OBITUARY:

The Mt. Vernon Register News published the followoing on Saturday, January 19, 1935 which read:

Walter Jacob Gilbert died this morning at 5 o'clock t his home near Mt. Vernon.

Mr. Gilbert was born near Waltonville November 14, 1860, and was the oldest child of the late Alvin and Anna Watkins Gilbert. In their day highly respected residents of Jefferson County.

Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage with Miss Linnie Dodds, November 22, 1881.

Mr. Gilbert is survived by his widow and one son, Paul Gilbert, Mt. Vernon and three sisters, Mrs. Linnie Philp of Waltonville, Mrs. Maggie Norris, Fresno, California, and Mrs. Maude Williams, Mt. Vernon and three grandchildren. Two brothers, Orley W. Gilbert and Thomas E. Gilbert, preceded him in death years ago.

Funeral services will be held in the M. E. church at Waltonville, Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock and burial will follow in Knob Prairie cemetery. The body will lie in state at Myers Chapel, 122 North Tenth street until 1 p.m. Sunday.

Mr. Gilbert had been in impaired health for some years, but in his active life was one of the leading business men of Jefferson County, engaging extensively in farming and stock and baking operations. He was prominent in the National bank of Waltonville during its existence, and was recognized as a man of excellent judgment. He was one of the best known men of the county in the days of his active life as well as one of hte most popular and highly respected. He retained the friends of his youth and early life until the end, adding others in the course of time. Honest and upright in all his dealings, he was the soul of honor as a business man and as a citizen, and will be remembered with kindly feelings and affection by all who knew him.

Submitted by: "Family Links" - February 25, 2003