Representative Frank Gilbert View All Years

HON. FRANK GILBERT

Frank Gilbert, son of Lovell R. Gilbert and Lydia Gilbert, was born at Clinton, Wisconsin, November 4, 1852, and died very suddenly in Chicago, April 15, 1922.

In 1857, when only five years of age he came with his parents to Iowa. His parents purchased a farm about two miles east of Monona, in Clayton county which is still known as the “Lovell Gilbert Place,” and it was here that with his six brothers and three sisters Mr. Gilbert grew to manhood.

In 1875 he was united in marriage to Sarah Olmsted and established his home in Monona. Three daughters and one son came to this home and although all of the children grew to maturity the two youngest, Dr. Page of Ottumwa, and Mrs. Howard Thomas of Oklahoma City, are the only ones who survive their father.

The oldest daughter’s only son upon the death of his mother was taken into the Gilbert home and grew to maturity as one of the family and he with the youngest daughter’s daughter are the only grandchildren. Mr. Gilbert had a very deep affection for these children as indeed he did for his own.

From 1875 to 1911 Mr. Gilbert was engaged in active business in Monona and during those years was identified with the various interests of the town also holding several offices of public trust, and in 1910 and 1911 served as representative to the state legislature.

Mr. Gilbert was a man of strong convictions yet he held his friends just as firmly as he held his opinions. Indeed few men are so fortunate as to retain so large a circle of friends who have so high and so warm a regard as did his friends for him. His generosity and liberality and loyalty were his outstanding characteristics. In time of need one never had to ask of him for he had seen their need and supplied it first. In time of sorrow Mr. Gilbert was the first man to relieve and assuage the distress and grief of the stricken.

The Gilbert home was the place where the finest characteristics of the man shone. Always ready and quick to be of assistance, dependable in any emergency, his deep affection for his own folks made him the central pivot upon which swung the affairs of daily living and striving for the better and more worth while things in the family life.

Mrs. Gilbert now is living in Ottumwa having sold the home in Morgan Park, Ill., and the son Dr. Page Gilbert and wife make their home with her. The deepest sympathy of Monona friends and relatives is for Mrs. Gilbert because of the extreme suddenness of her great bereavement.

The funeral service was conducted from the Davis residence in Monona and the burial in Monona Cemetery beside the two older daughters on April 18th.

J. G. HEMPEL,

T. J. O’DONNELL,

T. B. STOCK,

Committee.

Adopted April 12, 1923.