Andrew J. Gilbert Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 610-611

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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ANDREW J. GILBERT, who resides on the southeast quarter of section 33, 
Ravenna township, Sanborn county, owns and operates a valuable farm 
whose neat and thrifty appearance well indicates his careful 
supervision. Substantial improvements are surrounded by well tilled 
fields and all of the accessories and conveniences of a model farm are 
there found. 

Mr. Gilbert was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, in December, 1855, and 
is a son of James and Rebecca (Long) Gilbert, both natives of 
Pennsylvania, in which state his ancestors on the maternal side had 
resided for some generations, but the Gilbert family was founded in 
America by one who came over in the Mayflower in 1620 and settled in 
New England. The father of our subject followed the occupations of 
farming and mining. 

A. J. Gilbert, of this review, is the fifth in order of birth in a 
family of twelve children, and being reared on a farm he attended only 
the country schools, while he assisted his father the greater part of 
the time during his boyhood and youth. He not only acquired an 
excellent knowledge of every department of farm work, but also became 
quite familiar with the carpenter's trade, which he picked up by 
himself. Leaving home at the age of twenty-two, he worked at farming 
for others for six years. 

In 1882, Mr. Gilbert came to Sanborn county, South Dakota, and took up 
the southeast quarter of section 33, Ravenna township, on which he 
built a house, 14 x 16 feet, and a frame barn, 14 x 12 feet. He brought 
with him to the county six horses and twenty-seven head of two-year-old 
steers, and has since given considerable attention to stock raising, 
having at present one hundred and sixty-five head of cattle upon his 
place. Mr. Gilbert lived all alone in genuine frontier style until 
1885, when he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Jackson, a native 
of Montreal, Canada, whither her parents, who were of Scotch descent, 
had removed from New York state. Four children have been born to our 
subject and his wife, namely: William J., Carrie Faye, Glenn J. and 
Gladys. 

On coming to Dakota not an acre of his farm had been cultivated or a 
tree set out, and in early days he was often up all night fighting 
prairie fires to save his property. To the improvement and cultivation 
of his land he has devoted his energies with marked success and is now 
the owner of the second largest farm in Ravenna township, it being 
eight hundred and fourteen acres in extent, of which five hundred acres 
are under cultivation and ten acres planted in forest trees. He has a 
good flowing well and another pumped by a windmill. He has erected a 
commodious and comfortable residence, a good barn, 40 x 32 feet, a 
granary, 22x 32 feet, corn cribs, sheds, etc. He has been remarkably 
successful in his farming operations, his best crops being thirty five 
bushels of wheat per acre, eighty-five bushels of oats and eighty 
bushels of barley, while the poorest have averaged ten bushels. He is 
interested in a grain-buying house at Fulton, and is president of the 
Farwell Creamery Association. His career affords an excellent example 
to the young, in that he commenced life for himself without capital, 
but having a determination to succeed he industriously applied himself 
until he has acquired a handsome property. He is well known throughout 
Sanborn county for his sterling character and worth. As a Republican he 
takes an active interest in political affairs, has served as a delegate 
to county and state conventions of his party, and has filled the office 
of township assessor.