocate makes him a formidable, though at all times a fair and courteous
adversary. 
Mr. Gilbert served from 1905 to 1907 as City Attorney of Mount Vernon
and in 1896 was the Republican nominee for Prosecuting Attorney for Jefferson
county, but failed of election on ac count of the then normally strong
Democratic majority. He is an active and influential politician, a trusted
leader of the Republican party in his own and other Southern Illinois counties,
besides enjoying a wide acquaintance in political circles throughout the
state. In addition to his general practice, he is attorney for various
enterprises, among which are the Mount Vernon Car Manufacturing Company,
the Third National Bank, of which is also a director, the Citizens Gas,
Electric & Heating Company, and the Mount Vernon Loan & Building
Association. He is also a director of I. G. Gee & Co. Bank at Waltonville,
and sustains a similar relation to the banks of Woodlawn and Kell, his
connection with these several interests indicating the confidence which
the management repose in his ability and judgment, besides being a compliment
to his high standing as 
a faithful and honorable business man. In addition to his successes
in his profession and in politics Mr. Gilbert is a capable and prosperous
business man. 
In the year 1906 Mr. Gilbert was appointed postmaster of Mount Vernon
and has since conducted the office with his characteristic business ability,
discharging the duties with credit to him self and to the entire satisfaction
of the public. Since taking charge of the office, he has made many changes
and introduced a number of reforms and it is now conceded by all with any
knowledge of postal affairs as well as by the department, to be one of
the most methodical and best managed offices in the state. 
Mr. Gilbert was married in April, 1893, to Miss Catherine Harman, of
Jefferson county, daughter of the late John Q. Harman, a former prominent
citizen of the county and the first Clerk of the Appellate Court at Mount
Vernon. of which position he was the incumbent at the time of his death.
Three children have been born to this union, namely: James Harman, Helen
May and George Gale, Jr. In his fraternal relations Mr. Gilbert is a member
of the Pythian Brotherhood, belonging to Jefferson Lodge, No. 121, and
he is also an influential worker in Lodge No. 819, Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks. 
SOURCE: History of Jefferson County, IL By John A. Wall 1909 

Submitted by: Misty Flannigan Oct 2002