OBITUARY: Gilbert. G. Gilbertson, 1847-1931, Mitchell County, Iowa


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                                OBITUARY

Gilbert G. Gilbertson was born in Rock Prairie, Dane county, Wis., January
6, 1847, and died at his home in St. Ansgar, Iowa, Sunday morning, August
2, 1931 at the ripe old age of 84 years, 6 months and 26 days.

In the spring of 1852 his father accompanied the Rev. Mr. Clausen and Hans
Gallagher to locate land near the present site of St. Ansgar, but it was
not until the following year that the family moved here.  Except for those
early childhood years and brief periods spent in other towns and cities,
Mr. Gilbertson lived his entire life within the larger St. Ansgar community
identified with his interests and giving his best to it.

On October 12, 1870, he was united in marriage with Anna Christine Ask, who
preceded him in death on January 18, 1924.  To this happy union were born
five children, all of whom survive: G. Lawrence, of Austin Minn.; A. Oscar
of St. Ansgar; Mrs. Tillie Golberg, of Enderlin, N.D.; Josephine A., of
St. Ansgar, and Mrs. Olga Krouse of Winter Park, Fla.

Mr. Gilbertson also leaves to mourn his death nine grandchildren, Alton,
DeLores, Cozette, Gladiolus, Garry and Mary Lou Gilbertson of St. Ansgar;
George, Ruth and Enid Betty Krouse, of Winter Park, Fla.  Also there three
great-grandchildren, Milton, Jacl and Jeanine Gilbertson.

Mr. Gilbertson had been in failing health for two years, gradually growing
weaker until he quietly passed away to the heavenly home with the tender
care of loved ones around him.

Mr. Gilbertson was not one of the pioneer residents of the community but
he was one of the outstanding builders of the community, leaving his mark
profoundly upon the fundamental structure of the community, in many ways.
He was a pioneer in endeavor as well as physically, a man who worked with
vision and industry.  He loved his old time friends and neighbors and was
held in high regard by them.  He loved to greet them with a cheery word
and a smile of encouragement and good will.  He will be missed, not only
by the dear ones of the family, but by the entire community for which he
did so much.




                      Copyright 2005 - Marilyn O'Connor




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                        G. G. GILBERTSON,
               Pioneer St. Ansgar Onion Man, Dead
                    

G. G. Gilbertson, one of St. Ansgar's oldest settlers died Sunday, at the
home of his daughter, Miss Josephine, with whom he had made his home for
the last few years.  Mr. Gilbertson had been in failing health for some time
and the end came peacefully Sunday morning.

Mr. Gilbertson had been identified with St. Ansgar's leading interests for
78 years.  He came to St. Ansgar from Wisconsin a year after the founding
of the town by the Clausen colony settling on his farm 4 1/2 miles
southeast of St. Ansgar.  It was here that the "Father of the Onion
Industry." as he afterwards became known, started the development of the
red and yellow globe onion bulbs that became sought after by the leading
national seed growers, including the Vaughn Seed Co., of Chicago.  The
quality of the onion called "Grandpa's Pride" was so outstanding that it
attracted the attention of J. C. Vaughn of Chicago, who made a special
trip to the Gilbertson farm to investigate the merits of the bulbs, as
the globe onion was unknown at that time.  The result was that Mr.
Gilbertson sold the entire crop of bulbs to Mr. Vaughn for seed stock.

To improve the strain of the onion seed from year to year by the most
careful selection and restriction was considered by Mr. Gilbertson as his
life's work and that his objective was reached is shown by the remarkable
progress the industry has made around St. Ansgar.

To facilitate the work of raising onions, Mr. Gilbertson invented the first
perfect onion planter, one that actually picked up one seed at a time and
deposited the seeds the required distance apart.

Since Mr. Gilbertson shipped the first carload of onions out of St. Ansgar
the industry has grown rapidly, until St. Ansgar has become known as the
onion center of the middle west.

Not only was Mr. Gilbertson interested in the raising of onions, potatoes
and cabbage, but he started the ginseng industry which has grown to such
proportions that St. Ansgar is known as the town having the largest ginseng
arbors in the country.

Mr. Gilbertson's work as a nurseryman started back in the early days on
the farm when he raised fruit trees, small fruits and evergreen trees.
This business developed to such a degree that he came to St. Ansgar 35
years ago and started a nursery in the east part of town, specializing
in evergreens for windbreak purposes.  The demand for evergreens was such
that it was necessary to start a nursery in Mason City.  Today many of
the leading farms are not only beautiful but protected by the evergreen
trees from the Gilbertson nurseries.

St. Ansgar should be grateful today that it is able to reap the benefits
made possible by the work and untiring efforts of this one man with a
vision and a purpose.


 (St. Ansgar Enterprise)



                      Copyright 2005 - Marilyn O'Connor