AMOS KNOX GILBERT

Amos Knox Gilbert gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. about March, 1845
D. August 17, 1845
Find A Grave memorial: (click here)

  • Father: Rev. Rodney Gilbert born March 27, 1815 in Schoharie County, NY;  The Gilberts’ arrived in Lake County, IL in September 1844 traveling by way of the lakes; purchased 120 acres from the Government at $1.25 per acre, located a mile and a half west of Round Lake on Section 19 of Avon Township; after the death of Harriet in 1845, Rev. Gilbert remarried on September 23, 1846 to Miss Lydia Augusta Hall;  Gilbert was ordained January 13, 1847 to the Baptist Church as Fox Lake or Monaville; preached for many years in school houses in that section of the county and took part in many revival meetings; pastor of the Baptist Church of Benton and Newport for some years from 1856; also officiated for churches at Wauconda and Antioch when they were without regular pastors;  In 1867 he became pastor of the church at Geneva Lake for two years; Rev. Gilbert died on his farm in Avon, December 16, 1888; Mrs. Gilbert died April 18, 1894; Rev. and Mrs. Gilbert are buried at the East Fox Lake Cemetery in Lake Villa, IL.

According to Illinois, Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999: Last Will and Testament of Rodney Gilbert:

“I Rodney Gilbert of Avon in the County of Lake and State of Illinois being of sound mind and memory do publish, pronounce and declare this as and for my Last Will and Testament.   “I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Tyler A. Gilbert, my son, Executor of this my Last Will and Testament.  “I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Tyler A. Gilbert, my executor, all my real and personal property subject to the directions and bequests hereinafter made.  “I hereby order and direct my said Executor to pay to my aunt Rachel Knox of Hillsdale, New York, the sum of Seventy Dollars per annum during her life.  “I give, devise and bequeath to my wife, Lydia A. Gilbert the sum of Eleven Hundred Dollars payable six years after my decease with six percent annual interest, and home and board upon the homestead, also all my household furniture except two stoves, the writing desk and one bed with bedding in lieu of dowel.  I give, devise and bequeath to each of my children, Eugene E. Gilbert, Orpha E. Ross, Adelbert S. Gilbert, Emma H. Curry and Mary R. Wines the sum of One Thousand Dollars.  “In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 28th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and eight-seven.  Signed: Rodney Gilbert”

  • Mother: Harriet Emeline (Tyler) Gilbert died October 31, 1845; (NOTE: burial location unknown but could possibly be buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  • Step Mother: Lydia Augusta “Lida” (Hall) Gilbert born October 26, 1824 in Connecticut; married Rev. Rodney Gilbert on September 23, 1846; Lydia died April 18, 1894; buried in the East Fox Lake Cemetery, Lake Villa, Lake County, IL
  • Siblings:
    • Eugene E. Gilbert born May 2, 1843 in Hillsdale, Columbia County, NY; Civil War Veteran, Co. D, 146 Illinois Infantry; married Catherine A. Griffin on December 30, 1866, daughter of James Griffin and Eliza (Washburn) Griffin; Eugene died October 31, 1919; buried in Wauconda Cemetery, Wauconda, Lake County, IL

According to the Portrait Biographical Album of Lake, County, IL. Chicago. Lake City Publishing Co. 1891, page 345-347:

