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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
EDGAR DEWITT GILSON, sheriff
of Adams county, and one of the most enterprising pioneer citizens of Ritzville,
was born in Middleville, Barry county, Michigan, June 26, 1858. At
an early age he accompanied his parents to Nebraska, where the family located
for a short period in Platte county. When he was eight years of age
his father, William Booker Gilson, joined the swelling tide of emigration
then setting strongly toward the west, and crossed the plains. They
settled near Albany, Linn county, Oregon, where those of the family remaining
still reside.
The subject of this sketch came to Adams county,
Washington, March 3, 1885, and has lived continuously in Ritzville, the
county seat, for the past twenty years. From 1885 to 1887 he was
deputy county auditor. During the year 1888 he was clerk in the general
mercantile establishment of N. H. Greene & Son. In 1889 he established
a real estate and insurance business which he still conducts. Commencing
in 1890 Mr. Gilson was alternately city marshal, police judge and justice
of the peace. During the three years between 1895 and 1898 he was
deputy sheriff. This was followed by his election to the offices
of county clerk and clerk of the superior court. Through eight successive
terms he held the office of city clerk of Ritzville. November 8,
1904, he was elected sheriff of Adams county, Washington. Aside from
these political positions Mr. Gilson is at present secretary of the Washington
State Press Association, and is a delegate elect to the National Editorial
Association which meets in Guthrie, Oklahoma, the present year, 1905.
The business enterprises of our subject cover
a wide range. He is the sole owner of the "Gilson" brick and granite
business block at the corner of Railroad avenue and C street, and is half
owner of the new brick building and extensive printing plant of Gilson
& Thompson. His attractive and comfortable home on Knob Hill
is shared by his wife, four boys and a daughter, all the children attending
the public schools of the city. He is manager and half owner of the
Gilson-Thiel Oprea House.
Sheriff Gilson is editor and manager of the
Adams
County News, a popular weekly newspaper. Of this enterprise he
assumed charge November 23, 1898. A full description of this complete
plant, editorial office and well-known facilities for turning out a fine
line of printing of every description will be found in the chapter devoted
to the "Press of Adams County."
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