Person:Rufus Gilbert (1)

RUFUS E. GILBERT.—The ale mentality and the sturdy, pract ability of the Irish race, as transfus into the make-up of our compos nation, have had notable influence in furthe ing our progress and in establishing a stab prosperity, and to this element do we owe much. The subject of this review is o whose ancestral history traces back to stanch old Irish stock, which is of prominent identification with the history of the Union from the early colonial days, and of valiant service rendered not only in time of war but also the more prosaic endeavors of the times of peace, our subject himself having shown his loyalty and inherent patriotism by unstinted service accorded in the late war of the Rebellion. The name Gilbert is of Irish origin, already stated, and James Gilbert, the grandfather of our subject, maintained his residence on North Hero island, in Lake Champlain, N. Y. He married Ruth Conkey, who wise was of Irish extraction, and subsequen during the war of 1812, removed to Shazeetown, located on the shores of the same beautiful lake, and there James Gilbert remained until the time of his death. He was a Jacksonian democrat, and both he and his wife were zealous members of the Methodist church.

Jacob C. Gilbert, the father of our subject, was born on North Hero island, in October, 1807, and was reared to farm life, receiving a good practical education and putting the same to test by engaging in teaching, in which vocation he was employed at various points in the state of New York, and later in Ohio. In his native state he was united in marriage to Mandana Stoughton, the date of this ceremony being 1832. She died on the 3d of July in the succeeding year, and on January 1, 1838, Mr. Gilbert consummated his second marriage, in Atwater, Portage county, Ohio, where he was united to Martha A. Butler, who was born in New Haven county, Conn., December 16, 1820, the daughter of David and Betsey (Foot) Butler; the former of whom was born in New Haven county, Conn., October 2, 1772, and the mother in the same county, August 9, 178 1 , their marriage having been consummated in the same county. There they remained until 1829, when the family emigrated to Portage county, Ohio,. where the parents passed the residue of their lives, being among the most honored pioneers of that county. David Butler died March 29, 1856, his wife having passed away August 3, 1854. In their religious affiliations they were Congregationalists, and in politics he was an old-line whig. Mrs. Gilbert's grandfather, Matthew Butler, was a native of England, and emigrated to New Haven county, Conn., in the early colonial days. He was an active participant in the war of the Revolution, serving in the continental army for a period of seven years. The maiden name of his wife was Ruth Lindley, and by occupation he was a wheelwright. His son David also served in the war of the Revolution and stood as a minute-man in the battle of Long Island. The children of Jacob C. and Martha A. Gilbert were in order of birth as follows: Lucian and Lucius, deceased; Rufus E., the immediate subject of this review; Martha, deceased ; Mary wife of Henry Wing; Adelaid, deceased; Ida M., wife of David Owens, and Prosper L. After coining to Ohio, Jacob C. Gilbert was for six years engaged in mercantile business at Cuyahoga Falls, and after this located in Cleveland, where he was employed as a traveling salesman for a period of three years as a representative of a wholesale paper house. In 1858 he removed to Monroe township, Putnam county, and here purchased a farm, and was prominently identified with the interests of his county until the time of his death, which occurred December 16, 1864. He was a stanch republican in his political proclivities, and was called upon to fill the office of township clerk. He was a zealous adherent of the Methodist church, in which he held for a number of years the position of steward. His venerable widow still retains her residence on a part of the old farm, in close proximity to the home of our subject, who accords her a true filial solicitude.

Rufus E. Gilbert, who holds distinctive prestige as one of the most intellectual and honored farmers of the township, was born in Summit connty, Ohio, on the 21st of February, 1844. He accompanied his parents on their removal to Cleveland and there remained for three years, during his youth, securing the exceptional advantages afforded by the public schools of the Forest City. In his early youth he accompanied his parents to Putnam county and assisted in the work of the pioneer farm, so that his memory reverts to the stirring incidents and manifold vicissitudes of that epoch in the history of the state. July 19, 1866, he lead to the hymeneal altar Miss Mary A. Pope, a native of Putnam county and a daughter of George W. and Fanny (Weaver) Pope. Since their marriage our subject and his wife have retained their residence on the beautiful farmstead, to the cultivation of which Mr. Gilbert has devoted his attention with much intelligence and success for so many years. His farm comprises seventy-six acres, is equipped with a good residence and other buildings essential to the successful carrying on of operations. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert are members of the Christian church, in whose work they take an active interest. In politics our subject is a democrat and has served as township clerk, and for six years as director of the county infirmary.

The military record of Mr. Gilbert is one which stands to his credit and honor. He enlisted, August 22, 1862, in company H, the One Hundred and Eighteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina and Virginia, participating in all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign. He received an honorable discharge May 25, 1865, and returned to his home an honored veteran, and re-entered the peaceful pursuits of the " piping times of peace.”

www.heritagepursuit.com/Putnam/Putnam1896P175.htm

Mustered in September 13, 1862 at Cincinnati, O., by C. O. Howard, Captain 18th Infantry, U. S. A. Mustered out June 24, 1865, at Salisbury, N. C., by B. F. Briscoe, Captain and A. C. M. 2d Division, 23d Army Corps.

Name: Rufus E Gilbert
Rank: Private
Age: 18
Date of Entering Service: August 22, 1862
Period of Service: 3 yrs
Remarks: Mustered out May 24, 1865, at Wilmington, N.C., by order of War Department

http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~libeacons/118ovi/cosh.htm

Eight children were born to [Jacob and Martha (Butler) Gilbert], viz: Lucien, Lucius, Rufus E., Martha, Sarah A., Ida M., Prosper L. and Mrs. Wing.

www.heritagepursuit.com/Putnam/Putnam1896P575.htm