HISTORY OF THE GILBERT FAMILY(

THE GILBERT FAMILY
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How do they tie into the Bryans?
Celeste Jane Gilbert married George Jerome Bryan.
(See Third Generation of Bryans for more information about Celeste and her children.)

Celeste's grandparents were: David Gilbert and Adeline Baker. David, Sr. was born in 1828, VT and Adeline was born in 1826, NY. They were married about 1850 in NY and on the 1870 census resided in a town called Altona, Clinton County, NY. His occupation is listed as laborer. In 1880 David & Adeline had moved to Franklin County, NY, town of Belmont.There is much speculation that Adeline was nearly a full-blooded Native American. However, research is being done on this. There were several Baker families that resided in Altona, NY at the same time and I'm certain that Adeline fits into one of these families. Adaline states on the 1880 census that her mother was also born in New York and her father in Canada. David Sr. states that both his parents were born in Canada and family lore has it that the Gilberts were fur traders in the early 1700's in Canada.

Children of David Gilbert, Sr. & Adeline Baker

Mary, born 1852, NY
Julius, born 1853, NY
Matilda, born 1854, NY
Napoleon, born 1859, NY
(wife Minnie found on census in 1880 with Gilberts)
Charles, born 1861, NY
(wife Fannie found on census in 1880 with Gilberts)
David, born 1863, NY
(wife Florence Watts)
Henry, born 1866, NY
Joseph, born 1869, NY


It is certain that Napoleon, Charles and David, Jr. eventually went to Michigan. There, David, Jr. met and married Florence Watts about 1895. She was born in Dunellen, New Jersey on June 11, 1873 to Phillip Watts and Jane Harnbly.


Children of Phillip N. Watts and Jane Harnbly (known)
Florence, born 1873, Dunellen, NJ
Edwin, born 1873, NJ (probably twin to Florence)
John H., born 1878, Michigan


Jane Harnbly
Mother to Florence Watts
 
       

David Gilbert, Jr.

 

 

 

 

Florence Watts


Children of David Gilbert, Jr. & Florence Watts:

Cora, born 1897
Celeste Jane, born 1899
Floyd James, born 1903
Melvin Hazen, born 1904
Wilbur Edwin, born 1906
Marshall David, born 1909
Florence Aileen, born 1915


Florence & David, Jr. 1919
 
   
Celeste, Aileen, Florence   Aileen at David Gilbert's grave   L-R- Unidentified man (?) Aileen, Celeste, Cora, Florence, Jane Harnbly, Cora's daughter Jean, George William Bryan, 1928.
         
   
L-R, Jean (Cora's daughter), Gertie (Elinus' wife), Elinus, Glen, Cora Gilbert-Spitz, Joe, & Delores (Elinus' daughter)   The Widow Florence
Watts-Gilbert, abt. 1950
  Florence Watts Gilbert
& Melvin Hazen Gilbert.

David died in 1921 from an infected abscessed tooth in Minneapolis. He is buried at Crystal Lake Cemetery. The 1930 census shows Florence and daughter Aileen living next door to Charles Gilbert and his family. Napoleon Gilbert also resided in Minneapolis and was referred to as "Uncle Pole". Florence died October 27, 1957 in Hennepin County and is also buried at Crystal Lake Cemtery. Listed below is a poem that Great Grandma Florence would tell her grandchildren from memory. I heard this poem so often that I had it memorized at age 4. I hope some of you remember it too, handed down from Grandma Florence.


The Pretty Little Chicken

Once there was a pretty little chicken
But his friends were very few,
For there wasn't a thing in this whole wide world
but what he thought he knew.
So he always in the barnyard had a very forward way,
Telling all the hens & turkeys what they ought to do & say.
I wish my old Aunt Dorkin that you wouldn't sit all summer on your nest upon the hay;
Won't you come out to the meadow where the grass is soft like hay?
If I do, replied Aunt Dorkin, then my eggs will get all chilled.
No they won't, replied the chicken, and no matter if they do - eggs are really good for nothing -- what's an egg to me or you?
What's an egg? replied Aunt Dorkin, Can it be you do not know?
Why, you yourself was in an eggshell just a month or so ago.
And if kind wings had not warmed you, you would not be here today, telling all the hens and turkeys what they ought to do and say.
To be very wise and know it is a pleasant thing no doubt, but when young folks talk to old folks they should know what they're about.