Jacob T. Gilbert Biography This biography appears on page 544 in "History of Minnehaha County, South Dakota" by Dana R. Bailey and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Joy Fisher, http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 . This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm GILBERT, JACOB T., was born at Rockville, Wis., August 17, 1861, and lived in that state until 1873, when he removed to Sioux Falls where he has since resided. When fourteen years of age he engaged in the mercantile business, and in 1881 opened a dry goods and grocery store on his own account, and continued in this business until about three years ago. In 1884 he was a delegate to the Democratic territorial convention at Pierre, and was secretary of the convention. In the fall of that year he was a candidate for the legislature from the district composed of the counties of Hanson, McCook and Minnehaha, and was defeated by only twelve votes. In 1886 he was again a candidate and was elected. In 1889 he was elected a member of the school board and served on the board until 1895, two years of which he was its president. The Gilbert block on Phillips avenue was built by him. Mr. Gilbert makes a good official and is a respected citizen.