Senator Gilbert S. Gilbertson View All Years

GILBERT S. GILBERTSON.

Senator Kingland, from a special committee, submitted the following report and moved its adoption:

MR. PRESIDENT—Your committee appointed to prepare a resolution commemorating the life, character and public services of Gilbert S. Gilbertson, beg leave to submit the following report.

Gilbert S. Gilbertson was of Norwegian parentage and was born in Spring Grove, Minnesota, October 17th, 1863 and died in Des Moines, Iowa, November 25th, 1917. His early advantages were by no means extra-business college in Janesville, Wisconsin.

At the age of sixteen years he came to Worth County, Iowa, where he worked on his father’s farm until he secured a position as bookkeeper and son was unted in marriage to Belle D. Whitney who survives him, and to this union was born two daughters, Mrs. Earl H. Scripps and Mrs. E. Chase West, the latter of whom died recently.

It may be said of Gilbert S. Gilbertson that he was a self made man and the positions to which he arose during his life was due to the fine personality and native ability he possessed. He first entered public service in 1889 when he was elected to the position of clerk of the District court of Winnebago County, Iowa, which position he held for four consecutive terms. In 1896 he was elected State Senator on the Republican ticket from the forty-fist district consisting of Mitchell, Winnebago and Worth counties. He was a prominent member of the state Senate and his conspicious service and ability led to his nomination and election in 1910 to the office of State Treasurer of Iowa which position he held for six years. He was a business man of more than ordinary ability and was a man of enterprise and public spirit. Besides his public activities he was always active in business and particularly banking and real estate and his connection with the business was considered an asset and sought by leading business men of the state. His activities in insurance and fraternal circles made for him a large number of acquaintances and warm friends.

He was one of the most genial and companionable of men and was staunch and loyal to his friends even when to his own personal disadvantage; and loyalty is one of the better attributes of man. During the latter years of his life he was stricken with a fatal disease and suffered from this for years before his death to such an extent that he had to abandon active interest in many of the important business enterprises in which he was theretofore engaged. All who knew him personally and intimately sympathized with his ill fortune in the loss of his health and it was indeed sad that he was so stricken in the best years of his life for usefulness and influence in business and political affairs.

Gilbert S. Gilbertson was a republican in politics but he had the respect and confidence of the opposition party as well. It is significant that in the election of 1900 for State Treasurer his majority was over one hundred thousand. It may be said of him that he had a host of friends and few enemies. He died at a time of life when he had accomplished much and was ripe in experience and influence, but at a time when because of these facts, he would, if his health and life had been spared, been of still greater influence to his community and state, yet it must be said of him that during his life, although comparatively brief, he had achieved much. His early struggles for advancement in life and his successful career had endowed him with the attributes of diligence and industry because all he had and all he had accomplished he owed to his own efforts and native ability. He succeeded where many with a great many more advantages have failed. His memory will be cherished most by those who knew him best and he is mourned by a host of friends to whom he was always loyal and kind. In his death, the community in which he lived lost a most estimable friend and neighbor, and his state one of its best and most prominent citizens.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, That the Senate has heard with deep sorrow and regret of his death and that it recognize the high character of his service to this state, and in his death the state has lost a worthy, distinguished and noble citizen, and

Be It Resolved, That this Senate extend to his family its sincere sympathy of their great bereavement, and,

Be It Further Resolved, That those resolutions be entered upon the Senate journal and a copy sent to the bereaved family of the deceased.

F. A. KINGLAND,

BYRON W. NEWBERRY,

H. C. WHITE,

Committee.

The resolutions were adopted unanimously by a rising vote.