“EUGENE E. GILBERT, one of the representative citizens of Wauconda Township, resides on section 26, where he owns a fine stock farm.  Within the boundaries of his land are comprised ninety-two acres, and the horses, cattle and sheep which are found upon the place are as fine as can be seen anywhere in Northeastern Illinois.  Such industry and energy have characterized his life that his career has been a most successful one and he may truly be called a self-made man.
   Mr. Gilbert was born in Hillsdale, Columbia County, N. Y., among the beautiful Catskill Mountains, May 2, 1843, and is the elder of two sons whose parents were Rodney and Harriet Emeline (Tyler) Gilbert.  His only brother, Amos Knox, died August 17, 1845.  The father was a native of New York, born March 27, 1815.  By the death of his parents he was left an orphan at the age of seven years and was reared by his uncle, Amos Knox, upon a farm.  He married Miss Tyler, who was born October 11, 1820, and died on the 31st of October, 1845.  Prior to her marriage she had been a teacher in the schools of the Empire State.  After the death of his wife Rodney Gilbert was again married September 23, 1846, to Lydia Augusta Hall, and by their union were born five children, two sons and three daughters: Orpha E., who is married and resides in Lake Geneva, Wis.; Adelbert L., also married, is connected with R. C. Spencer in the business college of Milwaukee, Wis.; Tyler A. is married and successfully carried on farming on the old homestead in Avon Township; Emma H. is the wife of Samuel Curry, of Chicago, and Mary R. is a teacher in the Milwaukee Business College.  When our subject was about a year and a half old his father emigrated with the family from the old home in Columbia County, N. Y., to Avon Township, Lake County, Ill., traveling by the way of the lakes.  This was in September, 1844.  He made a claim of one hundred and twenty acres and when the land came into market purchased it of the Government at $1.25 per acre.  He made farming his principal occupation through life but also engaged in preaching the Gospel as a minister of the Baptist Church.  He died December 16, 1888, at the age of seventy-three years.
   Eugene Gilbert, whose name heads this sketch, was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, aiding his father in the cultivation of his land and in the winter season attending the district schools of the neighborhood.  His primary education was supplemented by a course of two terms in the Waukegan Acadamy.  No event of special importance occurred in his life until in 1864, when on the 1st of September, at the age of twenty-one years, he enlisted in the service of his country as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry, at Springfield, where he was mustered into the United States service.  Col. H. H. Dean commanded the regiment, which was principally engaged in provost guard duty.  Two companies D and H, were sent to Quincy, Ill., where they served as provost guards for about six months months (sic) and then returned to relieve a Michigan regiment.  Mr. Gilbert confined in the hospital about two months during the fall of 1864, and on the close of the war was honorably discharged in Springfield, Ill., July 11, 1865.
   The year following his return on the 30th of December, Mr. Gilbert and Miss Catherine A. Griffin were married.  The lady was born in Syracuse, N. Y., September 24, 1839, and is the only daughter of James and Eliza (Washburn) Griffin, pioneer settlers of this county of 1843.  Her father, a native of Ulster County, N. Y., was born in 1804, and by trade was a boot and shoe maker but during the latter part of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits.  He died in 1887 at the advanced age of eighty-three years.  His wife, who was born in Columbia County, in 1803, died in 1873, and their remains were interred in the cemetery near their old home.  As before stated they had only one daughter and but one son, Fitch La Fayette, who died in 1863, while serving as a soldier in the late war.  Mrs. Gilbert acquired her education in the common schools and the Wauconda Academy.  By her marriage two children have been born – Amos Tylers who is now twenty-one years of age, and James William, aged nineteen.  Both are at home and are industrious, enterprising young men wno will no doubt make successful farmers.
   The home of this estimable family is a large, commodious residence situated in the midst of one of the fertile and valuable farms of Wauconda Township.  The well-kept outbuildings and many improvements denote the thrift and enterprise of the owner but Mr. Gilbert is best known as stock-raiser.  He is the owner of fine horse – Prince G. aged five years, whose weight is one thousand pounds.  He is valued at $1,000 and his pedigree is traced back to Justin Morgan, the celebrated horse which is known to every stock-dealer in the country.  Mr. Gilbert is also the owner of the finest Merino sheep in the county and now has a flock of ninety.  One male sheep owned by him sheared forty-five and one-fourth pounds of wool from one year’s growth.
   In his political affiliations Mr. Gilbert is stanchly Republican.  He cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, and not long afterward attended the funeral of that illustrious hero.  he has never sought political preferment, desiring rather to give his entire attention to his business interests and home duties, yet as School  Director he has proved himself an efficient and capable officer for nine years.  Socially, he is a Master mason and is now Senior Warden in Wauconda Lodge, No. 298, A. F. & A. M.  He also belongs to the Grand Army Post of Wauconda.  His wife is a charter members of the W. R. C., No. 368, in which for four years he has served as Treasurer and also holds membership with the Patrons of Industry.  Mr. Gilbert has the best interests of the community at heart, has ever supported those enterprises which are calculated to aid in its upbuilding and both he and his wife are numbered among the leading and respected citizens of the township.  Both are representatives of pioneer families of the county and are well deserving a representation of this volume.”

  • Step Siblings:
    • Orpha E. (Gilbert) Ross born about 1849 in Illinois; married Washington Ross on August 24, 1870 in Lake County, IL; Washington was a Civil War Veteran (1861-1865), Company F, 4th Regiment, Wisconsin, Bugler; According to the 1910 U.S. Census Orpha and Washington lived in New Lisbon, Juneau County, WI
    • Adelbert L. Gilbert born November 1851 in Illinois; married Anna M. Seitz (1850-1909) daughter of John Seitz and Catharine Seitz; Adelbert died September 21, 1907 in Milwaukee County, WI; Adelbert and Anna are buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI

According to the Watertown News (Watertown WI) Friday, September 27, 1907, page 6:

“A. L. GILBERT IS DEAD – MANAGER OF SPENCERIAN COLLEGE SUCCUMBS TO ILLNESS – Stricken Two Months Ago on Milwaukee Street – Failed to Recover Health. – MILWAUKEE, Wis., Sept. 21 – Adelbert L. Gilbert, manager of the Spencerian Business college, and for thirty years a well-known educator in Milwaukee, died at 1 o’clock this morning at his residence, 452 Ivanhoe place after an illness of about two months which followed a sudden attack while walking on Wisconsin street. Gilbert, who was 56 years of age spent the greater part of his life in this city.  When a young man he entered the business college of R. C. Spencer, and after graduating he accepted a position as instructor.  He remained there until about four years ago, when he opened a business college in the Hathaway building.  This was closed a year ago and Mr. Gilbert returned to the Spencerian where he was made manager.  During the years of their association in the college, a strong friendship existed between the head of the college and Mr. Gilbert, who was a genial gentleman and a man of the highest sense of honor.  Mr. Spencer this morning spoke of his late manager in the warmest terms of appreciation and friendship, and expressed the deepest sorrow at his death.  About nine weeks ago Mr. Gilbert, who had appeared in reasonably good health up to that time, was suddenly prostrated with an attack of sickness when near the Chapman store, Milwaukee and Wisconsin streets.  He was picked up unconscious and conveyed to his home, where he continued slowly to sink.  At times it was stated by his family and friends that Mr. Gilbert seemed to be improving, and strong hopes were entertained for his recovery.  He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Miss Marie Gilbert.  A married daughter died recently at her home in McGregor, Ia.  He leaves three sisters and two brothers: Mrs. W. Ross, New Lisbon, Wis.; Mrs. P. L. Evans and Mrs. S. Curry of Chicago; E. E. Gilbert of Wauconda, Ill., and Tyler Gilbert of Lake Geneva, Wis.  Mr. Gilbert was a loyal supporter of the First Baptist church, of which he had been a deacon many years.”

    • Tyler A. Gilbert born about 1854 in Illinois; married Willamena J. “Mina” Bonner (1860-1949) on September 14, 1885 in Lake County, IL; Tyler died December 28, 1908; Tyler and Mina are buried in East Fox Lake Cemetery, Lake Villa, Lake County, IL
    • Emma H. (Gilbert) Curry born August 11, 1858 in Illinois; married Samuel P. Curry on April 27, 1882 in Lake County, IL; Emma died February 11, 1914 in Chicago, Cook County, IL; buried in Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County, IL
    • Mary Rachel (Gilbert) (Wines) Evans born June 30, 1865 in Illinois; married (1) Benjamin W. Wines on December 31, 1884 in Lake County, IL; Benjamin died between 1889-1890; married (2) Peter Lawrence Evans (1865-1955) about 1894; Mary died March 21, 1944; Mary and Peter are buried in Parkholm Cemetery, La Grange Park, Cook County, IL

According to the U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Milwaukee, WI, 1890:

“Wines Mary R. (wid. Benjamin W.) h. 124 Knapp”

According to the Chicago Tribune (Chicago IL) Thursday, March 23, 1944, page 16:

“EVANS – Mary Rachel Evans, beloved wife of Peter L., mother of Beulah R. Services Friday at 2:30 p. m. at residence, 418 6th avenue, La Grange.  Interment La Grange.”

Additional Information:

According to the Portrait Biographical Album of Lake, County, IL. Chicago. Lake City Publishing Co. 1891, page 346:

   “Mr. Gilbert was born in Hillsdale, Columbia County, N. Y., among the beautiful Catskill Mountains, May 2, 1843, and is the elder of two sons whose parents were Rodney and Harriet Emeline (Tyler) Gilbert.  His only brother, Amos Knox, died August 17, 1845”